“[Peter] Stillman … points out that those who see “a strong central government or a strong ruler” as a solution implicitly assume that “the ruler will be a wise and ecologically aware altruist,” even though these same theorists presume that the users of CPRs [common-pool resources] will be myopic, self-interested, and ecologically unaware hedonists.” - Governing the Commons, Elinor Ostrom, page 218
Ostrom is pointing out a fatal flaw in political science: That well informed voters will elect the best candidate that will then dispense the public good in a non-self-interested fashion. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Prior to being elected, the “candidate” is self-interested which is a common and natural human condition. Once elected the former candidate becomes altruistic? Nay, nay. Same person, same self-interest. Merely being elected does not change the condition of self-interest.
Moreover, the battery of regulations spawned by legislation that you cite in your blog post is proof positive that the once candidate, now elected official, remains self-interested and possibility becomes even more self-interested. Further, the battery of regulations spawned by legislation is a posteriori knowledge, meaning past experience lead to the legislation.
On the other hand, politicos are desperate for the voter and citizenry to believe they are the wise, non-self-interested and make decisions via altruism when dispensing the public good.
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About W.E. Heasley
Mr Heasley has a BS Economics, cum laude, Private and Public Sectors, 1979, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. Undergraduate minor in General Insurance.
Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Huebner School of Economics, American College, 1992, Bryn Mawr, PA.
Life Underwriter Training Fellow (LUTCF), 1986, National Association of Life Underwriters, Washington D.C..
Currently enrolled and completed one half of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) from the American College.
31 years insurance industry experience. He also writes the blog, The Last Embassy.
I often disagree with Mr Heasley's political views but always find his work to be brilliant.
