View From Down Under

John Sides at the Monkey Cage on how few reporters seem to understand the political process and the restrictions on presidential power.  “Understanding policymaking means taking Congress seriously and treating legislators as autonomous. It means acknowledging (repeatedly) the multiple veto points that are built into the system. Policy change is not solely a matter of presidential will or skill…”

Atul Gawande on the surprising likelihood that the small scale experiments in the health care bill may offer the best strategy for long term cost control.  “Where we crave sweeping transformation, however, all the current bill offers is those pilot programs, a battery of small-scale experiments. The strategy seems hopelessly inadequate to solve a problem of this magnitude. And yet—here’s the interesting thing—history suggests otherwise.”

Brad DeLong on how the economy can’t be improved without also benefitting the ‘fat cat’ bankers.  “In a crisis like the present, if you avoid the nationalization and extravagant deficit-spending route, and you still succeed in avoiding persistent mass unemployment, you will have done so by a process that boosts asset prices and enriches fat-cat bankers.”