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Given a few folks have made this critique, I thought I'd clarify my thoughts.
My central claim is 'The administrative class in this country needs to be replaced'.
This is not about hiring competent people. It is about a fundamental change in our institutions. https://twitter.com/s_r_constantin/status/1248617230385819648
My central claim is 'The administrative class in this country needs to be replaced'.
This is not about hiring competent people. It is about a fundamental change in our institutions. https://twitter.com/s_r_constantin/status/1248617230385819648
The last comparable event in American history was the progressive era. A specific ideology was generated, that had a different view of government and it's role in society, and effectively took over the state.
A more limited example is conservatives in the legal profession
A more limited example is conservatives in the legal profession
This requires a comprehensive approach.
First, the new ideology must be defined. I think there are attempts at this, with Progress Studies and Neoliberalism, but it hasn't yet coalesced into a coherent whole.
First, the new ideology must be defined. I think there are attempts at this, with Progress Studies and Neoliberalism, but it hasn't yet coalesced into a coherent whole.
Second, there must be a cultural shift. The values of the new ideology must become embedded in society, more specifically in the administrative class. These values should include things like risk tolerance, view of technology, and government's role in the economy
Third, there must be an educational change. New pipelines must be established to 'accredit' future leaders. YC has done this for technology, what is the analogy for government?
This is not an engineering project. It can't be captured by a diagram. It is a generational project.
Rebuilding state capacity requires technical writing, but is also requires emotive writing, it requires art.
Rebuilding state capacity requires technical writing, but is also requires emotive writing, it requires art.
Perhaps my American Mind article didn't capture the above sentiment. Perhaps the above sentiment is wrong, in which case I would be happy to discuss.
However, unlike the progressive era we do not have the luxury of starting from scratch. Existing institutions have to be replaced. The people with livelihoods and identities tied to those institutions will fight to defend them.
I would rather not live my adult life in a failed state. Unfortunately that is where America is headed. I am trying, to the extent I am able, to draw attention to this challenge and offer the outline of potential solutions.
