We are shackling ourselves to the safe and mediocre with lazy talk of ‘the pub test’

“Not a good look.” 

“Bad optics.”  

“Doesn’t pass the pub test.” 

Such are the statements by which many controversial or complex ideas or issues are instantly dismissed or automatically vetoed in the contemporary public square.  

Need to take a chopper for an important meeting that might ultimately save the public millions of dollars? Not a good look. Have to tell a big charity that they’re no longer getting their taxpayer cash because they can’t prove any results? Bad optics. And, heaven forbid, consider raising politicians’ salaries to be competitive, or raise the GST to pay for more social goods? Doesn’t pass the pub test. 

The examples of the deadening effect of filtering through an