Old readers know that I believe that people underestimate the importance of procedural issues. Too many people focus on “results”, not on the structure of decision -making.
To take a recent example, consider the case of Tiktok. At first glance it may seem that I have the same picture as President Trump. In fact, our views are radically different. Afaik, Trump’s opinion can be described approximately as follows: Tiktok must be closed when it is in the interest of Trump to close it, and must be able to work when it is in the interest of Trump to make it work.
And here is my opinion: The government may not close social media apps randomly.
They seem radically different policy resources, not the same opinion.
Consider the recent case of Wind energy regulation:
Given the high costs related to building a wind project and the chance that the rates make that situation worse, the uncertainty produced by a potential stopping of permits can also be sufficient to pull the plugs out – because even even If the order itself Wind Up is thrown away in court, that can take years. . . .
But the idea that you would have a pro-business administration that tries to prevent private companies from taking economically appropriate measures on private country is simply out of the pass with the role of the government that we expect to clarify their intention. “
The executive order of Trump is so far -reaching because wind projects regularly need federal permits and other authorizations, even if they are put on private or state countries.
A generally cited federal Nexus is endangered species. Opponents of wind energy have long criticized turbines because they are a potential threat to birds, but it is the case that many wind projects are collaborated in or nearby areas for rare bird migration. Cultural heritage effects can often also be a difficulty.
At first glance it may seem as if President Trump’s vision on regulations is very different from President Biden’s opinion. Trump likes coal and Biden likes wind energy. But from a procedural perspective I see many similarities. Both presidents can be described as the following view:
The construction of new energy projects must be impeded by rates that increase construction costs. Moreover, every project that the president does not like must be connected by expensive regulations with things such as endangered species and cultural preservation.
The most important ideological difference in public policy is not which specific industry is preferred; It is rather whether the government has a legitimate role that promotes one industry above another.