Don Quixote's Fried Eggs: Purpose of a System Is What It Does
The article delves into the concept of "the purpose of a system is what it does" from "Don Quixote," discussing policy contradictions in housing, unemployment benefits, and family policies. It contrasts San Francisco and Austin's housing approaches, addresses monopolies in the housing market, and explores ideological shifts in benefits and family policies post-recession. Personal interests influence public policy, echoing themes from Cervantes' novel.
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The article discusses the concept of "the purpose of a system is what it does" (POSIWID) as introduced in Miguel de Cervantes' "Don Quixote," centuries before Stafford Beer. It highlights how real-world policies often contradict their stated intentions, citing examples in housing, unemployment benefits, and family policies. The piece contrasts San Francisco's limited housing construction with Austin's more successful approach and discusses the impact of monopolies and cartels in the housing market. It also touches on the varying ideologies affecting unemployment benefits across different states and the shifts in family policies post-Great Recession in countries like the UK and France. The article emphasizes how personal interests can shape public policy positions, as seen with figures like Elon Musk and Malcolm and Simone Collins. Overall, it explores the theme of noble ideals and the unintended consequences that may arise from the pursuit of such ideals, drawing parallels to the adventures of Don Quixote in Cervantes' novel.
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4 comments> Real-world policies frequently contradict their rhetoric, as seen in various domains: .... Unemployment benefits: Benefits vary widely across states, often misaligning with political stereotypes and cost of living differences (e.g., Texas offering more generous unemployment benefits than California).
One could make the argument that Reagan, being the tip of the metaphorical spear that was the austerity movement here in the United States getting his start as Governor of California, could explain the oddity. The movement gathered it's steam in the Golden state, after all, a big part of which was the spread of the (largely completely made up) notion of the welfare queen, and how people were living large on the Government dole.
Far more? It seems like exactly one more, and the relative sizes and qualities of the proposals are not discussed.
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