The best things happen at the margins
The system is evil act accordingly
I love humanity, but we have missed the mark every step of the way; it would not, in any estimation be far fetched to say that “goodness" is not naturally in the human heart. For all of our history, we have fought ruthless battles, broken in skulls, raped women, and pillaged villages; in a way that is who we are. It is a human being in its most natural state.
Even in recent history, the 20th century is a stark testament to humanity's capacity for darkness. Consider the regimes of Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot;all people that we know to be rotten to the core. Yet what is perhaps more chilling is how thousands of ordinary people willingly served in their armies, often carrying out atrocities with the same enthusiasm as their leaders.
The pattern persists into the modern era: Many alive today will tell you about the racial tensions of the 50s and 60s in America or apartheid in South Africa. And as if Hilter came back reincarnated, we have China killing Muslims in concentration camps! It cannot be forgotten that almost by default human beings miss the mark.
Perhaps these examples feel distant. Let's examine our own backyard: In America today, we grapple with a maze of contradictions and inefficiencies that reveal our collective irrationality. Here in America, we have debates about the legality of killing an unborn baby past viability. We have debates about whether private property is net good or net bad. We have debates about whether parents should have school choice. We have debates about public goods. We have debates on whether an advanced fifth grader who knows all of seventh-grade science can skip a grade. We have a college system that requires math majors to study Intro to Botany their freshman year, we have a political candidate who is favored to win even though most of his supporters do not like his policy over his counterpart. Everywhere you look you see the system hallucinating. Why are schools in charge of teaching and credentials? Why is the government so inefficient?
Our contradictions run deeper still. We pour money into ineffective charities, performatively signaling virtue while destroying wealth. We maintain rigid barriers against potentially life-saving experimental medicines, denying hope to those who have exhausted all other options. We leave metaphorical trillion-dollar bills on the sidewalk – referring to the massive potential GDP gains we forfeit through migration restrictions.
The absurdities multiply: we have a culture of people who fear long-proven vaccines, claiming they cause genetic conditions like autism – despite the simple fact that vaccines, being weakened versions of viruses, cannot cause what the viruses themselves don't. We have a culture that prides itself on environmental consciousness while rejecting nuclear energy in favor of wind power, which causes more environmental damage while generating less energy. We have a culture of white supremacy in which individuals whom which, if they were born at a different time would not have been considered white!
Everywhere you look you see the backwardness and inefficiencies of human coordination, you see the thousands of ways in which humans miss the mark. This pattern is so pervasive that the relevant question becomes not 'Why do bad things happen?' but rather, 'Why does anything good happen?'".
Where do good things come from?
Goodness emerges when individuals are granted greater freedom, liberty, and autonomy to pursue their happiness beyond systematic constraints. As these small projects spark marginal improvements, they become self-defending through their differential benefits, and the property rights embedded in our social institutions. Economic goodness comes from experiments away from the norm, said another way - The best things happen at the margin.
Over time, these superior mechanisms expand and subsume their inferior counterparts, elevating collective welfare. Consider venture capital in the tech sector, where a startup with initial funding of $1 million can reach a trillion-dollar market cap within decades. Or examine the mother who, dissatisfied with traditional education, begins homeschooling her gifted daughter alongside neighborhood children, ultimately outperforming both public and private institutions before establishing an alternative school. While such spontaneous innovation often emerges in economic circles, it can originate in social domains – like when a store owner's wage increase sparks a productivity surge, compelling competitors to follow suit and lifting standards across industries. Social goodness comes from 1) economic goodness and 2) broadening our circles of concern.
So why don't good things happen at the center?
The answer lies in the conservative force of adequacy: 'Things are good enough, why risk change?' This cautious mindset rightly recognizes that value is fragile and large-scale disruption carries more potential for harm than improvement. This perspective isn't misguided – our existing institutions and cultural practices deliver value in ways that don't obviously demand wholesale reformation. However, to the discerning observer, the need for change is clear. Thus, our critique should focus specifically on those mechanisms that suppress innovation at the margins and weaken property rights and freedom.
Atlas Aristotle
Comment more ways in which the system gets things wrong:
The jones act
Healthcare through your employer
Social security as set up today
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How the UK Ended Up Building the World’s Most Expensive Railway
When people talk about ambitious infrastructure projects, the United Kingdom’s new high-speed rail network often tops the list—not for speed, but for cost. What began as a bold vision to modernize the nation’s rail system has become controversial for its massive price tag, complex delays, and shifting political support. Today, as the UK builds what critics have dubbed the world’s most expensive railway, it’s worth asking: how did the UK get here? The Vision: A Modern Railway for the 21st Century The story begins in the early 2000s, when Britain’s rail network was facing growing pains. Congestion on the West Coast Main Line and other key routes was worsening, freight capacity was limited, and there was little room for growth. Passengers faced overcrowded trains and slow journey times, especially compared with high-speed services in France, Spain, and Japan. The idea of a high-speed rail link between major cities wasn’t new, but it gained real momentum after the success of continental projects like France’s TGVs. A national network promised faster journeys, increased capacity, and economic growth outside the capital—especially in regions long waiting for infrastructure investment. HS2: Promise and Purpose The centerpiece of the UK’s grand plan became High Speed 2 (HS2), intended to connect London with Birmingham, Manchester, and eventually Leeds. Promoters said trains would cut travel times in half, boost regional economies, and take pressure off crowded commuter lines. HS2 was pitched as more than just a railway: a catalyst for regional development a greener alternative to domestic flights a long-term investment in the UK’s economic future The plan certainly struck a chord. In theory, a high-speed network could transform connectivity across Britain—reducing travel times, encouraging investment outside London, and knitting together major cities in a modern transport web. Why the Costs Ballooned But ambitious infrastructure rarely comes cheap, and HS2’s projected price tag has grown dramatically. Several key factors contributed: 1. Changing Scope and Political Shifts HS2 didn’t emerge fully formed. Its route, phases, and design changed multiple times as governments of different political stripes revised priorities. These revisions added design complexity and contractual overhead, meaning early cost estimates quickly proved optimistic. 2. Construction Complexity Unlike flat plains where high-speed rail thrives, much of the UK is built up, with dense urban areas, protected landscapes, and ancient infrastructure. Building through these environments requires thousands of bridges, tunnels, and engineered embankments, each one adding millions to the tally. 3. Inflation and Supply Costs Rising inflation, especially in the wake of global supply chain disruptions and pandemic recovery spending, boosted material and labor costs. What might have been affordable a decade ago became significantly more expensive mid-project. 4. Contract and Project Management Challenges HS2’s scale required complex contracting across multiple regions and suppliers. Coordinating these elements proved difficult, and disagreements over timelines and specifications led to disputes, delays, and cost escalation. 5. Political Controversy and Delays HS2 has never lacked critics. Community groups, environmental activists, and political opponents argued that costs outweighed benefits—citing damage to woodlands, uncertain economic impacts, and questions over whether better upgrades to existing lines might be smarter. Prolonged debate and legal challenges delayed progress and, in turn, drove costs up further. Comparing Costs: Not Just Construction When analysts describe HS2 as the world’s most expensive railway, they are not just talking about track miles. The total figure includes: land acquisition in high-value areas environmental mitigation and restoration compensation for affected homeowners and businesses the technological systems that support high-speed safety and operations High-speed rail is expensive everywhere—but HS2’s integrated approach to social and environmental issues adds layers of cost that projects in other countries sometimes ignore. Has It Been Worth It? Supporters of HS2 argue that cost alone doesn’t capture the long-term value: faster connections create economic opportunities jobs are generated in construction and related industries rail shifts travelers from cars and planes, reducing emissions Early sections of the project are on track to open sooner than later, offering a hint of the benefits to come. Yet sceptics point out that the business case depends on sufficiently high passenger numbers, sustained economic growth outside London, and timely completion of later phases. The Broader Legacy Whatever HS2’s final cost and impact, the project has already reshaped how Britain thinks about infrastructure. It sparked: debates about regional inequality discussions about public investment versus austerity renewed focus on how to build large-scale projects responsibly HS2 is forcing policymakers to ask tough questions about how the UK balances cost, community impact, climate goals, and economic ambition. Conclusion: A Pricey Path Forward The UK’s journey to build the world’s most expensive railway reflects both the promise and pitfalls of modern infrastructure. What started as a bold answer to a crowded rail network has become a symbol of complexity in the age of political polarization, regional demands, and rising costs. As the first trains begin service in the coming years, HS2 will finally put its benefits to the test. But the lessons learned—about planning, priorities, and public support—will continue to shape Britain’s transport policy for generations.
By Fiazahmedbrohi about 3 hours ago in The Swamp
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