Seems cut off. But the theme seems to be a lack of Hansonian understanding that policy debate isn’t about finding the best policies. It’s about power and appearing to help those who give you the power.
In small groups and businesses, testable policies and practices rule—they care about the results, not (as much) about the public reaction. In public and large-non-hierarchical groups, testable policy is a mistake, because you’ll be blamed if the test shows that it’s wrong. The best policies are those that are hard to argue against, and that show you care about your constituents.
Cool. Now even more clear that this is a wish for different humans, or at least different kinds of negotiation and compromise in government.
I would love to live in a world where any bill required the following 5 items:
Don’t use passive voice here. Bills don’t require things, voters require things of their legislators. That level of clarity in policy and public discussion would make it impossible to sneak in the special-interest and coalition-supporting features of bills. Which would, in turn, make it impossible for most voters to fool themselves into thinking their government has their interests first.
Seems cut off. But the theme seems to be a lack of Hansonian understanding that policy debate isn’t about finding the best policies. It’s about power and appearing to help those who give you the power.
In small groups and businesses, testable policies and practices rule—they care about the results, not (as much) about the public reaction. In public and large-non-hierarchical groups, testable policy is a mistake, because you’ll be blamed if the test shows that it’s wrong. The best policies are those that are hard to argue against, and that show you care about your constituents.
Completed and reposted.
Cool. Now even more clear that this is a wish for different humans, or at least different kinds of negotiation and compromise in government.
Don’t use passive voice here. Bills don’t require things, voters require things of their legislators. That level of clarity in policy and public discussion would make it impossible to sneak in the special-interest and coalition-supporting features of bills. Which would, in turn, make it impossible for most voters to fool themselves into thinking their government has their interests first.