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Brent Brewington's avatar

This coincides very nicely with the recent interview of Ezra Klein on Jon Stewart's podcast "The Weekly Show" - titled "Why We Can't Have Nice Things". I'm linking to 45m20s mark, a section titled "There are more efficient ways to pass laws": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcZxaFfxloo&t=4307s - here's some key points:

Complex Bureaucratic Processes: Ezra Klein discusses how modern liberal governance often involves overly complicated, multi-step bureaucratic processes that delay the implementation of laws. For example, the rural broadband initiative passed in 2021 still hadn't been fully implemented by 2024 due to a 14-stage process involving multiple approvals, public comment periods, and challenges at both state and federal levels.

"Everything Bagel Liberalism": Klein critiques what he calls "everything bagel liberalism," where well-intentioned policies are burdened with excessive requirements that aim to solve multiple issues simultaneously (e.g., equity standards, environmental goals). This makes projects more expensive and harder to execute, often excluding smaller entities from participation.

Comparison to Historical Efficiency: Klein contrasts this inefficiency with past government successes like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the New Deal or the rollout of Medicare in the 1960s, which achieved results much faster. He emphasizes that these delays are not inevitable but are a result of choices made in modern governance.

Impact on Public Trust: The slow pace of implementation undermines public trust in government. Klein argues that when people cannot see tangible benefits within a reasonable timeframe, it erodes faith in liberal democracy and fuels skepticism about government effectiveness.

Need for Streamlined Governance: Klein advocates for empowering officials and simplifying processes to make government more effective. He points out that Democrats often design their own policies in ways that hinder their implementation, even without Republican interference.

Examples of Success and Failure: While highlighting failures like rural broadband, Klein also acknowledges successful initiatives such as the Inflation Reduction Act's impact on green energy. He stresses that government can work effectively when processes are designed efficiently.

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