Democrat Proposals: Plentiful Policy Plans for the Left
In the midst of their struggle for political relevance, Democrats are on a mission to identify a winning narrative that appeals to both moderates and even some conservative voters, all while energizing their own base. One promising proposition gaining traction among influential Democrats is the so-called "abundance agenda," exemplified in Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's book Abundance.
They propose a government vision centered around delivering abundance to the people, managing projects like affordable housing, clean energy, and mass transit - infrastructure people crave. The idea is savvy, resonating with Americans whose desire for material wellbeing and efficient government is clearly evident across the political spectrum.
However, the abundance agenda as proposed may be too narrow, predicated on the softening of environmental regulations, an idea sure to be rejected by voters on either side of the aisle. The core of this concept revolves around the built environment, with key metrics being construction projects. For example, Klein and Thompson passionately argue for a massive build-out of wind and solar energy projects, comparable in area to states such as Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Tennessee.
This vision, unfortunately, overlooks the country's natural abundance - wildlife, forests, wetlands, farmlands, and other open spaces - and the significant loss we'd face if not careful about where and how we construct. It also ignores the escalating species extinction crisis, a threat hardly recognized by contemporary left-wing thought-leaders. Worse, they criticize and downplay laws designed to protect wildlife and their habitats, like the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which voters strongly support.
In a curious twist, efforts to loosen the ESA are currently gaining momentum in Congress, under the guise of modernizing the law. Polling by Defenders of Wildlife reveals widespread support for the ESA, with 95% of voters backing it and 62% expressing strong support. Most voters believe that the law should be strengthened, not weakened, a position not only popular with Democrats but also a sizeable proportion of Republicans.
The ESA's review process for development projects enjoys bipartisan opposition to changes, with voters specifically opposing stripping wildlife protections for energy development. Democrats would be ill-advised to sacrifice the ESA given the Trump administration's reckless disregard for environmental reviews, including those required by federal statutes like the ESA.
In these troubled times, Democrats must reject the temptation to weaken environmental laws in the name of abundance. Instead, they need to position themselves as champions of the nation's natural infrastructure, stepping up efforts to protect laws such as the ESA, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Clean Water Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. Pursuing a balanced approach that advocates for both infrastructure development and environmental protection is essential to avoid further confusion about the Democratic Party's values and steer clear of political oblivion.
Reflections:
The abundance agenda advocated by Klein and Thompson seeks to streamline infrastructure development, focusing on projects like affordable housing, energy, and transportation to ensure timely delivery and efficiency. While the idea has gained traction among some Democrats, critics argue it may undermine environmental protections and create unintended consequences for the ecosystem and public health. The key challenge for the party is to strike a balance by revising regulations to make them more efficient while retaining their environmental integrity.
- Highlighting the urgency of both environmental protection and infrastructure development, Democrats are compelled to refine regulations with a focus on the abundance agenda, aiming to maintain efficiency while preserving the environment.
- Fueled by concerns over climate change, Democrats are tasked with devising a policy-and-legislation strategy that balances the need for environmental science advancements, addressing topics like wildlife preservation and species extinction, with the general-news concern for infrastructure projects like affordable housing, clean energy, and mass transit.
- As the abundance agenda gathers momentum, Democrats are advised to consider broadening their scope to encompass not only the man-made built environment but also the nation's natural resources, ensuring the conservation of forests, wetlands, farmlands, and other open spaces, while vigorously defending important environmental laws, such as the Endangered Species Act.
