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007 ta
008 200519s2016 nyu b 001 0 eng
020 _a9781633882492 (hardback)
020 _a9781633882508 (ebk)
040 _aDLC
_bspa
_cDLC
041 _aeng
042 _apcc
043 _an-us---
050 0 0 _aJK 421
_bB124w 2016
082 0 0 _a351.73
_223
084 _aPOL030000
_aPOL003000
_2bisacsh
100 1 _aBachner, Jennifer,
_d1983-
_eautor.
245 1 0 _aWhat Washington gets wrong :
_bthe unelected officials who actually run the government and their misconceptions about the American people /
_cJennifer Bachner and Benjamin Ginsberg.
264 1 _aAmherst, New York :
_bPrometheus Books,
_c2016.
300 _a304 pages ;
_c24 cm
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _aunmediated
_bn
_2rdamedia
338 _avolume
_bnc
_2rdacarrier
504 _aIncludes bibliographical references (page 245-266) and index.
520 _a"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"--
_cProvided by publisher.
520 _a"This book reveals a surprising ignorance on the part of unelected federal officials regarding the life circumstances and opinions of average Americans as well as an attitude of condescension"--
_cProvided by publisher.
650 0 _aAdministrative agencies
_zUnited States.
650 0 _aExecutive departments
_zUnited States.
650 0 _aBureaucracy
_zUnited States.
650 0 _aGovernment accountability
_zUnited States.
650 7 _aPOLITICAL SCIENCE / Government / National.
_2bisacsh
650 7 _aPOLITICAL SCIENCE / Civics & Citizenship.
_2bisacsh
650 0 _aAgencias administrativas
_95353
650 4 _aDepartamentos ejecutivos
_xEstados Unidos.
_95354
650 0 _aBurocracia
_95355
700 _aGinsberg, Benjamin,
_eautor.
_94348
_d1952-
776 0 8 _iOnline version:
_aBachner, Jennifer, 1983- author.
_tWhat Washington gets wrong
_dAmherst, New York : Prometheus Books, 2016
_z9781633882508
_w(DLC) 2016041736
906 _a7
_bcbc
_corignew
_d1
_eecip
_f20
_gy-gencatlg
942 _2lcc
_cBK
946 _idpf