Public Policy and Governance
Power to the People
Posted by Sheila Kennedy in Public Policy and Governance on February 21st, 2010
Back in the wild and woolly Sixties, “Power to the People” was a slogan often shouted at sit-ins and the other disruptive gatherings that characterized those tumultuous times. We hear similar chants today from those attending “tea party” events. Reporters covering the various factions of so-called tea partiers tell us that there really is no [...]
Continue reading...Happily Ever After
Posted by Sheila Kennedy in Public Policy and Governance on January 10th, 2010
The last time I babysat my younger grandchildren, we watched one of those age-appropriate Hollywood fairy tales where the good guy defeats the bad guy and then the story ends because—it is understood by all, even five-year olds—that everyone will now live happily ever after. Many Americans apply that simple fantasy to politics: once we [...]
Continue reading...Those “Hidden” Taxes
Posted by Sheila Kennedy in Public Policy and Governance on December 16th, 2009
One of the most frequent accusations leveled against government regulatory activity is that such regulation constitutes a “hidden tax” and that regulation is for that reason illegitimate. Dispatches from the Culture Wars has the best explanation of the fallacy of that argument that I’ve seen.
Continue reading...Who Can We Trust?
Posted by Sheila Kennedy in Public Policy and Governance on November 29th, 2009
The Indianapolis Star has been advocating rather forcefully for laws to tighten restrictions on the lobbyists who exercise increasing power at the Statehouse. The Star argues that such restrictions are necessary if we are to restore a modicum of trust in our legislative body. They’re right. My most recent book—“Distrust, American Style”—was an inquiry into [...]
Continue reading...Begging to Differ
Posted by Sheila Kennedy in Public Policy and Governance, Random Blogging on November 25th, 2009
David Brooks is one of the few remaining conservative columnists whose commentary is always rational. I may agree or disagree with the substance of any given column, but Brooks is a remnant of the days when liberals and conservatives disagreed about aspects of a shared reality–unlike today, when they appear to inhabit different solar systems. [...]
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