<
https://theconversation.com/can-a-book-help-the-left-rebuild-the-good-life-ezra-kleins-abundance-is-the-talk-of-washington-and-canberra-256898>
"Many observing the economic chaos, cruelty and climate vandalism emanating
from United States President Donald Trump are hoping the Democrats can clip his
wings at the November 2026 mid-term elections. What does the left need to do
differently? Some see the ideas in a bestselling new book as a path back to
power.
California governor Gavin Newsom called
Abundance “one of the most important
books Democrats can read”. Australian politicians are taking note, too. Andrew
Leigh, Assistant Minister for both Productivity and Treasury, just proclaimed
“the abundance agenda for Australia”. Treasurer Jim Chalmers called the book “a
ripper”.
In
Abundance, journalists Ezra Klein (
New York Times) and Derek Thompson
(
Atlantic) argue the left “has repeatedly substituted process for outcome”.
This results in overregulation that halts genuine progress. Both self-declared
liberals, they are speaking to the left, while criticising both “a right that
fought the government and a left that hobbled it”.
“We have a startling abundance of the goods that fill a house and a shortage of
what’s needed to build a good life,” they write, calling for a “correction”.
They conclude “what we can build is more important than what we can buy”."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
