The irony of reform : roots of American political disenchantment

Bibliographic Information

The irony of reform : roots of American political disenchantment

G. Calvin Mackenzie

(Transforming American politics series)

Westview Press, 1996

  • : hbk
  • : pbk

Available at  / 9 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 199-213) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

: hbk ISBN 9780813328386

Description

Americans are disenchanted with politics, their government, and their leaders. But before Americans climb again on a new bandwagon of government restructuring, they would do well to listen to Cal Mackenzies admonitions in The Irony of Reform. The trouble with contemporary government, he explains, is not a lack of change or restructuring over the years, but rather the disjointed, inadvertent, and unpredictable pattern of reform we have followed since World War II. Mackenzie traces the roots of our current distress, noting that more tinkering will only lead to morethough perhaps differentproblems. Something much bolder is neededa new approach that enables leadership, facilitates coalition building, and enhances accountability. }Americans are disenchanted with politics, their government, and their leaders. For evidence, we dont have to look very far: the elections of 1994 turned over control of Congress for the first time in 40 years, and the new House Republicans Contract with America was the biggest single anti-government initiative since the Boston Tea Party, with term limits, campaign finance reform, and a balanced budget amendment high on its list of priorities. But before Americans climb again on a new bandwagon of government restructuring, they would do well to listen to Cal Mackenzies admonitions in The Irony of Reform. The trouble with contemporary government, he explains, is not a lack of change or restructuring over the years, but rather the disjointed, inadvertent, and unpredictable pattern of reform we have followed since World War II.Mackenzie traces the roots of our current distress, noting that more tinkering will only lead to morethough perhaps differentproblems. Something much bolder is neededa new approach that enables leadership, facilitates coalition building, and enhances accountability. Mackenzie proposes a cure for the political ills diagnosed herea hard and painful cure for a very crippled body politic. }

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • The New Landscape of American Life
  • The Politics the Reformers Made
  • The Congress We Love to Hate
  • The Sisyphean Presidency
  • Courts Unchained
  • The Stalemate System
Volume

: pbk ISBN 9780813328393

Description

This book describes how American society has evolved over the past half century by examining the cultural context for political change. It explores the profound alterations that have occurred in American political process and discusses the reforms that have altered the American politics.

Table of Contents

Transforming American Politics -- Forthcoming Titles -- Preface -- Introduction -- The New Landscape of American Life -- The Politics the Reformers Made -- The Congress We Love to Hate -- The Sisyphean Presidency -- Courts Unchained -- The Stalemate System -- About The Book and Author

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