The hottest Reform Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Xi Jinping promises a new wave of "reform" since 2013

Pekingnology • 52 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Reform China Economy Leadership Foreign Relations
  1. China is planning for further comprehensive reforms, aligning with previous reform initiatives.
  2. Xi Jinping aims to address development challenges through reform and opening up, emphasizing the need for focused, high-quality measures.
  3. The process of implementing the new reform package will involve extensive engagement with various stakeholders to gather input and experiences.

Would Trump Inc. Fix Education?

Rounding the Earth Newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Politics Policy Administration Reform
  1. The current educational system faces deep challenges, and there are many people involved with various motivations, like charter school advocates and other influential groups. It's crucial to analyze their true intentions.
  2. Education can serve as a powerful tool to change society. The hope is that with new leadership, there can be meaningful reforms to help students succeed.
  3. There's skepticism about whether personal efforts to improve education can have a real impact, especially given past failed attempts and systemic roadblocks.

March 2, 2024

Letters from an American • 13 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History Government Policy Reform Economy
  1. J.P. Morgan orchestrated the creation of the billion-dollar United States Steel Corporation in 1901, which was a significant event in the history of big business in America.
  2. Theodore Roosevelt's ascension to the presidency after McKinley's assassination led to a shift towards reining in the power of big business through legal actions like going after the Northern Securities Company.
  3. Roosevelt's belief in the need for a strong federal government to regulate and control corporations marked a turning point in American economic policy.

Sal Khan, Serial Education Revolutionary

Freddie deBoer • 11 HN points • 11 Jan 24
🚌 Education Technology Society Inequality Reform Schooling
  1. Sal Khan's past promises about revolutionizing education with Khan Academy videos have not come true.
  2. Educational outcomes are heavily influenced by inequalities in society and students' inherent academic potential.
  3. Acknowledging the limitations of formal schooling is important for understanding the reality of closing academic gaps and erasing social inequality.

Looking for a New NIH Director

The Good Science Project • 29 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🔬 Science Biology Medical Research Innovation Reform
  1. NIH Directors historically have had similar backgrounds, typically with PhDs or MDs and extensive academic experience.
  2. Consider expanding the pool of potential NIH Director nominees beyond traditional criteria to include those with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
  3. Look for a potential NIH Director who excels at identifying talent, has broad interests, is open to new ideas, and is willing to push for meaningful reforms.
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The limits of Death Star thinking

Hypertext • 2 HN points • 27 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Law Government Legislation Reform
  1. Many evidence-based interventions fail due to overlooking the complex, adaptive nature of systems, leading to unintended consequences.
  2. Policymakers often fall into 'Death Star thinking,' seeking a single, dramatic solution, instead of recognizing the need for ongoing care and systemic reforms.
  3. Creating true change in government effectiveness requires a shift towards enabling agencies by reducing constraints and building trust, rather than just imposing punitive measures.

When More Democracy Is Less: The Paradox Of Primaries

American Dreaming • 3 HN points • 12 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Democracy Partisanship Reform Voter Turnout
  1. Primaries were meant to bring more democracy by letting voters help choose candidates, but the system often leads to unsatisfying choices due to low voter turnout.
  2. The primary system replaced party bosses with a more democratic candidate selection process, but voter participation remains low, favoring extremists and special interests.
  3. Abolishing primaries in favor of ranked-choice voting could lead to better candidate selection and reduce the influence of partisanship, extremism, and special interests in elections.

Torture and Plea Bargaining

Something to Consider • 0 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Criminal Justice Legal system Reform Human Rights Historical Analysis
  1. Plea bargaining and torture have similar roots in needing confessions, showing how justice systems can push for admissions under pressure. This means that, like in medieval times, the system isn't always fair or just.
  2. In the past, strict proof requirements meant torture was sometimes used to force confessions. Today, the heavy use of plea bargains can feel like a modern form of this pressure.
  3. The author suggests reforms to the justice system, such as adopting practices from Germany. This would help ensure more fair trials and protect the rights of individuals better.

Strike the last word

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Congress Democracy Political Process Reform
  1. The House is trying out an open rule for legislation, which is different from the usual closed rules. This allows more members to have a say in changes to the bill.
  2. Although open rules can let members propose amendments, many won't be discussed due to time limits and other restrictions. So, not everything gets a chance to be heard.
  3. If the process goes smoothly, it might lead to more open rules in the future, changing how the House operates. This could be a positive change, but it won't fix all the issues with legislative debate.

MOF: Crying Wolf for a Half-Century

Japan Economy Watch • 0 implied HN points • 12 Jan 22
🌍 World Politics Government Debt Economy Taxation Reform
  1. The Ministry of Finance in Japan has been predicting a government bond crash since the 1970s but those predictions have never come true.
  2. The government spending cuts have been tougher than many realize, especially affecting the elderly population.
  3. Japan's chronic deficits have not led to a JGB crash, but instead, slow corrosion of the economy, calling for a different approach that aligns taxes and spending with growth.

Insiders and Outsiders

The India Uncut Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Reform Partisanship Public Service Political Dynamics
  1. Two main approaches to bringing about change: Insiders and Outsiders.
  2. Outsiders might focus on moving the Overton Window and playing the long game, while Insiders work on making incremental changes.
  3. Both Insiders and Outsiders can face challenges with unprincipled individuals, but there are also genuine and valuable contributors from both groups.

Education’s Technology Problem

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 05 Oct 19
🚌 Education Reform Technology Public Schools Universities
  1. Technology alone cannot solve the issues in the education system; ethical transformation is crucial.
  2. Private for-profit educational alternatives have not proven successful, leading to student debt issues.
  3. Dependency on technology as a solution overlooks crucial societal issues like mental health, food insecurity, and more that cannot be addressed solely through technology.

Why the Arts (and the Imagination) Are the Future, Too

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 14 Sep 19
🚌 Education Arts Imagination Curriculum Reform
  1. STEAM education is crucial for a well-rounded learning experience, promoting imagination, critical thinking, and cross-discipline conversations.
  2. The arts and imagination play a significant role in advancing scientific, technical, and engineering fields, offering vital inspiration and creativity.
  3. Prioritizing a STEAM-based approach over STEM alone fosters holistic education, better preparing students for the challenges of the future.