Victor Davis Hanson on the paralysis of analysis:

In our present comfort, Americans don’t seem to understand nature. We believe that our climate-controlled homes, comfortable offices, and easy air and car travel are just like grass or trees; apparently they should sprout up on their own for our benefit.

Americans also harp about the faults of prior generations. We would never make their blunders — even as we don’t seem to mind using the power plants, bridges, and buildings that they handed down to us.

Finally, high technology and the good life have turned us into utopians, fussy perfectionists who demand heaven on earth. Anytime a sound proposal seems short of perfect, we consider it not good, rather than good enough.

Read the whole thing.