I kinda like the word "Kludgeocracy" -- both the positive and negative aspects. I do think a streamlined approach to government could be a good rallying point. Most American's don't really want small OR big government; they want "Lean Government."
-- Ernie P. Begin forwarded message: > From: New America Foundation's Economic Growth Program > <[email protected]> > Subject: New Paper: Teles -- Kludgeocracy: The American Way of Policy > Date: December 10, 2012 12:01:46 PM PST > To: [email protected] > Reply-To: [email protected] > > Having trouble viewing this email? Click here > > > NEXT SOCIAL CONTRACT INITIATIVE > Kludgeocracy: The American Way of Policy > by Steven Teles, Associate Professor, Political Science, Johns Hopkins > University > American government, especially as it relates to social policy, has become so > complex and convoluted that it is best described by an entirely new word: > kludgeocracy. > > In a provocative new paper for the Next Social Contract Initiative, professor > Steven Teles explains how American policymaking became a kludgeocracy, the > huge (and often hidden) costs of this complexity, and how we can make the > system more simple and effective. From healthcare to higher education to > regulation, he argues, "America has chosen more indirect and incoherent > policy mechanisms than any comparable country." > > The kludgeocracy has taken a huge toll on the effectiveness of American > social policy, not to mention the budget. Additional complexity has created a > social contract that is less democratic, less efficient, and less effective > than a set of large, simple programs would be. Fortunately, even small > political reforms will go a long way to fixing the problems. > > As Teles argues, "Only when Americans give a name to their pain - > kludgeocracy - are we likely to get a government that is simpler, more > effective, and better for democracy." > > Read Kludgeocracy: The American Way of Policy by Steven Teles. > > Download the PDF of the paper directly here. > > RENEWING THE AMERICAN SOCIAL CONTRACT > > Renewing the American Social Contract is a series of major policy papers > outlining bold proposals from leading thinkers for reforming American social > policy in areas from wages and job creation to taxation and the welfare > state. Representing diverse perspectives from across the political spectrum, > the contributors to the series share a commitment to questioning orthodoxy > and enlarging the boundaries of debate. > > Please see the full list of papers here. > > Steven Teles is an associate professor of political science at Johns Hopkins > University and a former Schwartz fellow at New America, where he researched > the intersection of politics and policy. > EARLIER PAPERS IN THIS SERIES > Lessons From History for American Social Policy > by Steven Attewell > > Public Provision vs. the Coupon Welfare State > by Mike Konczal > > Tax Reform That Works: Using a VAT > by Bruce Bartlett > MEDIA INFORMATION > For media inquiries, please contact Clara Hogan at [email protected] > > Visit us on the web at nsc.newamerica.net > > Follow us on twitter at @economicgrowth > > > > photo: flickr > /sebastien.barre > > Forward this email > > This email was sent to [email protected] by [email protected] > | > Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | > Privacy Policy. > New America Foundation's Economic Growth and American Strategy Programs | > 1899 L Street, Suite 400 | Washington | DC | 20036 -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
