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by bobbydroptables 2201 days ago
>But public policy decisions affect everybody, so the criterion needs to be a lot stricter for how complete the information needs to be and how confident we need to be in our knowledge before we impose a public policy on everybody.

Again, your own logic destroys your argument.

We have made public policy decisions that heavily subsidize oil, cars, lowered air quality, etc.

These decisions affect everyone not just car drivers. These decisions were not based on complete information (in fact, we had very limited knowledge of global warming, air pollution, etc. when we made public policy decisions to favor air pollution).

>The idea that public "leaders" should be able to take calculated risks with everybody else's money (and lives) is, IMO, pernicious. This is exactly the mentality that has created so much mess in the world throughout history. No, "leaders" should not take calculated risks that affect everybody.

So why should Cletus who like to roll coal on Tesla drivers be able to take uncalculated risks that affect everybody?

I seriously think you don't understand what externalities are.

1 comments

> We have made public policy decisions that heavily subsidize oil, cars, lowered air quality, etc.

Yes, and I have already said that I oppose those decisions. The government should not be playing favorites.

> why should Cletus who like to roll coal on Tesla drivers be able to take uncalculated risks that affect everybody?

Cletus' behavior doesn't affect everybody; it only affects the few people who are within range of his coal rolling.

>Yes, and I have already said that I oppose those decisions. The government should not be playing favorites.

So you agree that government should stop subsidizing roads and suburbs?

>Cletus' behavior doesn't affect everybody; it only affects the few people who are within range of his coal rolling.

Actually air doesn't work this way. Pollution can and does carry for hundreds of miles.

But we can proceed with your fictional conception of aerodynamics.

How are the people that Cletus rolled coal on supposed to get compensated for their loss?