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Are Politicians Even in Control? - Steve Hilton

TRIGGERnometry

Sun Dec 10 2023



Government Bureaucracy:

  • Senior civil servants viewed it as their patriotic duty to obstruct politicians from implementing policies they deemed unfit, believing themselves to be the guardians of the national interest.
  • The bureaucratic process involved circulating ministers' proposals among cabinet committees and required no objection within 48 hours to be considered approved, leading to an overwhelming amount of policy implementation not aligned with the coalition agreement.

Challenges in Government Reform:

  • Hilton reflects on his attempts at reforming the government, expressing frustration with the resistance to change and concluding that cutting down the number of civil servants might be necessary for effective decentralization and reduced regulation.
  • He acknowledges that his approach towards government reform could have been more professional or strategic, attributing part of this realization to his experiences teaching at Stanford University's d.school.

Immigration Policies:

  • Despite leaving the EU with aims to gain control over borders, there seems to be little progress in addressing illegal immigration issues despite successive governments making promises about managing immigration effectively.
  • The importance of controlled and fair immigration systems is emphasized in preventing social unrest and xenophobia, highlighting the failure of successive governments in delivering on promised immigration management.

Immigration Policies:

  • Politicians have shifted their stance on immigration, with past leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton supporting border control. This change highlights the lack of control over immigration policies.
  • The overwhelming impact of illegal migration on border states such as Texas and Arizona is discussed, shedding light on the inadequacy of government response to the situation.

Decentralization of Power:

  • Empowering neighborhoods and local councils to make impactful decisions directly affecting people's lives is presented as an alternative approach to traditional centralized governance.
  • The need for decentralizing power is emphasized as a potential solution to address governance challenges, offering greater autonomy at the local level.

Homelessness Crisis:

  • Inadequate policies and laws hindering effective solutions for homelessness are explored, including regulations preventing sobriety requirements in housing programs.
  • Mental health treatment limitations due to federal rules restricting capacity for mental health facilities are discussed, contributing to the complex issues surrounding homelessness.

Compassion vs. Pragmatism:

  • A critique is offered regarding an ideological focus on appearing compassionate rather than implementing practical solutions across various societal issues.
  • The impact of false compassion driving societal frustrations and anger due to unaddressed problems is underscored.

Future Concerns:

  • An expression of worry about the trajectory of current societal challenges and political leadership is shared, prompting contemplation about future outcomes based on present circumstances.

Political Excitement:

  • Both left-wing and right-wing individuals express a lack of enthusiasm for their respective representatives, reflecting the absence of excitement for politicians.
  • Trump's supporters are portrayed as being exceptionally enthusiastic due to their belief in his ability to restore peace, prosperity, and security.

Trump's Support Base:

  • The diversity within Trump's support base is emphasized, noting significant shifts in demographics such as the Latino vote moving towards Republicans and a broad spectrum of working-class and wealthy individuals supporting him.
  • A common sentiment among Trump supporters is that he delivered on his promises, despite potential disputes regarding this claim.

Challenges Faced by Trump:

  • The challenges faced by Donald Trump during his presidency are discussed, including resistance from an entrenched bureaucracy and the assertion that many of his promised initiatives were obstructed by the "deep state."
  • It is suggested that Trump's frustration may have contributed to his outspoken behavior on platforms like Twitter.

Family Dynamics & Policy Solutions:

  • The significance of stable, loving family environments in addressing societal issues is underscored, with the idea that nurturing children in such settings could alleviate many problems typically addressed through government intervention.
  • Practical policy solutions aimed at providing parenting support and assistance for families facing economic challenges are proposed as effective means to strengthen family dynamics.