It’s time to rethink the role of public employee unions in democratic governance. Public union intransigence has contributed to two of the most socially destructive events in the COVID-19 era. Rebuilding the economy after the pandemic ends also will be more difficult if state and local governments have to abide by featherbedding and other artificial union mandates.
Read MorePhilip K. Howard is not surprised. He is a lawyer who thinks there are too many lawyers and too much law, and that both surpluses are encouraged by misbegotten ideas about ideal governance. One such idea is that ideal governance is a sensible aspiration. In the Yale Law Journal (“From Progressivism to Paralysis”), he explains why “Covid-19 is the canary in the bureaucratic mine.”
Read MoreThe Biden administration can reverse this dangerous decline of trust by launching an independent commission to report on why government performs so poorly. By focusing on public operating systems, the commission could address broad discontent in ways that transcend party lines.
Read MoreThe Progressive Movement succeeded in replacing laissez-faire with public oversight of safety and markets. But its vision of neutral administration, in which officials in lab coats mechanically applied law, never reflected the realities and political tradeoffs in most public choices. The result, after fifty years, is public paralysis. In an effort to avoid bad public choices, the operating system precludes good public choices. It must be rebuilt to honor human agency and reinvigorate democratic choices.
Read More“America is deeply divided”: That’s the post-mortem wisdom from this year’s election. Surveys repeatedly show, however, that most Americans share the same core values and goals, such as responsibility, accountability, and fairness. One issue that enjoys overwhelming popular support is the need to fix broken government.
Read MoreWith a new president preparing to take office amid a divided populace, lawyer and noted author Philip K. Howard believes there is an opportunity to unite Americans around a common goal: building a smarter, leaner government.
Read MoreSomething vital is missing in the presidential debate so far: Neither candidate has a vision on how to make government work better.
Read MoreNevertheless, the Times-Union Editorial Board seeks to support any effort that will improve the quality of life of our readers. On a national scale, we support bipartisan initiatives like a new one called The Campaign for Common Sense by a group called Common Good.
Read MoreThe Democratic convention reveals that the Biden-Harris ticket will try to appeal to voters with progressive promises dealing with racial disparities, healthcare, and the environment. But the expansive Democratic platform largely ignores one issue that most voters care about: the need to overhaul government.
Read MoreThe Covid crisis could be the impetus that finally pushes the broken machinery of America’s schools over the cliff.
Read MoreA cultural earthquake is causing jagged fault lines to open across America. Many thousands have taken to the streets to protest police brutality. Others are taking to the streets to protest COVID-19 shutdowns.
Read MoreAmerica can’t stay closed indefinitely. But reopening America’s shops, schools and other public places is fraught with uncertainties and risks. In some jobs and settings the precautions may not be possible.
Read More"The virus teaches us something. It's a wakeup call," says Philip K. Howard, the founder of the nonprofit Common Good…
Read MoreThe Washington Examiner’s Grant Addison discusses the Campaign for Common Good with Philip K. Howard.
Read MoreRebuilding America’s decrepit infrastructure would be a fabulous way to come out of the COVID shutdown — a million or more jobs, most of which are outdoors. How do we do that?
Read MoreThe protests and riots show what happens when large segments of the population believe the deck is stacked against them. Distrust of government leads to corrosion of civil society. The opportunistic looting across the country is indefensible, but it’s rationalized by the logic of nihilism: If police won’t follow norms of civilized behavior, then neither will we.
Read MorePeople want answers for what went wrong with America’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic—from lack of preparedness, to delays in containing the virus, to failing to ramp up testing capacity and the production of protective gear. But almost nowhere in the current discussion can one find a coherent vision for how to avoid the same problems next time or help restore a healthy democracy.
Read MoreGovernment needs to become disciplined again, just as in wartime. It must be adaptable, and encourage private initiative without unnecessary frictions. Dense codes should be replaced with simpler goal-oriented frameworks, as Cuomo has done. Red tape should be replaced with accountability. Excess baggage should be tossed overboard. We’re in a storm, and can’t get out while wallowing under the heavy weight of legacy practices and special privileges.
Read MoreOpening up the economy again, after the enforced isolation to contain the spread of COVID-19, will require tough choices. The moral and practical tradeoffs will be like none this country has ever faced.
Read MoreAmerica will get past this health crisis, thanks to the heroic, unimpeded dedication of health-care professionals. But what will save America from a prolonged recession?
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