On Monday, I published a post on local politics entitled, “Local Incumbency.”
The post was a brief — too brief, I think — stab at the idea (well-circulated long ago) that politicians, despite ideological rhetoric, tend toward self-interest. There’s a school of economics and political thought — public choice theory — that admirably sets out the case. I think that it’s generally how politics devolves (or settles). That’s why a city of incumbent progressives, or opportunity conservatives, act self-interestedly despite more noble (and genuine) intentions.
I’ll post more along these lines in the weeks ahead.
It does not mean, though, that everything is the same between left and right. A different sort of politician might have drawn the line — especially initially — at school or city spending.
Although I have not written on school district finances, I have called for a reduction in the city budget. In the months ahead, I will post on the school district with ideas to offer alternative teaching methods, that would cost no more (and perhaps less) than existing approaches while advancing substantive learning and increasing parental choice.
I want to set out the case that core success can come from a change in approach, and that we can achieve significant gains without additional, incremental spending. I am intrigued by how changes in approach — outside the conventions of teachers and administrators – can bring gains.
Afterward, I may tackle district budget issues, but I will start in these next months with suggestions for substantive, alternative approaches that cost no more.
On the municipal side, I did propose a few changes in the budget last year, but looking back I am surprised at how modest my suggestions were. I am sure they seemed extreme to a few, but they were only a brief outline for a slight reduction in taxation and spending. I will follow this year’s budget debate more closely, and propose a significantly more comprehensive course.
I would be the last person to expect the city to follow that course, but there is much to say about what a libertarian-oriented budget, so to speak, would look like. It would offer more, in my eyes, especially in an ailing local, state, and national economy, than conventional alternatives.