Dear Friends,
It seems to me that when a person’s argument is weak they tend to change the subject a lot. Doing so keeps their opponent off balance. More importantly, the weak points in their arguments are never examined.
A weak policy point, not examined, makes bad policy when enacted. As more and more poorly thought out policies are put into place the material wellbeing of a society suffers. The legislator that seeks to avoid argument, ducking the facts, making ad homonym attacks, and answering the question he wished he was asked instead of the question he was actually asked, inevitably puts bad policies into regulation and law.
Not one side does it, both sides do it, in the USA. In other countries all sides do it. Even a cursory glance at the media coverage of the political struggle going on today in the US, shows undeniably, that the policies and premises of the people running for office are studiously avoided.
I for one want to know what a candidate for public office has for a basic philosophy. Not only of governing but his or her view of their fellow man. That goes directly back to the basic philosophical underpinnings of a candidate. A pointless attack ad with scary music in the background gives me no usable information at all. But then again, isn’t that the point, it isn‘t supposed to?
To obfuscate the issues. Both sides do it so both sides must feel their arguments are weak. If both sides have no confidence in their arguments how can they feel comfortable putting their ideas into action? One look at the product of our legislators, the regulations and laws they enact, shows how shoddy their workmanship is.
We have measures for the accuracy of a line. We can scale the cost benefit of a given business plan. As rational maximizers we weigh the cost vs. benefits of everything we do, on a daily basis. All these things are done today, by those that live in this time and this place, because we were raised and live in a market economy.
But there is no value for the quality of legislation… Or is there?
Quality legislation is never easy. Lengthy, impossible to understand legislation, with a myriad of unexpected consequences is far easier. An historical example, why too much complexity can be damaging, is from World War Two, it is the difference between a German Panzer Kampf Wagon Mark 5 Panther and a US mark 5 Sherman Medium Battle Tank. The Panther was far stronger, with much more armor, and bigger gun, but was prone to breakdowns. The Sherman had one advantage, It worked. It started and ran. In an average Panzer unit as much as 50% or more Panthers could be out of service due to mechanical problems. A typical Sherman unit had less then 20% down at any time.
So if two identical units, of 100 tanks each, engaged in combat, the US unit would have 80 tanks, or more, on the battlefield, the German would have fewer than 50. In individual terms the Panther was superior but in the aggregate the Sherman was superior. Because the Sherman was simpler.
Simplicity in legislation avoids one of the biggest problems with new legislation… unintended consequences. It also minimizes the need for attorneys to “interpret” what the law means. If it is well written and simple the meaning is obvious, but if it is serpentine and highly intrusive, it is less obvious and effects more and more things it wasn’t intended to.
But most importantly does it work and how often? Legislation or regulation that damages the interests of those that are regulated is commonplace. Is that good regulation? Often legislation drives whole industries offshore. Is that well though out?
But the incentives, as they are in our society, drive the media and our politicians to avoid the issues and focus on personal attacks, because they work. The electorate is satisfied with mud slinging. It protects us from having to think, we can just react.
And there is the point. As long as we live in a market economy, using logic on a daily basis for every decision we make. Reacting instead of thinking, when it comes to politics, ensures bad results.
Emotionally based policymaking is far more dangerous than it feels.
