August 27, 2010 2:18PM 

# This Week in Government Failure 

By [Tad DeHaven](https://www.cato.org/people/tad-dehaven) 

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Over at [Downsizing Government](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/), we focused on the following issues this week:

- If federal policymakers won’t reverse course on [high-speed rail](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/states-shy-from-hsr-money), let’s hope state policymakers step up to squelch this budding boondoggle before it’s too late.
- [Joe Biden](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/bidens-fatal-conceit) demonstrates the arrogance of the political class, which at its core believes that free individuals are incapable of making the “right” decision without the guiding hand of the state.
- Short-term measures implemented by policymakers to “fix” the economy have also introduced unwelcome [economic distortions](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/government-economic-distortions).
- The Interior Department’s [Minerals Management Service](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/mms-%E2%80%98captured%E2%80%99-industry) was “captured” by the industry it regulated. Not the first example of regulatory capture; won’t be the last.
- Alaska’s [Manufacturing Extension Partnership](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/business-subsidies-alaska) shows that economic development agencies are better at “press release economics” than promoting policies that will result in real economic growth.

##### Related Tags 

[Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy) 

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