Infrastructure

A water drop and ripples

Just a reminder that people rightly feel like they’re already funding infrastructure.

By Justin Katz | June 27, 2024 |

Consider two general principles of political theory while reading this: 1) Government starts by telling the people how much money it needs and then proceeds to collect it, not the other way around. 2) The less competitive political races are, the more incentive those who are predictably elected have to spend money on corruption and…

A water drop and ripples

Ken Block has raised enough money to keep his billboard campaign going.

By Justin Katz | June 26, 2024 |

It still seems like a waste of resources, to me.  Here’s his tweet from May, when he announced his continuing fundraising:   There’s no pressure, here. Once people have that initial burst of “right on” feeling, such billboards become part of the background.  When I looked into billboards years ago, they were about $10,000 per…

Special interests tug on a fraying rope in tug of war

Politics This Week: Special Interest Tug of War

By Justin Katz | June 24, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz look for the hidden dynamics of local politics.

A horse-riding general leads his troops off a cliff

Politics This Week: Breaking from the Top

By Justin Katz | May 21, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz look for the realities behind the headlines in Rhode Island.

A Democrat self-interviews

Politics This Week: RI’s Eternal Return

By Justin Katz | May 13, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz explore recent examples of Democrats setting the stage for themselves.

A weatherman reports a sunny day while it storms outside

Politics This Week: The Era of Messaging

By Justin Katz | April 29, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz highlight some of the ways the local media and political establishment distort the public message.

A water drop and ripples

Keep tabs on who gets ousted in Rhode Island government

By Justin Katz | April 23, 2024 |

Whatever one thinks of Avedisian, seeing Alviti in this picture is a reminder that state government incompetence can harm the lives of hundreds of thousands, but it’s the guy who leaves the scene of a fender bender who’s shown the door.

A woman in a business jacket walks on stage

Politics This Week: A New Stage for the Self-Promoter

By Justin Katz | April 22, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz check in on politicians’ emphasis on promotions.

The Independent Man drives away from the State House

Politics This Week: Arrested Hope

By Justin Katz | April 8, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz review some of the distractions and calamities in Rhode Island government.

A water drop and ripples

Rhode Islanders don’t want the public transportation statists want them to want.

By Justin Katz | April 5, 2024 |

For an academic project not long ago I reviewed data on RIPTA bus routes, including surveys of riders of every line in the system, so the unstated assumption of Antonia Noori Farzan’s recent Providence Journal article on the subject jumped out at me.  The headline is, “What’s it like to rely on RIPTA to get…