Public Policy: Reinventing the World

Public Service

I thought this was a very thoughtful and important essay. While the public debate usually gets caught up in whether we should have "less" government or "more" government, the truth is that what we should focus on is "quality" government. Despite the corrosivity of anti governmental rhetoric prevalent these days, I think we have been fortunate in America to have by and large a solid corps of thoughtful and effective public servants. It is not entirely clear how to cultivate a continuing cadre of capable people in government, particularly in advising young people trying to assess their options, but it is clear we need the energy and creativity of youth combined with the wisdom of years of experience to have a truly effective response to our current problems. While these rankings are useful, we need more thinking from people like Galston to help us fashion education choices and opportunities to bring the "best and brightest" into public service.

SPEA

SPEA

Thank you

I found my public policy studies VERY demanding, but it is also what you, as a student, make of it. The econometrics, for instance, arguing the utility of hamburgers vs. hot dogs, can be taken at face value if you bring nothing more to the course of study.

I noticed that the youngest students in the program sailed through and much of it went over their heads. Likewise, some of the oldest students got caught up in trying to be heard and making a place for themselves in the classroom. Those of us in the middle, with experience behind us but the bulk of our careers in front of us, found a comfortable place in studying policy.

Of course, the fact remains that my mom still has no idea what my degree is in. Policy schools have clearly have a ways to go yet.