Most Americans think government is broken, but the prospects for reform are bleak—no matter which party is in control.
The Economist this week hosted an episode of its “Checks and Balance” podcast on what’s needed for America to break out of this doom loop. The format was unique, at least for the Economist: executive editor Charlotte Howard interviewed her father (me), and then discussed the interview with U.S. editor John Prideaux and Washington columnist James Bennet. For the record, this was not my idea and Charlotte reluctantly was pushed into it by her colleagues. I wish we did it all the time.
Fixing what’s broken doesn’t happen because the political dynamic is aimed at beating the other side—not making government work better.