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Maybe it’s semantics but, this article fails to prove that it’s core argument isn’t a semantic one. I get that you cannot label transit as a public good in eco
by wanderingbort 4y ago
Maybe it’s semantics but, this article fails to prove that it’s core argument isn’t a semantic one.
I get that you cannot label transit as a public good in economic terms.
Nobody who is presenting reasons it should be free or heavily subsidized is attempting to do so. They are presenting arguments about environment, equity, etc. They are not trying to prove that it is nonexcludable and nonrival.
The article even admits that advocates are arguing that it should be a public good by design.
But they are mislabeling it according to economic theory. Who cares (other than academic economists)? In a political environment, where you are talking to other politicians and the broader public, the commonly held version of “public good” seems to fit.
Nothing about this article substantiates it’s core claim: “Mistaken assumptions about public goods pose a growing risk to sound transit policy.”
- Clent 4y agoBack in the Slashdot day's we'd call this FUD (Fear. Uncertainty. Doubt.) and move to the next discussion. What happened? Why is this stuff so consistently making it to the front page? Has an Enteral September crept over the online tech community while I was bust living?
- the_third_wave 4y agoMaybe HN can take a page out of that Slashdot history and add some categories to the front page which can be disabled or demoted based on user preferences. Keep the default 2-dimensional list for those not logged in and those who did not edit their preferences so the default experience remains the same - just a flat list. Each item gets a category - start simple with 'Tech', 'Business´, 'Politics', 'Current events' or something along those lines - which users can demote or promote in their settings. Don't want to see this Bloomberg post? Demote 'Politics' and it is off the front page unless it gets massively upvoted. Want to see more of these things? Promote 'Politics' and you'll get to see what has been voted off the front page. Only want 'Tech'? Demote the rest. Add a 'Category' list to the submission page with the existing categories. If the post is miscategorised the moderator(s) can correct this. This would solve the problems some have with the increase in political chitchat while others who deem tech to be inseparable from politics can get their fill. This would be an easy change which does not add significant extra load to the server. As it stands I already ignore the front page since I access HN through the RSS feed, others use tailor-made (web) apps to customise their entry points to the site so the argument that a change like this would lead to a fragmented experience by taking away the universal entry point is moot - there is no universal entry point.
- Clent 4y agoIt's noise for the sake of noise. There is zero new revelation here. There is zero advancement in thought, science, anything. The only tag we need is tabolid / not tabloid There are hundreds of news aggregators that are glorified rss readers. HN is not that, should not be that.
- the_third_wave 4y ago> HN is not that, HN is what its users make it. > should not be that. ...which would be solved by something like I mentioned above.
- readthenotes1 4y agoHow dare the hoi polloi confuse "good for the public (everyone)" with "public good"! /s Maybe we should call it "republic good" so is not to enrage the economists.
- slowmovintarget 4y agoIt is an amenity. Why wouldn't businesses want to move into areas that had such... amenities.
- analognoise 4y agoMaybe a service; not even an amenity? A public service in the public good.