While touring a massive overseas government worksite for a new canal, Friedman noticed thousands of laborers painstakingly digging earth with manual shovels instead of using modern earth-moving tractors, bulldozers, or machinery. When he asked the local government bureaucrat why they weren't using modern equipment, the official proudly replied, “You don't understand. This is a jobs program.”
Friedman famously shot back: “Oh, I thought you were trying to build a canal. If it's jobs you want, then you should give these workers spoons, not shovels!”
Fantastic essay. Thank you.
It reminded me of a Milton Friedman quote.
While touring a massive overseas government worksite for a new canal, Friedman noticed thousands of laborers painstakingly digging earth with manual shovels instead of using modern earth-moving tractors, bulldozers, or machinery. When he asked the local government bureaucrat why they weren't using modern equipment, the official proudly replied, “You don't understand. This is a jobs program.”
Friedman famously shot back: “Oh, I thought you were trying to build a canal. If it's jobs you want, then you should give these workers spoons, not shovels!”
I agree - working on ai healthcare has convinced me that most US healthcare is bullshit, but sadly nearly impossible to reform
90% of my day is spent doing things AI could do right now.