PoliticslegislationNew Bills and Laws
Beyond Abundance: The Case for Strategic Capacity in US Policy
In their recent work, Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson present a powerful argument for 'competent capacity'—a revival of America's ability to meticulously plan, approve, and execute large-scale national projects. This is an undeniably crucial objective for a nation whose ambitions have frequently been thwarted by bureaucratic gridlock and political dysfunction.However, the authors' decision to frame this imperative under the banner of 'abundance' is a significant rhetorical misstep. This semantic choice risks distorting the policy conversation, prioritizing a flawed quantity-over-quality paradigm when what is truly needed is strategic precision.The term 'abundance' conjures an image of natural, effortless profusion, a stark contrast to the deliberate, complex work of statecraft and long-term planning the authors rightly endorse. Consider the historical precedent of the Eisenhower-era Interstate Highway System.This monumental achievement was not born from a vague desire for more; it was the product of a clear-eyed strategic vision focused on national security, economic efficiency, and social cohesion. It was competent capacity—the ability to marshal resources and sustain public will over decades—that built these critical arteries, not a rhetorical focus on the sheer volume of asphalt poured.The inherent danger of the 'abundance' framework is its subtle redefinition of success, shifting the focus from the robustness, sustainability, and strategic value of outcomes to simplistic, raw output metrics. This path risks repeating the errors of the mid-20th century, which left legacies of hastily built urban developments that exacerbated segregation and industrial policies that ignored environmental and social costs in pursuit of production targets.A more prudent and historically informed approach would be to articulate a vision of 'strategic capacity. ' This would initiate a national dialogue focused not on having more of everything, but on identifying the specific capabilities vital for American resilience in the 21st century—from semiconductors and clean energy to advanced telecommunications.The subsequent goal would be to build the competent, depoliticized institutions required to achieve these defined priorities. The core challenge is not to open the taps wider, but to meticulously repair the plumbing of governance.The objective is to ensure that when a national priority is identified, the state possesses the effective mechanisms to deliver it with precision and foresight. The American experiment has never been fundamentally about mere abundance; it has been about the application of democratic will and technical prowess to build a stronger, more resilient nation. That endeavor requires not a deluge, but a well-aimed and steadily held chisel.
#editorial picks news
#Ezra Klein
#Derek Thompson
#competent capacity
#project planning
#US policy
#legislative efficiency
