One of the biggest problems in our world of politics is voters' common refusal to accept the concept of tradeoffs.
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One → accept → tradeoffs
Author Robert Mulligan says it "is one of the most basic principles in economics, that in order to have more of one thing, you have to accept having less of something else."
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you → say → something
Likewise, economist Thomas Sowell noted, "There are no solutions.
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Sowell → note → ?
It's a basic idea that we all understand on a personal level.
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we → understand → level
I've been thinking about trading my 15-year-old car for a new one, as it would be nice to have a vehicle with power windows and Bluetooth.
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it → think → windows
But buying one means using money I could spend on other pleasures.
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I → buy → pleasures
Politicians make promises where everyone gets everything their heart desires.
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heart → make → everything
We can have a single-payer healthcare system without any of the resulting shortages.
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We → have → shortages
We can have tariffs that don't drive inflation—or that wall Mexico pays for.
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Mexico → have → inflation
It would be nice if lawmakers just leveled with us about the ups and downs of policy choices.
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lawmakers → level → choices
One initiative this election, Proposition 45, best epitomizes that tradeoff issue.
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initiative → epitomize → issue
It seeks to reform the state's "landmark" environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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It → seek → law
Do we want more building and the good it brings, or do we maintain the Byzantine regulatory process so we can stop construction of projects we don't like?
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we → want → projects
Complex regulations aren't best reformed at the ballot box, but since Gov. Ronald Reagan signed the law in 1970, CEQA has entangled construction projects of every sort in a maze of hearings, Environmental Impact Reports, and litigation.
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CEQA → reform → hearings
CEQA was meant to assure developers mitigated any environmental damage.
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developers → mean → damage
That sounds fine, but it has led to long delays, enormous costs, and special interests that use the process to stop projects or exact non-environmental demands (e.g., union wage concessions).
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that → sound → demands
There's wide consensus in the Legislature that CEQA has exacerbated the state's housing crisis, halted business growth, and slowed our economy.
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CEQA → be → economy
The law even endangers the state's environmental priorities, as cynical actors have used it to derail parks, transit projects, infill housing, wildfire-fighting brush-clearance projects, you name it.
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you → endanger → it
Lawmakers have exempted various projects from CEQA, but have done so on a piecemeal basis—and only those that fit a narrow scope.
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that → exempt → scope
Sponsored by the level-headed California Chamber of Commerce, Proposition 45 attempts broad reform for any "essential" project.
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Proposition → sponsor → project
Per the measure, that includes housing, water systems, clean energy, health facilities, police and fire stations, brush clearance, broadband, education facilities, and transportation projects except for the bullet train.
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that → include → train
As the Legislative Analyst's Office explains, Proposition 45 "creates more binding time limits for state and local governments to do both CEQA and permitting reviews.
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governments → explain → CEQA
This includes time limits for determining if a project application is complete, finishing the EIR, and granting other types of approvals and permits."
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application → include → approvals
Some of the changes are deep in the weeds, but it's all meant to speed things up—and to limit what the courts can review.
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courts → mean → what
"CEQA lawsuits, inclusive of appeals, typically take four to five years to resolve, stalling most approved projects and often deterring lenders, investors and grant-making agencies from funding them," explained a September report from the Holland & Knight law firm.
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report → take → firm
Ask any knowledgeable person about why California is incapable of building anything efficiently and they will point to these CEQA impediments.
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they → ask → impediments
If the state wants to reduce housing prices, it needs to fix this logjam.
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it → want → logjam
As a voter, you must answer a simple question: Do the benefits outweigh the downsides?
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benefits → answer → downsides
Again, the downside is that in speeding up approval of projects that you like, it will also speed up the process for projects that you don't like.
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you → speed → that
No wonder opponents are raising the arguable specter that Proposition 45 will help companies build data centers, given those centers are widely unpopular.
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centers → raise → centers
We need more housing, including suburban subdivisions.
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We → need → subdivisions
We need more businesses.
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We → need → businesses
We need better freeways.
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We → need → freeways
We need to speed the process for brush clearance to prevent devastating wildfires.
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We → need → wildfires
So, yes, I eagerly support this measure.
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I → support → measure
Will it likely mean I'll see the speedier construction of, say, underused light-rail lines and absurdly costly subsidized apartment buildings that annoy me?
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that → mean → me
Oh well, some bad will come with the good, no matter what the campaigns tell you.
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campaigns → come → you
For instance, the "yes" side claims that Proposition 45 offers the "same strong protections."
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Proposition → claim → protections
And opponents claim CEQA needs reform, but this particular fix is the wrong way to go about it.
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fix → claim → it
That canard just reflects a myopic refusal to accept downsides inherent in any reform.
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canard → reflect → reform
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
