Scott analyzes how Trump's damaging tariffs are not just a personal quirk but a predictable result of right-wing populism's strategy of bypassing institutional checks, arguing this makes the left a better starting point for reform despite its own flaws. Longer summary

Scott argues that Trump's tariffs are not just a personal quirk but a predictable consequence of right-wing populist ideology, which seeks to bypass institutional checks and balances. He explains how populism's strategy of circumventing institutions and cultivating loyalty makes it impossible to stop bad policies when they arise. The post compares this to how the institutional left would handle similar situations, uses the current tariff situation as evidence that the populist approach is more dangerous, and concludes that the left, despite its own problems, might be a better starting point for reform. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines the role of slack in evolutionary systems, arguing that a balance between competition and cooperation often leads to optimal outcomes in various domains. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of slack in evolutionary systems, using various examples to illustrate how balancing competition and cooperation can lead to optimal outcomes. He discusses how slack allows for the development of complex adaptations that might not emerge in environments of intense competition or total absence of competition. The post covers topics such as monopolies, tariffs, strategy games, stock exchanges, corporate organization, and the evolution of ideas, showing how the principle of slack applies in each case. Shorter summary