000			03601cam a22004574i 4500
001			2016020434
003			DLC
005			20190729110756.0
008			160615s2016 nyu b 001 0 eng
010			_a 2016020434
020			_a9781633882492 (hardback)
020			_a9781633882508 (ebk)
042			_apcc
043			_an-us---
040			_aDLC _beng _erda _cDLC _dDLC _dMvI
050	0	0	_aJK421 _b.B25 2016
082	0	0	_a351.73 _223
084			_aPOL030000 _aPOL003000 _2bisacsh
100	1		_aBachner, Jennifer, _d1983-
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
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.
504			_aIncludes bibliographical references (page 245-266) and index.
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
700	1		_aGinsberg, Benjamin,
776	0	8	_iOnline version: _aBachner, Jennifer, 1983- author. _tWhat Washington gets wrong _dAmherst, New York : Prometheus Books, 2016 _z9781633882508 _w(DLC) 2016041736
948			_au621797
949			_aJK421 .B25 2016 _wLC _c1 _hEY8Z _i33039001424976
596			_a1
903			_a35216
999			_c35216 _d35216