Leftist legislators have yet to reckon with it.
The progressive movement, we are often told, represents the future of American politics. It boasts millions of passionate (mostly younger) activists and generally dominates universities, think tanks, Hollywood, and the media. Progressive politicians such as Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are hailed as national celebrities, fawned on in traditional media, and able to command a massive social-media presence.
The progressive movement has energy and numbers. It has bold ambitions and rhetoric. What it does not have is coherent policy proposals. This is the inescapable conclusion after one carefully reviews leading progressive bills and proposals to nationalize health care, tax the rich, slash defense, and reduce net carbon emissions to zero. The issue is not that their blueprints are misguided or would shift policy in the wrong direction, but rather that they contain virtually no policy substance whatsoever. They are vaporware: empty gimmicks and messaging bills that lack the minimum specificity to be implemented even if enacted. Most proposals make brash and expensive promises and then appoint a future commission or government agency to figure out how to make it all work.
Continue reading the entire piece here at National Review
______________________
Brian M. Riedl is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Follow him on Twitter here. Based on a Brian Riedl's 2022 Chart Book.
This piece originally appeared in National Review