You won--now what?

In this book that promises to change how we view government, Taegan D. Goddard and Christopher Riback show that the solution to our stalled democracy lies not in reinventing the machinery but in reinventing public officials. Newcomers swept into office after elections frequently find themselves managing multi-million-dollar enterprises that touch the lives of countless citizens. Yet often these novices are untrained for their jobs, paralyzed in organizations unlike any they've ever run before. The answer rests not in a permanent government but in better preparing the government we elect. Goddard and Riback use insider anecdotes to analyze political failures, such as Ira Magaziner's ill-fated health care reform during the first Clinton administration; and successes, such as the efforts of Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell to save his city from financial ruin. With riveting and colorful stories, the authors tell us how public officials can finally get the job done and help improve the lives of the citizens who put them where they are. Goddard and Riback return common sense to governing. They discredit the popular idea that government should be run like a business and identify the eight traits of effective public service. From motivating career bureaucrats (whom our top officials didn't hire and can't fire) to turning inevitable crises into political opportunity, the authors present specific tips that will help new public officials govern better and help citizens understand what to demand and expect from the politicians we choose each election day.