The Atlantic’s Jonathan Chait has a good explainer piece on the so-called ‘abundance’ agenda pushed by some Dems who believe government has an important role to play but it needs to function better in order to get things done and provide true ‘abundance.’ … And they’re going after zoning laws that deter construction of new housing, the thicket of laws and rules that prevent major infrastructure projects from being built in a timely and affordable manner, etc. etc. … Think: Taking 11 years to build a new fleet of T subway cars in Massachusetts. Think: the Cambridge City Council recently approving landmark zoning changes to spur home construction. The former is an example of inefficient government. The latter is an example of reforming inefficient government. … So what’s the hitch? Who could possibly object to such common-sense ideas? As it turns out, many progressives, though not all, believe the ‘abundance agenda’ is nothing more than a neo-liberal attempt to weaken local citizen and activist power. Chait has lots more on the ‘abundance’ debate.

Fyi: The NYT’s Ezra Klein has co-written an abundance-themed book called, not surprisingly, ‘Abundance.’