[Michlib-l] Shifting Landscapes: Good Enough for Government Work with Amy Lerman

[Thomas Trahey]

    Tonight at 7pm: American government is in the midst of a reputation
crisis. An overwhelming majority of citizens—Republicans and Democrats
alike—hold negative perceptions of the government and believe it is
wasteful, inefficient, and doing a generally poor job managing public
programs and providing public services. With her book, *Good Enough for
Government Work*, Amy Lerman argues that the reputation of government is
itself an impediment to government’s ability to achieve the common good. In
addition to improving its efficiency and effectiveness, government
therefore has an equally critical task: countering the belief that the
public sector is mired in incompetence.

     Amy E. Lerman is Professor of Public Policy and Political Science,
co-director of the People Lab, and Associate Dean of the Goldman School of
Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. On April 11,
Professor Lerman will explore how “good enough for government” moved from
being a statement of excellence to disparagement. Professor Lerman writes
widely on issues related to public opinion, political engagement, and
public policy. She is the author of two books on criminal justice, The
Modern Prison Paradox, and Arresting Citizenship. Her latest book, Good
Enough for Government Work, explores the stereotype of government as
wasteful and inefficient, and studies the consequences of these beliefs.


>From the start of the pandemic to the inequities observed from the murder
of George Floyd to the revelations about housing, healthcare, employment,
and supply chain concerns, multiple economic topics have long been “hiding
in plain view.” Shifting Landscapes considers three.


In the third and final session on April 18, political scientist Paul
Pierson will trace the economic and political history of the United States
over the last century. He’ll show how a viable mixed economy—where both
government and business each have their own roles while also working
collaboratively—has long been the dominant force of America’s prosperity.


This 2021-2022 series is exploring six areas of our lives that have been
reshaped during the Covid-19 epidemic and the many events that have
occurred in the past 2 years. Economics is the sixth and final topic in the
Shifting Landscapes series.



In these times of both tremendous upheaval and opportunity for
transformation, Shifting Landscapes hopes exploring economic theories, past
merits of a mixed economy, and how we might proceed in the future will help
each of us consider how we might build an even more successful nation in
the decade ahead.


            Events are free, live or by Zoom. Tickets are not necessary but
registration is helpful. To register: mcdl.pub/sl-register. To simply join
the Zoom presentation, go to http://mcdl.pub/SL-zoom. The link will be live
about 6:45 pm on the day of the presentation. For information check the
Mason County District Library website: mcdlibrary.org or contact Thomas
Trahey: ttrahey at mcdlibrary.org.


--
Thomas Trahey
Mason County District Library
Head of Circulation
231-843-8465
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