The truth is that good public policy can actually be elegant and simple to understand, even when the social problem that it’s addressing is complex. Avoidance of complexity and minimizing choices are hallmarks of good design, as we have learned from the technological revolution in user interfaces. One major obstacle to simple, effective public policy is people like me — the expert class. Many of us are in denial, seeing complexity as a necessary evil, an unavoidable feature of answers to hard problems, even a technocratic badge of honor. Real respect for the public involves appreciating what the public actually wants and needs.

Source: New York Times March 21, 2019 10:01 UTC