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Comment by Game_Ender | Hacker News Reader

It really makes you question the structure that puts in place the original polices this group "nudges". There needs to be an incentive structure in the government itself, that encourages every department to improve how they function continuously. You shouldn't have to create a special department that focus on one tiny portion of the government at once for improvement.

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> It really makes you question the structure that puts in place the original polices this group "nudges".

Nudge is a new thing. Hopefully it'll get baked into all current and future policy planning, along with good evidence bases and proper science.

We've had laws and regulations piled on for many many years, so they do need a bit of fixing. And sometimes it's better to use a nudge ("We'll help clear your attic!") than impose a new law ("Insulate or face a fine").

Having a single department focus on little things now is a useful exercise to demonstrate to all the bureaucrats that nudging is real and works, and needs to be implemented.

Well actually how it works is X knows that Lord Y hasn't got a position in the government at the moment so the funny hand shake club[1] gets together and comes up with a new position. In this case the Ministry of Nudges with chief nudger, a whole staff of public servants, a budget, and a whole pile of expenses like duck houses.

[1] masons, Eton alumni etc.

Are the masons still a thing? I know it was a big deal back in the day, but none of the masons I know (well, that I know are masons; I'm not one myself) are as well-connected as, say, I am.

Yeah I actually posted that from inside a masonic Lodge ironically (dinner party that was basically a throw back to 1970). I'm not a mason but one of my relatives is. Have escaped now, thank fuck.

Masons still tend to be well connected in traditional professions if they admit it or not and they do leverage their connection regularly. The appearance I get is that they are downplaying themselves as a "happy little drinking club" rather than a formal organisation.

The basic promise of the masons is that they will always put another mason first. That first means before the law and before ethics.

I've witnessed this (with respect to the law). They can make your life very difficult if they want to so I'm keeping out of their business past the formality.

>Masons still tend to be well connected in traditional professions if they admit it or not and they do leverage their connection regularly. The appearance I get is that they are downplaying themselves as a "happy little drinking club" rather than a formal organisation.

Huh. I totally bought the "happy little drinking club" story - maybe I was too distracted trying to come up with a proper William Morgan joke.

I came up with numerous jokes today (not William Morgan ;-) but my relative is entirely devoid of a sense of humor.

Sour grapes has to be part of this...

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