Of the lessons that can be drawn from Mamdani’s campaign and now Mayoralty, one of them is talking about (and delivering) the efficient, high-quality public services that well-run, well-resourced government can provide.
We see time and time again that getting the “market” to deliver what the state should provide results in over-paying for substandard services. Or being unable to deliver anything at all — Auckland’s light rail and Kiwibuild being prime examples.
The state can, and should, have the capacity to plan, deliver, and maintain the high-quality infrastructure and services that modern life demands.
“Maintenance is always cheaper than repair, and one of the main differences between a business and a government is that a business's shareholders can starve maintenance budgets, cash out, and leave the collapsing firm behind them, while governments must think about the long term consequences of short-term thinking”
H/t to @plu
... Show more...Of the lessons that can be drawn from Mamdani’s campaign and now Mayoralty, one of them is talking about (and delivering) the efficient, high-quality public services that well-run, well-resourced government can provide.
We see time and time again that getting the “market” to deliver what the state should provide results in over-paying for substandard services. Or being unable to deliver anything at all — Auckland’s light rail and Kiwibuild being prime examples.
The state can, and should, have the capacity to plan, deliver, and maintain the high-quality infrastructure and services that modern life demands.
“Maintenance is always cheaper than repair, and one of the main differences between a business and a government is that a business's shareholders can starve maintenance budgets, cash out, and leave the collapsing firm behind them, while governments must think about the long term consequences of short-term thinking”
H/t to @pluralistic
#nzpol
pluralistic.net/2026/02/24/mam…
Chris
in reply to Josh • • •JWM (Joe No Se)
in reply to Chris • • •bovaz
in reply to Chris • • •Almost weekly I'm in meetings trying to explain that software costs are mostly in the long term maintenance of its infrastructure and the software itself.
I suppose this is even more true in the actual infrastructure of society.
But none of that is the big sexy work with the big sexy check attached to it.
Epic Null
in reply to bovaz • • •@bovaz @ASprinkleofSage It occurs to me that this is one thing people would have a much better feel for if they did the maintenence of showing up to city council meetings.
Because maintenence is a fairly regular topic.
Wait why are people avoiding the meetings then presuming to know how to better run a government?
Superstars of the Apocalypse
in reply to Josh • • •Darwin Woodka
in reply to Josh • • •