Abundance Now
The only way out is growth.
Intentionality is still not a word.
‘Ezra Klein explains how it feels to be a Democrat in under 30 seconds: Ezra Klein: "The stimulus bill under Obama, that had 3 big headline projects for reinvestment. High speed rail, smart grid, a nation wide system of interoperable health records. 0 for 3" Gavin Newsom: "I remember those days" Klein: "At some point, we gotta be upset about this."’
Klein is doing a real service here. Will anyone listen to him?
‘Jon Stewart screams 'OMFG' and is rendered speechless after hearing all 14 steps to apply for 'Build Back Better' funding:’
The Straussian Message of Abundance
Trying to persuade redistributionist progressives of the need for an abundance agenda is likely impossible.
Why don’t we hear some people say that a rising tide lifts all boats?
Envy.
‘Almost every product or service that liberals seek to make universal today depends on technology that did not exist three lifetimes ago — or, in some cases, half a lifetime ago. Medicare and Medicaid guarantee the elderly and poor access to modern hospitals, where many essential technologies — such as plastic IV bags, MRI and CT scan machines, and pulse oximeters — are inventions of the last sixty years. It is tempting to say that, with these essentials already in existence, it is time for society to focus at last only on the fair distribution of existing resources rather than the creation of new ideas. But this would be worse than a failure of imagination: it would be a kind of generational theft … Politics itself becomes a mere smash-and-grab war over scarce goods, where one man’s win implies another man’s loss.’
Can Democrats Promote an Abundance Agenda?
Ruy Teixeira is an apostate from the Democratic party. Here he highlights one of the key problems.
Perfection is the enemy of the good.
‘There are countless examples of such inefficiencies and delays. The culprit is a Democratic Party that puts ideology and special interests ahead of good governance. It is committed to ensuring that development is not socially harmful in any way, and does not transgress the interests of any “stakeholders.” In reality, that amounts to a promise that nothing will get done. The result is endless paperwork and litigation by those stakeholders—or, more accurately, interest groups that claim to represent those stakeholders. This includes countless environmental and “social justice” NGOs, local NIMBY groups and, of course, the army of lawyers who make their living from this sort of thing. Costs balloon and projects are delayed.’
California Wildfires Postscript
I naively thought there was a possibility that the City of Los Angeles and the State of California would jump through hoops to make sure the rich people affected by the California wildfires would be able to get back on their feet quickly. After all the rich have money and they like big government. God forbid this constituency starts to see what it’s like for the rest of us.
I was wrong.
‘ADAM CAROLLA WAS RIGHT: 75 Days After CA Wildfires, FOUR Building Permits Have Been Issued in the Palisades (VIDEO)’
Laws that make it easy for plaintiff lawyers to sue businesses for not being perfect will encourage businesses to move elsewhere.
Money goes where it is treated well.
‘New York Attorney General Letitia James is pushing legislation to let trial lawyers sue businesses over alleged “unfair, deceptive and abusive” practices without needing to prove actual harm. A similar law in Washington, D.C., has been a boon for trial lawyers working with leftwing groups.
‘Biden Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra this month endorsed Ms. James’s legislation. “We need stronger state laws to combat abuses that harm families and honest businesses,” Mr. Chopra said. But New York regulators can already dun businesses that mislead consumers.’