Problem is that cost-shifting is not a bug, but a feature. The whole point of machine politics is to transfer money to your supporters and dump the downside costs on your opponents. If your people have to pay for what they want, you're doing it wrong.
Granted, there's also a whole political-economy explanation about public goods being n…
Problem is that cost-shifting is not a bug, but a feature. The whole point of machine politics is to transfer money to your supporters and dump the downside costs on your opponents. If your people have to pay for what they want, you're doing it wrong.
Granted, there's also a whole political-economy explanation about public goods being non-excludable and the free-rider problem. We all benefit from propping up Ukraine (supposedly) and there's no way to limit that benefit to the people who pay for it. Even that isn't an airtight argument for the public funding it, but it's not a crazy one.
Cynics would say that's all kayfabe: we don't all benefit, really. That's just the sales pitch. But right now our government is run by people who believe -- or at least, who claim to believe -- that we all benefit.
Problem is that cost-shifting is not a bug, but a feature. The whole point of machine politics is to transfer money to your supporters and dump the downside costs on your opponents. If your people have to pay for what they want, you're doing it wrong.
Granted, there's also a whole political-economy explanation about public goods being non-excludable and the free-rider problem. We all benefit from propping up Ukraine (supposedly) and there's no way to limit that benefit to the people who pay for it. Even that isn't an airtight argument for the public funding it, but it's not a crazy one.
Cynics would say that's all kayfabe: we don't all benefit, really. That's just the sales pitch. But right now our government is run by people who believe -- or at least, who claim to believe -- that we all benefit.
“But right now our government is run by people who believe -- or at least, who claim to believe -- that we all benefit.”
Criminal organizations aren’t run like that. They have their media puppets to promote that propaganda to the sheep.
CPK: Bullshit.