Lazy framing on HSR (at least, initially):https://twitter.com/asymmetricinfo/status/1095783939111817222 …
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Kim-Mai Cutler Retweeted Megan McArdle
Better, and
@joemmathews wrote a column on how California has too many small and stupid governments: http://zocalo-on.kcrw.com/2016/03/californias-problem-is-not-big-government-but-too-many-small-and-stupid-governments/ …https://twitter.com/asymmetricinfo/status/1095784533033734144 …Kim-Mai Cutler added,
2 replies 3 retweets 16 likesShow this thread -
Kim-Mai Cutler Retweeted Megan McArdle
True, more pressure points to create a vetocracy, where nothing gets through:https://twitter.com/asymmetricinfo/status/1095785310229803024 …
Kim-Mai Cutler added,
Megan McArdleVerified account @asymmetricinfoAlso, lobbying small governments is easier than lobbying big ones. If you read NYT piece from Brian Rosenthal on why NYC's 2nd Avenue subway, you may have noticed the insane union featherbedding, the incredibly high union wages, the unbelievable number of consultants underfootShow this thread1 reply 0 retweets 3 likesShow this thread -
Kim-Mai Cutler Retweeted Megan McArdle
True, many other European countries use civil law, rather than common law, which is just inherently a more litigious system: https://www.the-american-interest.com/2017/02/10/why-we-cant-have-nice-things-2/ …https://twitter.com/asymmetricinfo/status/1095789575874719750 …
Kim-Mai Cutler added,
Megan McArdleVerified account @asymmetricinfoWe also much more than other countries on legal liability rather than regulation, which has its merits, but means that projects do a lot of defensive work aimed at forestalling (or winning) lawsuits, and we have to get through the suits themselves, which are slow & costly.Show this thread5 replies 2 retweets 8 likesShow this thread -
Kim-Mai Cutler Retweeted Megan McArdle
Also, sadly true. Way cheaper to build HSR from Houston-Dallas in Texas which isn't on a bunch of giant seismic faults and has flat, instead of steeper, vegetated terrain: https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2018/11/29/bullet-train-texas-central-what-to-expect.html …https://twitter.com/asymmetricinfo/status/1095791615845773315 …
Kim-Mai Cutler added,
Megan McArdleVerified account @asymmetricinfoBut HSR is just a really, really hard push in the US. Texas is the best use-case: reasonably flat, and reasonably cheap land in between major cities. NE corridor has the highest need, but not the political will to tear down all the stuff you'd need to tear down to build the trackShow this thread3 replies 0 retweets 6 likesShow this thread -
Kim-Mai Cutler Retweeted Megan McArdle
Yep. A gravy train (except for prospective riders):https://twitter.com/asymmetricinfo/status/1095792324074975255 …
Kim-Mai Cutler added,
Megan McArdleVerified account @asymmetricinfoNo! No, Democratic interest groups killed HSR in California! Groups that wanted the project to employ many, many people at above market wages. NIMBYs who wanted it to run anywhere but through their back yard. Environmentalists who wanted complicated reviews. Etc.Show this thread1 reply 1 retweet 4 likesShow this thread
Kim-Mai Cutler Retweeted Megan McArdle
Kim-Mai Cutler added,
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