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The Resource What Washington gets wrong : the unelected officials who actually run the government and their misconceptions about the American people, Jennifer Bachner and Benjamin Ginsberg

What Washington gets wrong : the unelected officials who actually run the government and their misconceptions about the American people, Jennifer Bachner and Benjamin Ginsberg

Creator
Author
Contributor
Summary
"Each year unelected federal administrators write thousands of regulations possessing the force of law. What do these civil servants know about the American people whom they ostensibly serve? Not much, according to this enlightening and disturbing study. The authors surveyed federal agency officials, congressional and White House staffers, and employees of various policy-making organizations about their attitudes toward and knowledge of the public. They found a significant chasm between what official Washington assumes they know about average Americans and the actual opinions and attitudes of American citizens. Even in such basic areas as life circumstances (e.g., income levels, employment, racial makeup) the surveys revealed surprising inaccuracies. And when it comes to policy issues--on such crucial issues as defense, crime, social security, welfare, public education, and the environment--officials' perceptions of the public's knowledge and positions are often wide of the mark. Compounding this ignorance is a pervasive attitude of smug dismissiveness toward the citizenry and little sense of accountability. As a result, bureaucrats tend to follow their own preferences without much reference to the opinions of the public. The authors conclude with recommendations to narrow the gap between official perceptions of the American public and the actual facts. These include shorter terms, rotation from the Washington beltway to local offices, compulsory training in the responsibilities of public office, and better civic education for ordinary citizens in the realities of government and politics"--
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
304 pages
Contents
  • Introduction
  • Unelected government : the folks who really run things
  • The chasm between us and them
  • What those who govern really think about you and me
  • What the government does versus what the people want
  • What should be done to make the government listen?
  • What if what should be done isn't done?
Isbn
9781633882492
Instance
Label
What Washington gets wrong : the unelected officials who actually run the government and their misconceptions about the American people
Title
What Washington gets wrong
Title remainder
the unelected officials who actually run the government and their misconceptions about the American people
Statement of responsibility
Jennifer Bachner and Benjamin Ginsberg
Creator
Contributor
Author
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
"Each year unelected federal administrators write thousands of regulations possessing the force of law. What do these civil servants know about the American people whom they ostensibly serve? Not much, according to this enlightening and disturbing study. The authors surveyed federal agency officials, congressional and White House staffers, and employees of various policy-making organizations about their attitudes toward and knowledge of the public. They found a significant chasm between what official Washington assumes they know about average Americans and the actual opinions and attitudes of American citizens. Even in such basic areas as life circumstances (e.g., income levels, employment, racial makeup) the surveys revealed surprising inaccuracies. And when it comes to policy issues--on such crucial issues as defense, crime, social security, welfare, public education, and the environment--officials' perceptions of the public's knowledge and positions are often wide of the mark. Compounding this ignorance is a pervasive attitude of smug dismissiveness toward the citizenry and little sense of accountability. As a result, bureaucrats tend to follow their own preferences without much reference to the opinions of the public. The authors conclude with recommendations to narrow the gap between official perceptions of the American public and the actual facts. These include shorter terms, rotation from the Washington beltway to local offices, compulsory training in the responsibilities of public office, and better civic education for ordinary citizens in the realities of government and politics"--
Assigning source
Provided by publisher
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorDate
1983-
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Bachner, Jennifer
Dewey number
351.73
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
index present
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorName
Ginsberg, Benjamin
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Administrative agencies
  • Executive departments
  • Bureaucracy
  • Government accountability
Label
What Washington gets wrong : the unelected officials who actually run the government and their misconceptions about the American people, Jennifer Bachner and Benjamin Ginsberg
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 245-266) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Introduction -- Unelected government : the folks who really run things -- The chasm between us and them -- What those who govern really think about you and me -- What the government does versus what the people want -- What should be done to make the government listen? -- What if what should be done isn't done?
Control code
ocn958205289
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
304 pages
Isbn
9781633882492
Lccn
2016020434
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
Label
What Washington gets wrong : the unelected officials who actually run the government and their misconceptions about the American people, Jennifer Bachner and Benjamin Ginsberg
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 245-266) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Introduction -- Unelected government : the folks who really run things -- The chasm between us and them -- What those who govern really think about you and me -- What the government does versus what the people want -- What should be done to make the government listen? -- What if what should be done isn't done?
Control code
ocn958205289
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
304 pages
Isbn
9781633882492
Lccn
2016020434
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations

Subject

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