Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion

I do enjoy Megan McArdle as a writer and a thinker. She has been a little off her game since Trump's election, but she is right on the mark with this piece: So What If You Can't Join a Class Action? by Megan McArdle.

McArdle often does something which most journalists do not - she looks at both sides of an issue. She also does something which is even more rare among journalists - she looks at both costs and benefits. In this instance she is examining the relative merits and benefits to customers of three approaches to problem resolution between consumers and producers: 1) class action suits, 2) arbitration, and 3) direct appeal by consumer to producer. In terms of elapsed time and recompense, direct appeal by consumers to producers seems the most effective, followed by arbitration, followed by class action suits (in which there is virtually no recompense to consumers and it takes forever to be awarded that pittance, the bulk of the financial penalty going to the lawyers.)

So she deals with complex issues in an even-handed and informed way. That puts her way ahead of most journalists. On top of that, she is a good writer. I especially like this pithy summary.

But when you dig into this issue, the right to sue your bank starts looking considerably less exciting, and the CFPB regulation seems to be solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion.

"Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion" - isn't that a description with wide application, especially when it comes to governments and NGOs?

Obamacare - Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion

Dow Corning Breast Implant Class Action Lawsuit - Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion

Dear Colleague letter - Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion

The Mindfulness Movement - Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion

Affirmative Action Quotas - Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion

300 hour hair-braiding licensing requirements - Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion

Diversity Training programs - Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion

Equipping police officers with body cameras - Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion

Medicaid expansion to improve health - Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion

Providing foreign aid to increase economic development - Solving a largely imaginary problem, in a rather expensive fashion

See also Campbell's Law, the Streisand Effect, Goodhart's Law, the Cobra Effect, Law of Unintended Consequences, and Perverse Incentives.

Evidence-based decision making - so easily said, so rarely done. Faith-based beliefs are way more motivating than evidence.