Jul 25, 2022·edited Jul 25, 2022Liked by Noah Smith
I’m currently in grad school studying policy, and I’ve been very involved in cash transfer research over the past 6 months. I too have been shocked by just how married Americans continue to be to the idea of “workfare.” Even my fairly progressive grandparents balked when I described the CTC to them - “but how do you make sure they’re not just spending it on whatever they want and not working?” Survey data backs this up - most people aren’t keen on the idea of just handing out money.
But I do think there’s still lots of “room for growth” in public opinion here. When normal people see the poverty alleviating effects of the CTC, they tend to be impressed. I’m a former cash aid skeptic who was converted by good arguments and data! I think people like readers of this blog should continue to champion these sorts of policies, and in another 5 or 10 years, we could see some real shifts in public opinion.
Very much like your post Noah. I often disagree with some of what you say, but I applaud your willingness to revisit your priors. We are all human after all, even the smartest amongst us. Inbound information is filtered through sometimes biased, sometimes ignorant filters, and we ourselves have our own limitations and biases, as we must. The healthiest amongst us is only on this planet for about 35,000 days, and our productive working lives are maybe half that much. Honest individuals do what they can to try to make the world a better place. Way to go.
“ Instead, I think we need to focus on addressing high costs, with the “supply-side progressivism” and “abundance agenda” recommended by writers like Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, and by the folks at the Niskanen Center.”
- Yes, yes and yes.
- But these words need to be policy. That’s what’s proving hard in my mind.
This post made me pleased to have subscribed. I had been reading your free offerings and thinking about subscribing. This post provides some reasons for optimism which can be difficult for an old ill guy to achieve. Thanks.
I agree with you closing statement that "they’re consistent with my prediction that a shrinking fringe of American society would continue to get more and more radical even as the bulk of the populace became more disengaged. " The issue is that for democracy to trend towards the robust, we need a tipping weight of the populace to be engaged (my opinion)..
To be fair, US inflation is also due to rising fuel costs due to the war (with OPEC using its monopolistic power to resist calls for supply increases) and the Shanghai lockdown leading to rise in supply chain costs (but I don't know if companies passed them down to the US consumer), no? Or was it clear that inflation is not transitory before February?
Very off topic, but - in a group I participate in we were asked what kind of animal we would like to be. I responded "a pampered house cat". I really wanted to say "one of Noah's pampered rabbits" but didn't think anyone would appreciate the context.
I will shortly be in Dublin staying near St. Stephens Green and will definitely visit the WBY memorial.
I’m currently in grad school studying policy, and I’ve been very involved in cash transfer research over the past 6 months. I too have been shocked by just how married Americans continue to be to the idea of “workfare.” Even my fairly progressive grandparents balked when I described the CTC to them - “but how do you make sure they’re not just spending it on whatever they want and not working?” Survey data backs this up - most people aren’t keen on the idea of just handing out money.
But I do think there’s still lots of “room for growth” in public opinion here. When normal people see the poverty alleviating effects of the CTC, they tend to be impressed. I’m a former cash aid skeptic who was converted by good arguments and data! I think people like readers of this blog should continue to champion these sorts of policies, and in another 5 or 10 years, we could see some real shifts in public opinion.
Very much like your post Noah. I often disagree with some of what you say, but I applaud your willingness to revisit your priors. We are all human after all, even the smartest amongst us. Inbound information is filtered through sometimes biased, sometimes ignorant filters, and we ourselves have our own limitations and biases, as we must. The healthiest amongst us is only on this planet for about 35,000 days, and our productive working lives are maybe half that much. Honest individuals do what they can to try to make the world a better place. Way to go.
Best line for me was:
“ Instead, I think we need to focus on addressing high costs, with the “supply-side progressivism” and “abundance agenda” recommended by writers like Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, and by the folks at the Niskanen Center.”
- Yes, yes and yes.
- But these words need to be policy. That’s what’s proving hard in my mind.
Noah,
This post made me pleased to have subscribed. I had been reading your free offerings and thinking about subscribing. This post provides some reasons for optimism which can be difficult for an old ill guy to achieve. Thanks.
JPD
I agree with you closing statement that "they’re consistent with my prediction that a shrinking fringe of American society would continue to get more and more radical even as the bulk of the populace became more disengaged. " The issue is that for democracy to trend towards the robust, we need a tipping weight of the populace to be engaged (my opinion)..
Thank you for this article. We need more like this in the world.
To be fair, US inflation is also due to rising fuel costs due to the war (with OPEC using its monopolistic power to resist calls for supply increases) and the Shanghai lockdown leading to rise in supply chain costs (but I don't know if companies passed them down to the US consumer), no? Or was it clear that inflation is not transitory before February?
Very off topic, but - in a group I participate in we were asked what kind of animal we would like to be. I responded "a pampered house cat". I really wanted to say "one of Noah's pampered rabbits" but didn't think anyone would appreciate the context.
I will shortly be in Dublin staying near St. Stephens Green and will definitely visit the WBY memorial.