Secretary Pete Actually Grasps Public Policy, & This Shouldn’t Be Unusual

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Just lately, I used to be in search of EV content material on Threads (the higher model of Twitter) and located an interesting post by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigiegdiscussing the significance of competing with China within the EV area. I need to briefly undergo what he shared, however then focus on one thing much more essential about this video that we’d like to remember.

Right here’s the publish on X/Twitter:

The USA can’t outcompete China by ignoring the EV revolution. This transformation is properly underway internationally’s auto business, and we’re onerous at work ensuring it’s led by America, made by American employees. pic.twitter.com/KXKps4Iv1q

— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) July 29, 2024

At an occasion, Secretary Pete is requested whether or not it may be a good suggestion to simply embrace a budget EVs that may be out there from China. With out going off into any bizarre tangents or appearing like a buffoon, he offers a stable reply and reveals his work, explaining the geopolitical context and the problem America faces.

He begins with a well-organized argument, as if somebody had written an essay for him to learn. The thesis: No, as a result of it’s not honest competitors. He then begins giving supporting particulars, explaining that it’s not industrial coverage as a lot as China distorting the markets. The Chinese language authorities isn’t doing EVs on this scale as a result of they’re cleantech lovers, however as a result of it’s good nationwide technique. EVs are the longer term, and Chinese language leaders need to safe the nation’s maintain on the longer term.

He then goes into the downsides for america. Not solely is america at a theoretical drawback, however he has private expertise seeing the outcomes of misplaced industrial capability that he shares, including some emotional context that reveals reference to employees and never simply the U.S. vs China large energy recreation. Then, he takes the non-public expertise and zooms again out to conclude that america wants to manage its personal EV future.

Actually, whereas I might write one thing like that, I don’t see myself having the ability to mainly write an essay in my head on the fly like that. Not solely was he able to reply and stroll via his considering, however he organized his ideas and didn’t stumble in any respect whereas doing all of that.

What this tells me is that when selections should be made, our Secretary of Transportation is well-read, is aware of what’s occurring, and would make a coherent determination. I don’t agree with him on all the pieces (and disagree with him vehemently on a few issues), however I wouldn’t be bothered seeing a man like this in any political workplace as a result of he’s very competent and would no less than be attempting to do the very best factor for the folks he serves.

Why This Impresses Me So A lot

Earlier than I’m going on, let’s test in on another “leaders” in society. First, let’s take a look at one thing Trump stated just lately:

Ingraham asks Trump about his feedback telling Christian backers they will not must vote once more in 4 years. Trump responds by saying Jews ought to have their heads examined in the event that they vote for Dems. Ingraham presses him & Trump does not precisely quell considerations he desires to finish elections. pic.twitter.com/khGeauqp9S

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 29, 2024

When requested about his ridiculous feedback about “my beautiful Christians” not needing to vote sooner or later, he responds with a rambling mess of a solution that doesn’t even reply the query. He talks about how a lot the viewers likes him, and the way dangerous his competitors is doing at pleasing his greatest followers, and retains going off on tangents. He peppers in phrases like “tremendous” to attempt to sound sensible and grand, however with out organizing greater phrases like that into a transparent, organized argument explaining why his “beautiful” followers gained’t have to vote sooner or later.

It’s type of like going to a literature class with out having learn the pages for the day after which attempting to persuade the professor that something concerning the ebook, however with the mannerisms and conduct of a used automobile salesman blended in.

To be honest, let’s take a look at somebody on the Democratic Social gathering facet who generally will get into these bizarre “word salad” moments:

She sounds extra clever than Trump, however she’s not saying something. No level is being made. Nothing is being conveyed to the viewers. And, this isn’t the primary time we’ve seen her do that. There’s the entire “Ukraine is a country” answer she once gave to attempt to present she did the readings.

My level with sharing these clips isn’t to bash on anyone. My level is that that is the standard of management that america has gotten so dangerous that folks like Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are seen as regular and even acceptable. I’m certain they’ve their higher moments, however there’s no scarcity of fantastic moments the place Pete Buttigieg delivers a coherent argument and takes disingenuous actors to high school. Right here’s one other one:

As an alternative of getting dragged into the mud and arguing over the right position of presidency, Buttigieg goes straight for the factual underpinnings behind the man’s argument and systematically takes them down. He got here ready to reply many of the questions, however knew sufficient to talk past the notes to help the dismantling of the argument. He didn’t take any crap off of the man, however took him down with none name-calling, facet tangents, or different makes an attempt to distract the viewers.

In comparison with the opposite examples above (and plenty of different moments we’ve seen), Secretary Pete makes them sound like this:

We Ought to Demand Higher

As an alternative of getting leaders who make everybody dumber for listening to them, we should always anticipate competence and a radical understanding of the subject material at hand. When that isn’t out there, management ought to defer to another person who has that stage of information or say that they’ll get again to the individual later with extra info (this could reveals a want to need to get it proper as an alternative of simply attempting to sound clever).

Not everybody will be an eloquent public speaker who can provide you with arguments on the spot and current them properly, however these folks owe it to us to no less than clarify what they will and promise to get again to somebody in a while the issues they don’t know as an alternative of simply rambling and appearing like narcissists. A shred of humility could be wanted to do this, and sadly, far too many politicians today simply don’t have any readily available.

Is that basically an excessive amount of to ask?

Featured picture: Screenshot from the embedded video