There is a parking problem on Henderson Avenue in Dallas. Henderson Avenue has a host of fashionable night clubs and restaurants and is a popular night spot in Dallas. Even though Dallas requires some businesses to provide parking, there is just not enough to go around. The root of the problem, according to the Dallas Morning News is that trends are unpredictable. The city just cannot predict what areas will become trendy and when.
Dallas should not feel bad. No one can predict the future, particularly when it comes to people. Cities and governments might plan for the future, but they cannot predict it. Humans are unpredictable. You just cannot know what they will like or want in the future. There may be general patterns, but when it comes to specifics such as where they will want to shop or eat, all bets are off. This unpredictability is a major headache for planners. In frustration with this fact, modern planners have shifted from trying to predict the future to trying to manipulate it. That is just what Dallas has been trying to do.
To this end, city officials, police, and neighborhood groups met recently to address the problems on Henderson Street. According to Dallas police Deputy Chief Vincent Golbeck, "Its going to be a political, public safety, economic development issue." I have news for Chief Golbeck, it is going to be none of those things. The city may be able to address parking and safety problems on Henderson Street. But, as the Morning News pointed out, trends cannot be predicted. No one knows where the next hot spot will be. When it pops up, the city will have to go through the whole thing again. You just cannot predict the future.
Despite this fact, government never gives up. Over the years as faith in the efficacy of government has increased, government has steadily moved away from trying to predict the future to trying to manipulate it. Many cities have shifted from chasing trendy spots to trying to create them. They provide tax breaks, (the usual government tool), or manipulate zoning codes to attract businesses that are hoped will create the vibrant, eclectic neighborhoods so many cities crave. Every city wants a Greenwich Village. They will often go to great lengths to get one. But it just doesn't work that way. People will go where they want to go, not where the government or city planners want them to go. If you could just zone a Greenwich Village into existence, every city would have one. Dallas may want people to find some other way down to Henderson Avenue. But it will have to find some way to compel them if it is to do so.
Those ambitious souls with their visions of what society should be are notoriously impatient. When their vision of the future exceeds their patience, they act to bring that vision about. Whether it is health care, social justice, or trendy night spots, progressives will act to lead society to the future as they envision it. To that end they are forever planning and legislating. They will try to entice through manipulating ordinances and tax codes. If that fails, they will coerce.
The problem is often that the more reluctant people are to embrace the image of the future held out to them, the more determined progressives become. A determined progressive is one of the greatest enemies a free society can have, for they will not rest until society is bent to their vision.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Can You Spare a Dime?
With the upcoming gubernatorial election in Texas, lines are being drawn. Liberals have begun to line up after Bill White, while conservatives are mobilizing in support for Governor Perry. Like many neighborhoods across Texas, supporters in my small town have begun to declare themselves with yard signs and bumper stickers.
The other morning, as I walked the dogs, I came across a yard with a "Bill White for Governor" sign prominently displayed. Bill White is the Democratic candidate for governor in Texas. Now I know that many liberals, among other things, pride themselves on their "compassion" for the suffering and less fortunate. I presumed the owner of the sign shared those sensibilities.
I had been by the house many times before, but that morning the owner was out tending to his front yard. I asked him if he was a Bill White supporter. "Yes" he said. I told him I was disabled and unemployed, (both are true), and asked him if he would give me $20. After giving me a peculiar look, it only took him a moment to tell me no. I didn't really expect him to give it to me.
Most liberals would not hesitate to support a government plan to increase spending for the unemployed or disabled. Most would shrug off the spending of tax dollars to support the cause, even if it meant taxes would have to be raised or the government expanded and go further into debt. Many consider it a duty to tend to the needs of society's less fortunate. Most liberals are proud of their compassion and do not care how much that compassion costs. How many were willing to support spending hundreds of billions of dollars to create a national health care plan?
The gentleman I spoke with this morning might sincerely believe that government should be more compassionate and do more to help the disabled and the unemployed. All I know is that he would not give me a dime.
Liberals fancy they are the champions of the poor and the suffering. They are willing to go to great lengths and spend billions to demonstrate their commitment and compassion. It is easy to imagine the howls if the government proposed cutting welfare benefits or trimming WIC. Their zeal for increasing social benefits for the needy and disadvantaged is often on display, from bumper stickers to protests at the capitol. For many liberals, money is no object when it comes to funding social programs. They have no qualms about the government spending of billions of dollars to help those in need. But just ask one for $20. I dare you.
Anyone who voted for Obama or supports liberal candidates out of compassion for the homeless and less fortunate should contact me. I can take them down to the end of the park outside my apartment and I will show them some real, flesh and blood homeless people they can help. I do not expect anyone to contact me. Most people prefer to give at the voting booth.
The other morning, as I walked the dogs, I came across a yard with a "Bill White for Governor" sign prominently displayed. Bill White is the Democratic candidate for governor in Texas. Now I know that many liberals, among other things, pride themselves on their "compassion" for the suffering and less fortunate. I presumed the owner of the sign shared those sensibilities.
I had been by the house many times before, but that morning the owner was out tending to his front yard. I asked him if he was a Bill White supporter. "Yes" he said. I told him I was disabled and unemployed, (both are true), and asked him if he would give me $20. After giving me a peculiar look, it only took him a moment to tell me no. I didn't really expect him to give it to me.
Most liberals would not hesitate to support a government plan to increase spending for the unemployed or disabled. Most would shrug off the spending of tax dollars to support the cause, even if it meant taxes would have to be raised or the government expanded and go further into debt. Many consider it a duty to tend to the needs of society's less fortunate. Most liberals are proud of their compassion and do not care how much that compassion costs. How many were willing to support spending hundreds of billions of dollars to create a national health care plan?
The gentleman I spoke with this morning might sincerely believe that government should be more compassionate and do more to help the disabled and the unemployed. All I know is that he would not give me a dime.
Liberals fancy they are the champions of the poor and the suffering. They are willing to go to great lengths and spend billions to demonstrate their commitment and compassion. It is easy to imagine the howls if the government proposed cutting welfare benefits or trimming WIC. Their zeal for increasing social benefits for the needy and disadvantaged is often on display, from bumper stickers to protests at the capitol. For many liberals, money is no object when it comes to funding social programs. They have no qualms about the government spending of billions of dollars to help those in need. But just ask one for $20. I dare you.
Anyone who voted for Obama or supports liberal candidates out of compassion for the homeless and less fortunate should contact me. I can take them down to the end of the park outside my apartment and I will show them some real, flesh and blood homeless people they can help. I do not expect anyone to contact me. Most people prefer to give at the voting booth.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Oil and Irony
This afternoon, I stopped by the live feed of the oil gusher in the gulf. After a few moments of watching oil spew from the sea floor, the feed was interrupted by one of the maddening ads that are proliferating on the web. What was amazing is that the ad was for the new Audi: the luxury car for demanding tastes. Can Audi be so blind as to run an ad for automobiles over a video of the worst oil disaster in human history? Evidently so.
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