"He writes a lot about behavioral economics and is a proponent of government mechanics to get people to do the right thing..."
As we see from recent events, the government's idea of "the right thing to do" is questioned by many intelligent people on HN and elsewhere. I'd prefer that our government stay out of the propaganda business.
Again, you have to understand that Sunstein is an academic. When he says "the right thing to do" he means "what an economically rational actor" would do, not "what the government thinks an economically rational actor would do." The step from the former to the latter is the difference between academia and reality. The fact that the latter might make certain ideas unworkable does not mean that its sinister to consider the former in an academic context.
"When he says "the right thing to do" he means "what an economically rational actor" would do"
Which is not even remotely close to how the majority of healthy adults live their lives. If our society consisted of people who only made economically rational decisions, we would live in a society of psychopaths (if such a society were even possible).
As we see from recent events, the government's idea of "the right thing to do" is questioned by many intelligent people on HN and elsewhere. I'd prefer that our government stay out of the propaganda business.