Ned Witting is a political junkie with a businessmans perspective. In Political Gridlock, he looks at Congress through the eyes of an efficiency expert and considers why it isnt working the way it should. He doesnt concern himself with whether it produces tax reductions or affordable health care; he investigates why it produces so little of either. In Political Gridlock, he explains how our political process has invisibly disenfranchised moderates in favor of MoveOn.org liberals on the left and Tea Party conservatives on the right. The book examines factors that are unrecognized and ignored by political pundits but that empower political extremes, allowing them to block constructive legislation. It is also the how-to manual on how to reboot our government. It evaluates the obstacles to effective governance and suggests solutions for each. In plain language, Political Gridlock outlines the steps necessary to reclaim Congress and get government working again. It is a book Americans have been waiting for.

In this profoundly polarized era, the nation has been transfixed on the politics of Washington and its seemingly impenetrable gridlock. Many of the decisions that truly affect people’s lives, however, are being made not on the federal level but in the states. Faced with Washington’s political standoff, state governments are taking action on numerous vital issues, often impacting citizens and their communities far more than the decision makers in D.C. Despite this, few Americans really understand their state governments or the issues they address. In Fighting Political Gridlock, David Toscano reveals how the states are working around the impasse in Washington and how their work is increasingly shaping society. Long a central figure in one of the most important legislative bodies in the nation, the Virginia House of Delegates, Toscano brings a unique expertise to this urgent and timely discussion. Beginning with an analysis of state responses to COVID-19, including the processes and consequences of declaring states of emergency, he goes on to detail how various states are attacking issues in different ways–from education and voting to criminal justice and climate change–and provides a broad overview of how state actions affect our system of federalism. Toscano concludes with a call to action and civic engagement, including suggestions for how citizens and public officials can revitalize American democracy.

This edited volume is a compilation of the analyses written by East Asian Institute experts on Hong Kong since the handover. It covers most, if not all the important events that have taken place in Hong Kong since 1997, including its economic integration and relations with China, its governance conundrums, the Hong Kong identity and nation-building, the implementation of the minimum wage, and the elections from 2011-2012. The book's panoramic view of Hong Kong makes it a useful resource for readers who seek a broad understanding of the city and how it has evolved after its return to China. It also offers some glimpses into the direction Hong Kong is heading in its socio-economic relations with China at both the state and society levels, as well as its domestic political developments and the prospects for democratization.

Political positions in the United States today are ideologically chaotic, and there are significant prices to pay for that chaos. The nation has not reached a crisis yet in her modern political gridlock, but predicting the time when the current generation will face the difficulties of earlier times of crisis such as the Civil War, the Great Depression, or World War II is a difficult task. When that time comes, leaders who can communicate effectively to foster understanding and political unity and who can respond to a crisis with skilled direction will be a vital concern. Making Sense of Political Ideology explores the erosion of ties among ideology, language, and political action. Analyzing political language strategies, it shows how to dissect language so we can better understand a speaker's ideology. The authors define four political positions radical, liberal, conservative, reactionary and apply their techniques to contemporary issues such as the war on terrorism. They emphasize the dangers of staying trapped in political gridlock with no consensus for governmental direction and propose that the ability to identify and bridge positions can help political communicators toward constructing coalitions and building support for political action."

Fully updated, this new edition provides a comprehensive examination of the ways that health policy has been shaped by the political, socioeconomic, and ideological environment of the United States. The roles played by public and private, institutional and individual actors in designing the healthcare system are identified at all levels.

This book provides a comprehensive examination of the ways that health policy has been shaped by the political, socioeconomic, and ideological environment of the United States. The roles played by public and private, institutional and individual actors in designing the healthcare system are identified at all levels. The book addresses the key problems of healthcare cost, access, and quality through analyses of Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Health Administration, and other programs, and the ethical and cost implications of advances in healthcare technology. This fully updated fourth edition gives expanded attention to the fiscal and financial impact of high healthcare costs and the struggle for healthcare reform, culminating in the passage of the Affordable Care Act, with preliminary discussion of implementation issues associated with the Affordable Care Act as well as attempts to defund and repeal it. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions and a comprehensive reference list. Helpful appendices provide a guide to websites and a chronology. PowerPoint slides and other instructional materials are available to instructors who adopt the book.

Winner of the 2015 American Planning Association New York Metro Chapter Journalism Award The State of New York is now building one of the world’s longest, widest, and most expensive bridges—the new Tappan Zee Bridge—stretching more than three miles across the Hudson River, approximately thirteen miles north of New York City. In Politics Across the Hudson, urban planner Philip Plotch offers a behind-the-scenes look at three decades of contentious planning and politics centered around this bridge, recently renamed for Governor Mario M. Cuomo, the state's governor from 1983 to 1994. He reveals valuable lessons for those trying to tackle complex public policies while also confirming our worst fears about government dysfunction. Drawing on his extensive experience planning megaprojects, interviews with more than a hundred key figures—including governors, agency heads, engineers, civic advocates, and business leaders—and extraordinary access to internal government records, Plotch tells a compelling story of high-stakes battles between powerful players in the public, private, and civic sectors. He reveals how state officials abandoned viable options, squandered hundreds of millions of dollars, forfeited more than three billion dollars in federal funds, and missed out on important opportunities. Faced with the public’s unrealistic expectations, no one could identify a practical solution to a vexing problem, a dilemma that led three governors to study various alternatives rather than disappoint key constituencies. This revised and updated edition includes a new epilogue and more photographs, and continues where Robert Caro’s The Power Broker left off and illuminates the power struggles involved in building New York’s first major new bridge since the Robert Moses era. Plotch describes how one governor, Andrew Cuomo, shrewdly overcame the seemingly insurmountable obstacles of onerous environmental regulations, vehement community opposition, insufficient funding, interagency battles, and overly optimistic expectations...

The Yearbook on International Investment Law & Policy 2013-2014 monitors current developments in international investment law and policy, focusing on recent trends and issues in foreign direct investment (FDI). It begins with the 2013-2014 trends in international investment and the activities of multinational enterprises, a review of trends and new approaches in international investment agreements for 2013-2014, and a review of international investment law and arbitration for 2013. This edition contains a sample of the research and ideas generated by the Investment Treaty Forum at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. Also included are pertinent general articles by leading experts in the field. This volume concludes with the winning memorials from the 2013 FDI International Moot Competition.

Kaplan's AP U.S. Government & Politics 2021 & 2022 is revised to align with the 2021 AP exam. This edition features pre-chapter assessments to help you review efficiently, lots of practice questions in the book and even more online, 3 full-length practice tests, complete explanations for every question, and a concise review of the most-tested content to quickly build your skills and confidence. "Rapid" and "Comprehensive" content review sections allow you to choose the amount of prep you need for each topic tested. With bite-sized, test-like practice sets, expert strategies, and customizable study plans, our guide fits your schedule whether you need targeted prep or comprehensive review. We’re so confident that AP U.S. Government & Politics offers the guidance you need that we guarantee it: After studying with our online resources and book, you’ll score higher on the exam—or you'll get your money back. The College Board has announced that there are May 2021 test dates available are May 3-7 and May 10-14, 2021. To access your online resources, go to kaptest.com/moreonline and follow the directions. You'll need your book handy to complete the process. Personalized Prep. Realistic Practice. 3 full-length practice exams with comprehensive explanations and an online test scoring tool to convert your raw score into a 1–5 scaled score Pre- and post-quizzes in each chapter so you can monitor your progress and study exactly what you need Customizable study plans tailored to your individual goals and prep time Online quizzes for additional practice ·Focused content review on the essential concepts to help you make the most of your study time Test-taking strategies designed specifically for AP U.S. Government & Politics Expert Guidance We know the test—our AP experts make sure our practice questions and study materials are true to the exam We know students—every explanation is written to help you learn, and our tips on the exam structure and question formats will help you avoid surprises on Test Day We invented test prep—Kaplan (kaptest.com) has been helping students for 80 years, and more than 95% of our students get into their top-choice schools