The National Infrastructure Commission: A Bureaucratic Boondoggle

Imagine a group of unelected bureaucrats sitting in a room, deciding how to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on projects that may or may not ever see the light of day. That's the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) for you. Established in the UK in 2015, the NIC was created to provide expert advice to the government on infrastructure needs and priorities. But let's be honest, it's just another layer of red tape that slows down progress and wastes money. The NIC operates in the UK, and its mission is to ensure that the country’s infrastructure is fit for the future. But why should we trust a group of so-called "experts" to make decisions that affect our daily lives?

First off, the NIC is a classic example of government overreach. Instead of letting the free market determine infrastructure needs, the government has decided that it knows best. This is a dangerous precedent. When the government gets involved in infrastructure, it often leads to inefficiency and waste. The NIC is no exception. With its grand plans and lofty goals, it’s easy to forget that the commission is spending other people's money—our money. And let's not forget, these are the same people who brought us the HS2 debacle, a high-speed rail project that has been plagued by delays and cost overruns.

Secondly, the NIC is a breeding ground for cronyism. When you have a group of unelected officials making decisions about where to allocate billions of pounds, you can bet that special interests are going to try to influence those decisions. It's a recipe for corruption. The NIC claims to be independent, but how independent can it really be when it's funded by the government? The potential for backroom deals and favoritism is enormous, and the taxpayers are the ones who suffer.

Moreover, the NIC's recommendations often lack common sense. Take, for example, their obsession with green energy. While it's important to consider the environment, the NIC's push for renewable energy sources often ignores the economic realities. Wind and solar power are not yet reliable enough to meet the country's energy needs, and yet the NIC continues to push for these expensive and inefficient solutions. Meanwhile, traditional energy sources that are more reliable and cost-effective are being sidelined.

The NIC also has a tendency to focus on flashy, high-profile projects rather than practical solutions. Instead of addressing the country's crumbling roads and bridges, the NIC is more interested in futuristic projects that look good on paper but do little to solve real-world problems. This is a classic case of putting style over substance. The average citizen doesn't care about a fancy new rail line if they can't drive to work without hitting a pothole every five minutes.

Furthermore, the NIC's long-term planning is often out of touch with reality. The commission is tasked with looking 30 years into the future, but who can accurately predict what the world will look like in three decades? The rapid pace of technological change means that today's solutions could be obsolete tomorrow. Yet, the NIC continues to make grandiose plans based on assumptions that may not hold true in the future. It's a fool's errand, and it's the taxpayers who are left holding the bag.

Finally, the NIC is a perfect example of the nanny state in action. Instead of trusting individuals and businesses to make their own decisions about infrastructure, the government has decided to take control. This paternalistic approach stifles innovation and entrepreneurship. When the government is in charge, there's little incentive for private companies to invest in infrastructure projects. Why bother when the government is going to do it for you?

In short, the National Infrastructure Commission is a bureaucratic nightmare that does more harm than good. It's time to cut the red tape and let the free market take the lead on infrastructure. The NIC may have been created with good intentions, but as the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It's time to put an end to this costly and ineffective experiment.