Big Think Speed vs. process: Why America chose wrong | Derek Thompson
Jun 4, 2025
Derek Thompson, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of Abundance, delves into America's infrastructure challenges. He discusses the sluggish pace of project execution, attributing it to bureaucracy and overregulation. Thompson argues for a shift from prioritizing speed to focusing on effective governance. He questions why Americans struggle to build, using examples like California's high-speed rail to illustrate his points. The conversation highlights the need for a renewed focus on efficient public service to tackle these issues.
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US Building Crisis Explained
- The US struggles to build basic infrastructure quickly and affordably compared to the past.
- Bureaucracy, overregulation, and political dysfunction severely slow down construction and implementation.
Doge's Impact on Government
- The Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) aims to reduce government but often destroys essential agencies.
- Doge's actions, like laying off key FDA employees, hinder government efficiency and centralize power.
Efficiency Over Spending
- Government success isn't about spending more money but about what is actually built.
- Current progressive governance often fails to efficiently complete projects despite large funding.