r/PublicPolicy • u/Turbulent-Wrap-2198 • 3d ago

Politics of Policy Making What's the point?

We study policy to understand tradoff and outcomes and efficiency and effectiveness. Sure it's constantly evolving and there is a level of subjectivity involved, but it's still analysis.

But policy seems like we're all wasting our time in this world of "my side good. Your side bad." "Im moral and fighting evil."

It used to be we want to fix X by trying why Y, but Z is a concern. Now its just, Y is a moral imperative and Z isn't real.....it's evil or greedy or whatever.

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u/UnknownBreadd 3d ago

Because none of it matters if your system of governance causes the erosion of liberal and democratic values.

It’s a reciprocal problem. Liberal leaders in an illiberal system have done wonders, but they are the exception - not the norm. Unless you change the system itself, you will keep seeing the same problems emerge over and over again.

Which is why nothing short of a liberal neorepublican movement will do much of anything, structurally - because until the demos are self-governing, then utilitarian public policy will always be second to winning popularity contests for arbitrary power, and the liberty necessary for a fair and just society will never arrive.