Comments on: If America Was a Rational Technocracy http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/if-america-was-a-rational-technocracy/ The Sweet Release of Reason Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:11:50 +0000 hourly 1 By: Bob http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/if-america-was-a-rational-technocracy/#comment-20125 Bob Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:28:51 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2455#comment-20125 Paul, are you talking about the wasted billions that Bush sent to Iraq? I agree, that has been ineffective. Paul, are you talking about the wasted billions that Bush sent to Iraq? I agree, that has been ineffective.

]]> By: US http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/if-america-was-a-rational-technocracy/#comment-20124 US Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:10:53 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2455#comment-20124 You seem to assume that the stated goals and the actual goals of a "rational technocracy" are the same.<br><br>What if the main goal of greatly increasing the size and scope of government is, well, just that? If the technocrats not only try, but actually succeed, in convincing people that it's not - well, that sounds like a decently rational technocracy to me. You seem to assume that the stated goals and the actual goals of a “rational technocracy” are the same.

What if the main goal of greatly increasing the size and scope of government is, well, just that? If the technocrats not only try, but actually succeed, in convincing people that it's not – well, that sounds like a decently rational technocracy to me.

]]> By: Bob http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/if-america-was-a-rational-technocracy/#comment-20123 Bob Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:28:51 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2455#comment-20123 Paul, are you talking about the wasted billions that Bush sent to Iraq? I agree, that has been ineffective. Paul, are you talking about the wasted billions that Bush sent to Iraq? I agree, that has been ineffective.

]]> By: US http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/if-america-was-a-rational-technocracy/#comment-20122 US Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:10:53 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2455#comment-20122 You seem to assume that the stated goals and the actual goals of a "rational technocracy" are the same.<br><br>What if the main goal of greatly increasing the size and scope of government is, well, just that? If the technocrats not only try, but actually succeed, in convincing people that it's not - well, that sounds like a decently rational technocracy to me. You seem to assume that the stated goals and the actual goals of a “rational technocracy” are the same.

What if the main goal of greatly increasing the size and scope of government is, well, just that? If the technocrats not only try, but actually succeed, in convincing people that it's not – well, that sounds like a decently rational technocracy to me.

]]> By: Paul O'Pinion http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/if-america-was-a-rational-technocracy/#comment-20121 Paul O'Pinion Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:35:01 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2455#comment-20121 Since it has proven to be ineffective for Washington to throw money at problems for the last 80 years or so, why not let the states spend the money as they please? It is always possible that a 'local' idea will be a good one. We desperately need new thinking. Since it has proven to be ineffective for Washington to throw money at problems for the last 80 years or so, why not let the states spend the money as they please? It is always possible that a 'local' idea will be a good one. We desperately need new thinking.

]]> By: Paul O'Pinion http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/if-america-was-a-rational-technocracy/#comment-22568 Paul O'Pinion Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:35:01 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2455#comment-22568 Since it has proven to be ineffective for Washington to throw money at problems for the last 80 years or so, why not let the states spend the money as they please? It is always possible that a 'local' idea will be a good one. We desperately need new thinking. Since it has proven to be ineffective for Washington to throw money at problems for the last 80 years or so, why not let the states spend the money as they please? It is always possible that a 'local' idea will be a good one. We desperately need new thinking.

]]> By: Luis http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/if-america-was-a-rational-technocracy/#comment-20120 Luis Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:22:53 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2455#comment-20120 Yeah, because that wouldn't be gamed to hell and back. Yeah, because that wouldn't be gamed to hell and back.

]]> By: Tim http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/if-america-was-a-rational-technocracy/#comment-20119 Tim Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:06:11 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2455#comment-20119 I would like a very detailed post about what you would like done instead of "wasting a ton of money". I assume you are one of the "smart people" you refer to. And I would like to learn from "smart people". So enlighten me. I would like a very detailed post about what you would like done instead of “wasting a ton of money”. I assume you are one of the “smart people” you refer to. And I would like to learn from “smart people”. So enlighten me.

]]> By: mk http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/if-america-was-a-rational-technocracy/#comment-20118 mk Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:57:30 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2455#comment-20118 We're about to have the largest government intervention in the history of the world. You don't think the academic economists will be ALL OVER this data set? Sure it may not be completely randomized, but simple things (staggered or randomized phase-in, phase-out dates) can be done to facilitate experimental analysis. I agree that we should do these things, and with a bit of pressure, we may get it to happen. We're about to have the largest government intervention in the history of the world. You don't think the academic economists will be ALL OVER this data set? Sure it may not be completely randomized, but simple things (staggered or randomized phase-in, phase-out dates) can be done to facilitate experimental analysis. I agree that we should do these things, and with a bit of pressure, we may get it to happen.

]]> By: Random Walk http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/if-america-was-a-rational-technocracy/#comment-20117 Random Walk Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:50:12 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2455#comment-20117 Lee Kuan Yew, where art thou? Lee Kuan Yew, where art thou?

]]>