But re: welfare, ppl want to act like Bill Clinton didn’t exist and that we haven’t upheld his policies for decades
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Right, what I’m saying is that autonomy is the wrong way to say “this is why we can’t have infrastructure,” when, at least historically, the reason why we have had some success of social programs are to help foster something like “autonomy.” New Deal, Great Society, NYC’s public transit system, etc.
aug 28, 2025, 4:06 pm • 1 0 • view
Which is just to say: these are/were social programs that help individuals live their lives how they choose to live them. To your point, that connection was severed by both parties, but I don’t think it was sacrificed at the alter of autonomy. Austerity, maybe. Tax cuts? Sure.
aug 28, 2025, 4:11 pm • 1 0 • view
Or they traded out those types of infrastructures for others: the military, bullshit tech world shit, cops, border walls, prisons, etc.
aug 28, 2025, 4:11 pm • 1 0 • view
Austerity and tax cuts are choices not to tax appropriately in order to maintain, build, or expand social programs. I don’t get this “things just happened or had to happen” determinism. It cuts off critique or even analysis. Things don’t just happen!
aug 28, 2025, 4:22 pm • 0 0 • view
I’m not saying that last bit. All of this does require people to do things. But it’s clear that people, including voters, aren’t choosing public infrastructure as their #1 priority. I’m rejecting the premise that they’re doing this out of some vulgar definition of autonomy.
aug 28, 2025, 4:27 pm • 0 0 • view
When planners or politicians talk abt infra they literally talk about the central importance of transportation choice. If we expand bus service it’s to expand ppl’s mobility choices. Even transit advocates talk this way. Every micromobility discussion, for instance, talks this way
aug 28, 2025, 4:35 pm • 0 0 • view
I know many of the general public aren’t clamoring for expanded transit at the expense of car infra. But this is itself the fruit of long-term infra choices to build out a car world. We tore up and paved over train lines. Again, it didn’t just happen
aug 28, 2025, 4:37 pm • 0 0 • view
And if it didn’t just happen, if it was achieved over time, then it would take a fervent ideological, long-term commitment to change it. But we don’t see manifest such a commitment in the way we pay for, plan, and build. So the question is why
aug 28, 2025, 4:40 pm • 0 0 • view