The Abundance Agenda: A Promising Path or a Dead End for Democrats?

The Allure of Abundance

A new breed of thinkers, dubbed "abundance liberals," has emerged, captivating audiences with their optimistic vision of a future brimming with clean energy, affordable housing, and technological marvels. Spearheaded by influential voices like Ezra Klein and Matt Yglesias, they argue that excessive regulation is stifling progress and hindering the development of essential resources.

Their core belief? Cut the red tape, unleash innovation, and build a world of plenty. This resonates particularly well with younger generations grappling with climate anxiety and exorbitant housing costs.

The Housing Puzzle: Zoning Reforms and Their Limits

Abundance liberals point to restrictive zoning laws as the primary culprit behind the housing crisis. They advocate for dismantling single-family zoning and allowing denser development, a position championed by the YIMBY movement.

While some cities and states have embraced these reforms, the results have been modest. Why? Demand for multi-family housing in car-dependent suburbs remains low, and these reforms often ignite fierce opposition from existing homeowners.

A more effective approach, some urban planning experts suggest, involves building dense housing near transit hubs on underutilized commercial land. This strategy has proven successful in cities like Minneapolis and Arlington, Virginia.

Energy and Infrastructure: Beyond Permitting Reform

Abundance liberals rightly emphasize the need to expand energy generation and transmission capacity. They argue that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has become a weapon used by environmental groups to delay crucial projects.

However, they often overlook a more significant obstacle: corporate power. Incumbent utilities, with their vested interest in fossil fuels, actively obstruct the integration of renewable energy through slow-walking grid connections and lobbying regulatory boards.

"The effective veto power that monopoly corporate utilities have over the electric grid is an immense obstacle to the transmission and distribution of renewable energy," observes one policy analyst. "It’s also one that abundance liberals almost never talk about."

The Limits of Deregulation: The Case for Government Capacity

From healthcare to defense spending, abundance liberals diagnose government bottlenecks as the root of many problems. They call for streamlining procedures and eliminating unnecessary red tape.

While these reforms are valuable, they often neglect the crucial role of government capacity. Decades of anti-bureaucrat sentiment have left agencies understaffed and reliant on expensive contractors, hindering performance and driving up costs. Rebuilding capacity requires not just deregulation, but also significant investment in personnel and expertise.

The Unseen Elephant: Corporate Monopoly Power

Perhaps the most glaring omission in the abundance liberal framework is its silence on corporate monopolies. While acknowledging the innovative potential of large firms, they fail to address how these same firms often stifle competition and hoard technology.

In an era of increasing corporate concentration, addressing monopoly power is essential for achieving true abundance. This requires strengthening antitrust enforcement and empowering government agencies to challenge corporate overreach.

Beyond Abundance: A Broader Agenda for Democrats

The abundance agenda offers a refreshing dose of optimism and a focus on concrete solutions. However, its narrow focus on deregulation and procedural reforms overlooks the systemic issues of corporate power and government capacity. Democrats need a more comprehensive vision that tackles these challenges head-on.

As one political observer notes, “Getting rid of the stupid rules that slow progress and add unnecessary costs is an excellent idea. But it’s not remotely capable, by itself, of unleashing the prosperity and plenty that abundance liberals promise.”