3 Comments

I’m always surprised when I come across someone who defends NEPA. Great piece.

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Sep 17Liked by Rob L'Heureux

Rob, thank you, I love your writing! Imagine where we would be in Software if they regulated bits as much as atoms. Sadly, we may soon find out thanks to SB 942...

When it comes to manufacturing, the US entrepreneur took it on the chin in so many ways. Only industries with unions were partially protected and then corporate suites boosted their pay with financial chicanery. Innovation in machinery and robotics in many industries essentially halted due to cheap imports derived from exploitative labor.

Overburdensome regulation is the cherry on top!

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Sep 16Liked by Rob L'Heureux

Rob, I cannot agree more. Human material progress is important and, as you conclude, threatened by the overzealous expansion of the regulatory state.

We grow when we accumulate knowledge, but we can only accumulate knowledge by doing….if the gatekeepers do not allow us to “do,” progress slows: https://www.lianeon.org/p/the-lost-future-we-never-had

Solutions are not easy, I have suggested setting up an independent panel or body that reviews all regulations and deletes/modifies those that do fulfill their intended purpose. That would probably be the simplest approach.

You mention supersonic flight, which is a great example of overreach. The FAA, supposedly trying to prevent the noise of sonic booms, banned supersonic flight. But if the goal was to limit noise…why regulate speed? Now the government is spending large sums over several years “studying” whether or not they can or should undo this rule.

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