Unfortunately for Bernie a “willingness to trust each other” can not be Legislated

As might be expected from boosters whose job it is to promote economic growth and talk up the Twin Cities’ appeal, many Itasca participants express confidence that their project could be replicated elsewhere. Mr. Campbell, though, is less sure.

“My answer is maybe,” he said. “There’s a unique willingness to trust each other here. It’s kind of in our blood.”

Trust fuels the delivery of the public good in commerce and society. It’s what separates Libertarians who trusts the spontaneous self organizing character of markets to the Authoritarian distrust of human nature.  It’s a north south thing from which the generalisation that harsh winter climate breeds a survival characteristic for saving and sharing. On the other hand plentiful food and a moderate climate year round never develops these trusting traits. It’s what allows Northern Europe’s socialism to provide the public good efficiently where on the other hand an easy life in Southern Europe diverts much of the good to corruption.

An apolitical description of a successful society is one that provides the maximum public good with the assets at hand.  Adam Smith’s market economy is the best example but not the only one.  Bernie Sanders has an enthusiasm for “Nordic Socialism” which is a self developed mix of market and communal solutions which apparently works well in Scandinavia.  Here in “Nordic” Minnesota; Itasca, the Twin Cities communal business effort, is an example of a spontaneous local effort but unfortunately for Bernie a “willingness to trust each other” can not be legislated.