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I Hate Politics Podcast

@ihppod.bsky.social

250 followers 200 following 360 posts

A show about a human activity we love to hate. Judge not by our name, but the character of our content. 2-weekly. Local news. Candidate interviews. In-depth issues. Local music. Host @sunildasgupta.bsky.social. On all major platforms. linktr.ee/ihppod

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Reposted by I Hate Politics Podcast

Duncan Jones @manmademoon.bsky.social · 2d

Make Politics Boring Again.

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I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 2d

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 6d

New episode. linktr.ee/ihppod @sunildasgupta.bsky.social

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 9d

First 5000 download month

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 9d

New episode. @yesimsayin.bsky.social @vadotnova.bsky.social @marylanddot.bsky.social @councilofdc.bsky.social linktr.ee/ihppod @sunildasgupta.bsky.social

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 13d

New episode. @mdhousedems.bsky.social linktr.ee/ihppod @sunildasgupta.bsky.social

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 16d

New episode. @christinecondon.bsky.social
@marylandmatters.org @sampkcollins.bsky.social @dcward7teacher.bsky.social @dcsboe.bsky.social
@ccanactionfund.bsky.social @chesapeakebayfdn.bsky.social
linktr.ee/ihppod @sunildasgupta.bsky.social

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Reposted by I Hate Politics Podcast

Derek Willis @dwillis.bsky.social · 18d

Every resident of Montgomery County, MD, should listen to the most recent episode of the @ihppod.bsky.social with @sunildasgupta.bsky.social. The future of the county’s educational system - one of its crown jewels - is being reordered, and there are many huge questions.

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I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 17d

Thanks, Derek!

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 19d

I suspect we have such different frames of reference and possibly training that we are talking past each other. My argument is about whether CBAs are an effective way of driving what are primarily political decisions. Seems to me they are not, but we persist and there are extra costs to be paid.

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 19d

Does a society support big projects because the costs are low or are their costs low because they have made political choices that drive costs down? The biggest cost escalation for PL likely came from homeowner lawsuits. If the lawsuits were disallowed (by law, politics) the costs would be lower.

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

Also, it is not only transit projects. I think it is true for large social impact projects including housing, power generation/transmission, others

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

I would posit that a version of this debate exists and continues in most countries I know about. There may be others where the debate is resolved or looks resolved to us, but certainly testable. Any particular country you want to test it out on?

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

It’s a criticism of CBA as a decision calculus

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

One question to think about is whether imperfect information decisions are nevertheless legitimate. I think they are legitimate. I am not claiming the decisions are inherently bad. Just that the consequence of imperfect information means pre-existing political preferences drive the decision.

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I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

No contest

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

Of course, there is no ex-ante perfect information (or there won’t be losers and winners in any marketplace). I don’t disagree w your description of imperfect information, but if right, then is CBA the real basis of the decision? Or is CBA merely a veneer under which the political decision is made?

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I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

Aside: One of the great achievements (I will say tragedies) of modern economic thought is how much it is separated from politics. Not to say that economists don't study politics, but by and large politics is the suboptimality while cost-benefit analysis helps us along to equilibrium.

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

P3 is embedded in my argument. The choice of P3 is rooted in cost-benefit analysis. If we see transit as a political choice (which in fact it is) rather than primarily an economic choice, you get ineffective and inefficient strategies.

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

Thanks. I will think about BRT in this context and get back. My hunch is that it won’t be different, but purely hunch at this point.

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

As several scholars have said (March and Olsen, Graham Allison) and if as a result we have the politics of information (used for example in nuclear deterrence theory, see Brodie, Schelling), then it would suggest that our current technocratic approach is not adequate to the task.

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

Fair. Is there (at least notionally) a cost threshold after which you’d defect? If the claim is you can’t have a threshold because of lack of information, it is in effect priceless, which is the point I am trying to make. If it is not possible to have enough information about a decision, then

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

How is it not an amazing fact that cost benefit at $3bn and cost benefit at $12bn are both positive. Basically, this is a priceless argument. If the PL is priceless, how are cost-benefit approaches are relevant? For the rest I will point you back to the thread.

I Hate Politics Podcast @ihppod.bsky.social · 20d

If this description is right, this is contrary to how we say we make public decisions. Factors such as ideology, vibes, solidarity, appear to be more important than rational cost-benefit analysis especially when it comes to large capital projects. Thoughts?

bethesdamagazine.com/2025/09/18/t...

The Purple Line: Why aren't we there yet?

We look at the past and future of the purple line project that's years behind schedule and billions over budget.

bethesdamagazine.com