Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES - "The Truth Shall Set Us Free" (Original Air Date: 12-6-24)
Nov 23, 2025
Explore the fascinating political origins of SimCity and its impact on urban planning through a libertarian lens. Delve into contrasting video games that provoke new visions of societal management. Hear Naomi Klein's critiques of the Left's responses to societal challenges and the importance of addressing shared grievances rather than dismissing them. The hosts discuss the limitations of current healthcare debates and the balance between cynicism and trust in public communication, urging for clearer visions for a progressive future.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
SimCity Shaped Early Political Views
- Amanda Dion recalls SimCity as her introduction to video games and as a lesson that capitalism creates perpetual scarcity.
- She felt the game pushed free-market solutions and made public services feel unaffordable.
Models Mirror Their Makers
- SimCity's design reflected its creator's libertarian assumptions and thus taught players narrow, market-first solutions.
- Algorithms and models mirror their designers' biases, making 'computer says so' dangerously persuasive.
Games Shape Policy Imagination
- SimHealth and similar sims cue players to fear socialized medicine, narrowing real-world policy imagination.
- That framing helps explain why U.S. debate excludes many universal healthcare options.
