Congress
Strategic Concepts & Mechanics
Primary Evidence
"Another reason economies are impossible to model involves the messy presence of human beings. Financially massive organizations warp the environment they inhabit much like the way gravitationally massive bodies warp space-time in physics: Normal rules do not apply to them. Giant companies influence Congress, the executive branch, and local governing bodies to pass legislation they want—granting them subsidies, protection, environmental relief, favorable tax status, and so on—and otherwise treat them in ways that are perfectly legal, but outside what the equations of economics predict."
"Rather than resorting to bribery, John Jacob Astor gained political influence by lending generously to the United States government during the War of 1812. Once peace was restored, he cashed in his favors by in¬ ducing Congress to ban noncitizens from competing in the fur trade. As¬ tor quickly pushed out British and Canadian operators and obtained a near monopoly.13"
"How can the United States do better? As a starting point, it could develop a better understanding of how China has grown into a technology superpower. If members of Congress continue to resort to the laziest explanations (“they’re just stealing all our IP”), then the United States will never grasp the importance of building up process knowledge. And it will fail to gain urgency to fix its technological deficiencies."
"Young people soured on politics and politicians, and I can’t say I blamed them. Washington had become an elitist, self-absorbed city that cared little for the values of everyday Americans who believe deeply in the work ethic and in family, freedom, and faith in God. Behind those majestic monuments in the backrooms of Congress, self-serving politicians were busily spending and borrowing America ever deeper into debt. The country was at a critical juncture and I felt that, perhaps, I could make a contribution."
"Churchill recognized the value of accountability and opposed efforts to add layers of advisers who lacked actual responsibility. “Lots of people can make good plans for winning the war if they have not got to carry them out,” Churchill pointedly noted when he addressed a Joint Session of Congress in 1943. “I dare say if I had not been in a responsible position I should have made a lot of excellent plans.”"