Sorry for making free-market people look like idiots…

Sorry for making free-market people look like idiots…

Note the use of the word “we”, which is apparently a euphemism for Mr. Yglesias’ personal tastes.

Because he likes the ides of other people commuting by foot/bike, he arrogantly decides, as spokesman for the “poor”, that “we” should impose his “solutions” on them and on everyone else.

Setting aside the issue that “poor” people (to the extent that they exist at all in metropolitan areas) are not in the exurbs, but are instead in the ring surrounding the central cities — there is a lack of regard for the preferences of people who have to make location decisions for themselves.

Some people enjoy lots of neighbors, public transit, and being within walking distance of shopping. Other people prefer fewer neighbors, less noise, and fewer cockroaches. Who is anyone to decide what these things are worth other than those who have to live there?

Reliance on the government to sort things out has resulted in a mess. America is littered with abandoned central cities crawling with vagrants and criminals, congested roads, dangerous transit systems (when they’re not on strike), and millions of people making distorted housing decisions based on monopoly school districts, rent regulations, insane real estate taxes, politically determined zoning codes, and much else that the planners, thinkers, and other experts have offered as “solutions”.

The solution, Mr. Yglesias, is to decide for yourself where and how you wish to live, and let others do the same.

Government really is the problem.

Note the use of the word “we”, which is apparently a euphemism for Mr. Yglesias’ personal tastes.

Because he likes the ides of other people commuting by foot/bike, he arrogantly decides, as spokesman for the “poor”, that “we” should impose his “solutions” on them and on everyone else.

Setting aside the issue that “poor” people (to the extent that they exist at all in metropolitan areas) are not in the exurbs, but are instead in the ring surrounding the central cities — there is a lack of regard for the preferences of people who have to make location decisions for themselves.

Some people enjoy lots of neighbors, public transit, and being within walking distance of shopping. Other people prefer fewer neighbors, less noise, and fewer cockroaches. Who is anyone to decide what these things are worth other than those who have to live there?

Reliance on the government to sort things out has resulted in a mess. America is littered with abandoned central cities crawling with vagrants and criminals, congested roads, dangerous transit systems (when they’re not on strike), and millions of people making distorted housing decisions based on monopoly school districts, rent regulations, insane real estate taxes, politically determined zoning codes, and much else that the planners, thinkers, and other experts have offered as “solutions”.

The solution, Mr. Yglesias, is to decide for yourself where and how you wish to live, and let others do the same.

Government really is the problem.