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> On the other hand authoritarian governments are able to move swiftly and decisively on issues and infrastructure. For example, government simply can deny cars

> On the other hand authoritarian governments are able to move swiftly and decisively on issues and infrastructure. For example, government simply can deny cars with odd numbered license plates to drive on Mondays to reduce traffic and pollution. How is that only available to authoritarian governments? Athens (GR) has had an even/odd number plates policy since the 1980s... It's obviously true that the decision making process is easier in authoritarian regimes, but that's no excuse for the west simply not developing fast enough anymore. No big infrastructure projects (no matter how long decisions would take, nobody even tries), no real visions for Europe's future (Trump has one for the USA, as simple as it may seem, at least it exists). Laissez-faire attitude on unqualified and illegal mass migration (i.e. "come and take our stuff!"). We're so stuck that we won't even notice if one day China decides to wipe us off the face of the earth in order to replace us with a functioning society.

tmountain 8y ago
Trump’s “vision” is setting up an isolationist xenophobic plutocracy. I’m not sure if that really qualifies.
- lazyjones 8y ago
  I was referring to his idea of bringing back manufacturing and jobs in general, his space policy and other such initiatives in the spirit of the 1960s and 1970s.
  - yardie 8y ago
    Except they never went away. Manufacturing is highly automated and specialized. If a highschool dropout could do it then eventually a simple robot will be able to do it. Politicians, executives, and union leaders should be taken to task for letting education and drop training fall so far behind. Until our space program gets out of politics it will continue to be a political football, some politicians will deem it too expensive, others will treat it as a jobs program with no objective. Look at his current cabinet? Do you think any of them will stick around for the next decade to shepherd a successful space program. I don't think any of them have the political capital to finish whatever he may start.
Legogris 8y ago
> How is that only available to authoritarian governments? Athens (GR) has had an even/odd number plates policy since the 1980s... Similar policy in Paris, which I don't think anyone could argue falls in the authoritative side of the spectrum. I do think that the poor examples don't take away the overall point they're making though.

tmountain 8y ago

Trump’s “vision” is setting up an isolationist xenophobic plutocracy. I’m not sure if that really qualifies.

lazyjones 8y ago
I was referring to his idea of bringing back manufacturing and jobs in general, his space policy and other such initiatives in the spirit of the 1960s and 1970s.
- yardie 8y ago
  Except they never went away. Manufacturing is highly automated and specialized. If a highschool dropout could do it then eventually a simple robot will be able to do it. Politicians, executives, and union leaders should be taken to task for letting education and drop training fall so far behind. Until our space program gets out of politics it will continue to be a political football, some politicians will deem it too expensive, others will treat it as a jobs program with no objective. Look at his current cabinet? Do you think any of them will stick around for the next decade to shepherd a successful space program. I don't think any of them have the political capital to finish whatever he may start.

Legogris 8y ago

> How is that only available to authoritarian governments? Athens (GR) has had an even/odd number plates policy since the 1980s... Similar policy in Paris, which I don't think anyone could argue falls in the authoritative side of the spectrum. I do think that the poor examples don't take away the overall point they're making though.