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The Realignment

536 | Marc J. Dunkelman: Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress - and How to Bring It Back

Feb 18, 2025
Dive into a discussion on why government struggles to tackle monumental issues like infrastructure and climate change. Explore the ongoing tension between Hamiltonian ambition and Jeffersonian skepticism in American politics. Understand the challenges that progressive movements face, including the need for self-reflection and balancing individual rights with collective goals. Delve into the Biden administration's struggles with policies on electric vehicle charging stations and learn about the importance of effective governance over grand reforms.
59:39

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast reveals a deep-seated disillusionment with government effectiveness, highlighting the challenges in enacting large-scale reforms amid public distrust.
  • Dunkelman explores the opposing philosophies of Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian progressivism, advocating for a balance to drive meaningful governmental change.

Deep dives

The Core Issue of Ineffectiveness

The podcast discusses the pervasive sense of disillusionment in America regarding the government’s ability to effect change, even amidst significant challenges like housing, mobility, and climate crises. Mark Dunkelman's book, 'Why Nothing Works', addresses why large-scale reforms are proposed but rarely come to fruition. He emphasizes that there has been a broad frustration with public authority and a growing distrust among citizens, which leads to frequent political upheavals. The notion that government fails to deliver tangible results is a central theme, suggesting a need to reassess how public projects are approached.

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