Good overview of a critical issue. I hope Francis Fukuyama will follow up this important piece with one that outlines steps to create a fair process by which this country COULD get things done. An essay like that would help restore hope... and, perhaps, spark the possibility of renewed faith by all political sides in our national government.
One follow up: Not sure it’s always “the government” per se. My favorite example: Dying, half empty shopping plaza. Proposal for a beautiful, frankly, new apartment complex. Neighborhood outrage! It doesn’t fit into their “ prestigious” collection of 1980s stucco tract homes! And there’s a childcare center nearby. Peedos will rent the apartments! The city Council denied the project
The article stopped just as it got to the important part - what to do about this problem! I realize this is a part of a series and what to do will be tackled in future columns.
One thing I would like Dr. Fukuyama to see address is shortcomings of liberalism. Liberalism in extreme seems to lead to chaos and decadence with every minority group demanding their rights and willing to sacrifice the interests of the many to give rights to minorities. This is the polar opposite of majoritarianism where rights of minorities are ignored in the pursuit of those of the majority. A lot of these regulations and restrictions are in protection of minorities of different types (not in the sense of ethnicity but like people living in a particular suburb etc.)
Trans rights is another example where rights of trans women were considered more important than the rights of women on the logic that women are a much larger group compared with the trans, and can better absorb the loss.
My literary image of the Enlightenment isn't Gulliver but Mary Shelley's "Doctor Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus." The Age of Reason has morphed into a monster, the tragedy of hubris (overweening pride):
"PROMETHEUS was the Titan god of forethought and crafty counsel who was given the task of moulding mankind out of clay. His attempts to better the lives of his creation brought him into conflict with Zeus. Firstly he tricked the gods out of the best portion of the sacrificial feast, acquiring the meat for the feasting of man. Then, when Zeus withheld fire, he stole it from heaven and delivered it to mortal kind hidden inside a fennel-stalk. As punishment for these rebellious acts, Zeus ordered the creation of Pandora (the first woman) as a means to deliver misfortune into the house of man, or as a way to cheat mankind of the company of the good spirits. Prometheus meanwhile, was arrested and bound to a stake on Mount Kaukasos (Caucasus) where an eagle was set to feed upon his ever-regenerating liver (or, some say, heart)."
Some excellent points (retired city planner here).
Good overview of a critical issue. I hope Francis Fukuyama will follow up this important piece with one that outlines steps to create a fair process by which this country COULD get things done. An essay like that would help restore hope... and, perhaps, spark the possibility of renewed faith by all political sides in our national government.
One follow up: Not sure it’s always “the government” per se. My favorite example: Dying, half empty shopping plaza. Proposal for a beautiful, frankly, new apartment complex. Neighborhood outrage! It doesn’t fit into their “ prestigious” collection of 1980s stucco tract homes! And there’s a childcare center nearby. Peedos will rent the apartments! The city Council denied the project
Excellent summary of our modern dilemma that has created a fertile ground for autocracy
The article stopped just as it got to the important part - what to do about this problem! I realize this is a part of a series and what to do will be tackled in future columns.
One thing I would like Dr. Fukuyama to see address is shortcomings of liberalism. Liberalism in extreme seems to lead to chaos and decadence with every minority group demanding their rights and willing to sacrifice the interests of the many to give rights to minorities. This is the polar opposite of majoritarianism where rights of minorities are ignored in the pursuit of those of the majority. A lot of these regulations and restrictions are in protection of minorities of different types (not in the sense of ethnicity but like people living in a particular suburb etc.)
Trans rights is another example where rights of trans women were considered more important than the rights of women on the logic that women are a much larger group compared with the trans, and can better absorb the loss.
Great piece and I would recommend Marc Dunkelman’s “Why Nothing Works” and Jennifer Pahlka’s “Recoding America” for further reading on the subject.
My literary image of the Enlightenment isn't Gulliver but Mary Shelley's "Doctor Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus." The Age of Reason has morphed into a monster, the tragedy of hubris (overweening pride):
"PROMETHEUS was the Titan god of forethought and crafty counsel who was given the task of moulding mankind out of clay. His attempts to better the lives of his creation brought him into conflict with Zeus. Firstly he tricked the gods out of the best portion of the sacrificial feast, acquiring the meat for the feasting of man. Then, when Zeus withheld fire, he stole it from heaven and delivered it to mortal kind hidden inside a fennel-stalk. As punishment for these rebellious acts, Zeus ordered the creation of Pandora (the first woman) as a means to deliver misfortune into the house of man, or as a way to cheat mankind of the company of the good spirits. Prometheus meanwhile, was arrested and bound to a stake on Mount Kaukasos (Caucasus) where an eagle was set to feed upon his ever-regenerating liver (or, some say, heart)."
https://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanPrometheus.html