Beyond the Status Quo: Policy Proposals for America

Much public policy analysis in the United States is enmeshed in the governmental status quo, dedicated to fine-tuning existing programs. Caught up in the attempt to make marginal changes in fundamentally flawed programs, too many analysts miss the forest for the trees. In this book, 13 distinguished scholars and analysts step back from the current system to gain a broader perspective. Based on an overview of existing problems and opportunities, they offer a wide range of proposals for moving public policy beyond the status quo.

Underlying the various proposals is a common commitment to the traditional American values of peace, limited government, and economic freedom. The authors point the way toward a future of hope and economic opportunity for all. With the Reagan administration searching for a second-term agenda, and with younger members of both parties competing to come up with ‘new ideas,’ this book should find a receptive audience in Washington. But it is not written only for the specialist or the Washington insider. The authors discuss their subjects in clear English, without jargon or technical minutiae, making it a highly readable guide to public policy alternatives.