The Realignment 571 | Steve Teles: The Varieties of Abundance - Why Abundance Isn't Left, Right, or Center
Aug 28, 2025
Steve Teles, a Senior Fellow at the Niskanen Center, dives into the diverse interpretations of abundance across the political spectrum. He discusses six distinct varieties, from 'Red Plenty' to 'Dark Abundance,' illustrating how different ideologies shape our understanding of abundance. Teles emphasizes the need for innovative solutions to economic growth while tackling challenges like public education and urban policies. He also examines the political influences behind abundance and how changes in governance can lead to a more sustainable future.
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Abundance Is A Broad Political Dimension
- Abundance is a dimension, not a single ideology, and different actors share a critique but pursue different projects.
- Treat abundance like the Progressive era: shared complaints but multiple political directions.
Progressive-Era Analogy
- Steve compares abundance today to Progressive-era coalitions with different leaders like Roosevelt and Wilson.
- The point: shared critique can host divergent political projects that still form a coherent movement.
Shared Diagnosis, Divergent Remedies
- Almost every variant of abundance agrees the American state is misstructured for modern problems.
- They diverge on what to unlock and how much the private sector versus the state should do.
