Are political actors (politicians, voters, and bureaucrats)
motivated by “self interest” or “public interest?” That is the
central question as it is posed in the academic debate over the
Public Choice school of economics. However, it is the wrong
question. Public Choice economists and their critics agree that,
at least sometimes, political actors pursue financial gain and
power at the expense of others, and obviously that is true. To
take a few examples, recall the Youtube video in which a woman
recites her reasons for supporting Barack Obama: “I won’t have
to work [to] put gas in my car, I won’t have to work [to] pay my
mortgage.” Does anyone doubt that political actions over the
last few years to expand food stamps, expand unemployment
benefits, increase subsidies for students loans, bail out auto
unions, subsidize solar and wind companies, and expand Medicare
coverage were calculated to gain political support? The typical
member of congress today sees it as his primary responsibility
to bring home the pork