, Columnist
The Mad Rush to Undo Online Privacy Rules
The FCC studied the issue for years. Republicans in Congress eviscerated the result in a week.
Rollbacks are easy. Policy is hard.
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Washington and every state capitol are full of people committed to serious policy work. Some work for legislatures. Others work in agencies or for councils. Many work for non-governmental organizations and think tanks.
This policy tribe, made up of people of all political persuasions, conform to some clear norms. They make proposals and arguments forged to convince those in power that their positions are disinterested, are based on empirically sound studies, would benefit more people than they would harm, and would serve the greater good over the long term. Even if a policy worker makes such an argument disingenuously, she or he conforms to these cultural expectations.