THE Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association think that their home stadium is obsolete. Their claim is rather presumptuous, given that the $53 million Miami Arena was built to the Heat’s specifications and is only eight years old. No matter: Build us a new arena, the Heat threatened, or we will move. Fearful of losing their team, Miami politicians capitulated and promised to build a new $165 million arena at taxpayers’ expense. Only a public protest forced them to withdraw their offer, so the Heat will now finance the stadium themselves. However, usually the public is only too willing to pay.