Many of the academics who began their teaching and research careers during the troubling and depressing eras of Vietnam and Watergate hoped to contribute to a better political system nurtured by less economic and representational inequality and enlightened by greater wisdom from our informational resources. Hopefully, all of this would lead to more informed, cogent and sophisticated voter choices amidst a complicated political issue environment. These academics are now nearing the end of their careers wondering what happened to these hopes for that better political system. Among the next generation of scholars, Professor Goidel provides us with a lucent description of our problems and a prescription for that transformed and better political system. This work is for all of us who understand that our governmental system and way of life confront enormous problems and challenges yet still dream of better tomorrows.
Anthony J. Eksterowicz, Professor Emeritus, James Madison University Are we the people our Founders warned us about? Kirby Goidel lays out a compelling case for the sources of government failure in the United States. To no small extent, it resides with us and the institutional changes we made to our political system. These changes increased democratic controls, but also decreased accountability and long-range thinking, leading to a crisis-management approach to governing. In his ‘recovery plan,' Goidel challenges us to think creatively about institutional and constitutional reform to preserve the Republic—before it is too late.
Ronald Keith Gaddie, author, Regulating Wetland Protection: Environmental Federalism and the States