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October 10, 2018
ASPA Website | PA TIMES.org
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In This Issue:
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ASPA Joins Thought Leaders at Biden Challenge
Former Vice President Convenes Scholars, Administrators to Generate Ideas for Revitalizing the Middle Class
ASPA joined more than 150 thought leaders, researchers, scholars, administrators and others at the University of Delaware campus on September 28 to answer former Vice President Joseph R. Biden's call to generate ideas that will revitalize the middle class.
Born out of a challenge issued in 2017 to public administration scholars and students, the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware, in partnership with University of Delaware Charles P. Messick Chair of Public Administration Maria Aristigueta, renewed its efforts to work with college campuses across the country to solve one of the most pressing issues of our time.
"No one challenge creates a greater impact than revitalizing the middle class," Mr. Biden stated during his opening keynote address. "The consequences of getting this right or wrong will matter to the families impacted here and around the world."
Panelists throughout the day discussed a range of issues that affect, and are affected by, a shrinking middle class including budget priorities, economic growth, workforce dynamics and the role of innovation.
"Middle class isn't just a number; it's an idea," Mr. Biden emphasized, as he enumerated myriad challenges related to public safety, home ownership, schooling, health care, caring for seniors and more. "Forty percent of working age people are struggling to make ends meet. Twenty percent of people have passed on health care because they can't afford it. The brain power to solve this problem exists right now. It's on you to figure it out."
Throughout the day, participants listened to panels, held roundtable discussions, brainstormed ideas and talked through critical questions related to the day's theme including, "How do you define the middle class?" "What can we teach today's students that will encourage job growth?" and "What one idea was discussed today that you feel has the greatest potential to solve this problem?"
Participants ended the day with an overview of the ideas generated throughout the room, as well as next steps for continuing the conversation.
"This is not the end; it is just the beginning," Aristigueta noted as she closed out the final panel. "We will hold panels on this Challenge at events throughout the fall and really focus on this subject at the ASPA Annual Conference next March. ASPA President Jane Pisano is making this discussion a priority for her event and we will be holding Presidential Panels and other discussions to generate even more ideas there."
Those interested in more information about the Biden Institute can visit its website or find the Institute on Twitter and Facebook.
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In the News
Continuing ASPA's "In the News" highlights, recent weeks have provided fresh headlines showcasing infrastructure, public finance, public service and social equity topics at the federal, state and local level.
Some of the more noteworthy headlines appear below. If you have noticed other news pieces of interest, send them our way and we will include them in an upcoming edition of Bridge!
Infrastructure
Public Finance
Public Service
Social Equity
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KeepingCurrent, BookTalks and Student Webinars on the Horizon
ASPA's webinars are ongoing throughout the year. Averaging 75 attendees per event and free to participate, these e-learning opportunities provide you with valuable insights and information at your fingertips. Visit our website to stay informed about all upcoming webinars including KeepingCurrent, BookTalks and the Student and New Professionals Series.
BookTalk: City On The Line
Oct. 11 | 1 p.m.
Presenters:
Andrew Kleine, Author and Government Consultant
Ron Meyers, Moderator, University of Maryland—Baltimore County
In City On The Line, former Baltimore budget director Andrew Kleine asks why the way government does its most important job—deciding how to spend taxpayer dollars—has not changed in 100, maybe 1,000, years. Part memoire, part manifesto, part manual, this book tells the story of Baltimore's radical departure from traditional budgeting to direct dollars to outcomes like better schools, safer streets and stronger neighborhoods during one of the most tumultuous decades in the city's history. Elected officials, executives and citizens alike will be equipped to transform budgets in their city, state or any other mission-driven organization.
Student and New Professionals Webinar: Getting Hired—Negotiating Your Compensation
Oct. 18 | 1 p.m.
Presenters:
Bill Shields, American Society for Public Administration
Garret Bonosky, American Society for Public Administration
Lots of considerations go into compensation negotiation, but there's no need to re-invent this wheel. Learn from our panelists about some best practices, as well as some valuable life lessons you can apply to almost any circumstance. Note: These negotiation tactics are specific to the nonprofit sector. The academic career path version of this webinar is coming soon!
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Focus on Membership: Who You Are
If you ever wonder why you receive multiple messages from ASPA each summer, asking you to update your information for us, here's one very good reason: We now have a very clear understanding of who our members are. Why does that matter? It directly impacts the services and benefits you receive as members.
For instance, did you know that most of our members are between the ages of 30 and 65, half of whom are under the age of 40? Put in the context of an aging civil service, ASPA members definitely represent the up-and-coming public servants of the future.
Did you know today's ASPA members are only slightly more likely to be male than female? Women make up 47 percent of our membership. That number is obviously smaller than the total amount of women throughout the discipline, so it appears ASPA needs some help from our female cohort to recruit their peers and colleagues into ASPA.
If you are curious about the breakdown between academics and practitioners, it's 54:40 with six percent not filing into either camp.
These data are a snapshot in time, but the more you tell us about yourself when we ask, the better picture we can paint for you later.
To all of the members who filled out your profile form this past summer, Thank You! If you did not do so and would like to contribute your data to this project, just visit your account page and edit the data found there.
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ASPA Fall Elections Petition Period Continues
ASPA recently announced the individuals who have been approved by the Nominating Committee to have their names on this year's election ballot. You can find them listed on our website here. More details about the candidates will be posted in the coming days, allowing time for all members to evaluate the candidates and determine for whom you wish to vote.
Voting will open on Monday, October 29. Members wishing to petition to have their names added to this year's ballot must complete the process by Wednesday, October 24. Please contact ASPA staff for more details.
Only active ASPA members as of October 28, 2018, are eligible to vote. If your membership has expired, you will not be provided a ballot. Please contact us as soon as possible for assistance in renewing your membership or rejoining ASPA in time to vote in the elections.
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In Memoriam
John Stout, former dean of Roger Williams University (RWU) and long-time ASPA member, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 20.
Stout became dean of what was the Roger Williams College School of Continuing Education in 1991. Through his many years of dedicated service, he helped ensure RWU delivered on the promise it held as an institution and became an important and significant institution in Rhode Island. He retired in December 2012.
Born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on October 3, 1942, he graduated from Dickenson College, earned his master's degree at Northeastern University and his doctorate from Nova University.
He had a long, varied career at RWU as professor, department head and dean. He taught as an adjunct professor at Northeastern University for 50 years and for six years at Mount Wachusett Community College.
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ASPA Awards Call for Nominations Released
ASPA's Annual Awards Program is your opportunity to nominate yourself or a colleague as one of public administration's most dedicated public servants.
Has someone you know:
- Held a distinguished career in public service
- Made ground-breaking scholarly contributions
- Advocated on behalf of equity and integrity in government
- Successfully bridged the gap as both an academic and a public administrator or
- Otherwise exhibited excellence in the field?
Make sure they receive the recognition they deserve this March at ASPA's 2019 Annual Conference! More than 20 award categories honor a variety of scholars and practitioners and advance excellence in public service, in the U.S. and around the world. Just a few of the awards categories for which one can be nominated include:
- Nesta M. Gallas Award
- Public Integrity Award
- National Public Service Award
- Donald C. Stone Service to ASPA Award
- Elmer B. Staats Lifetime Achievement Award
- Paul P. Van Riper Award
- Gloria Hobson Nordin Social Equity Award
Each award and others listed online are prestigious honors bestowed on those exhibiting excellence in public service. And remember: ASPA membership is not necessarily a pre-requisite to be honored with an award. City managers, local government service providers, public health advocates, nonprofit executives, organizations and more are all eligible.
Every year more than 30 public servants are recognized by ASPA as exemplifying the best of public administration but you can only be considered for an award if you are nominated. Review our program details and begin work on your nomination/submission today.
All awards submissions are due by Nov. 9, 2018. Contact ASPA's manager of internal and strategic development, Garret Bonosky, with any questions or for more information.
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Founders' Fellows Applications Due This Friday
The 2019 Founders' Fellows program application period will close this Friday, October 12. No extensions will be granted. Make sure you complete your application package by the deadline!
The Founders' Fellows program recognizes the exceptional accomplishments and future potential of the next generation of public servants—in both academic and practitioner communities. Fellows receive the following benefits:
- Complimentary attendance at the Annual Conference, where they present their research
- Complimentary hotel accommodations (double occupancy)
- A mentorship with a senior mentor who is matched with each Fellow, based on academic and professional interests, to provide professional development
- Tailored professional development webinars that address their specific educational and professional needs
The Founders' Fellows program is one of our year's most competitive student programs. Candidates must be ASPA members in good standing and submit a letter of recommendation from an ASPA member in good standing to qualify for the program. If you are not sure if your nominator is an ASPA member, contact us to find out before you finalize your application package.
A completed application will include:
- An application information form
- A list of career and research interests
- A resume or CV
- A personal statement
- An essay (more details are provided in the online application)
- Your nominator's letter of recommendation
Have questions? Visit our website for more details, click here to access the application or contact ASPA's internal and strategic development manager, Garret Bonosky.
Remember: all applications are due this Friday, October 12, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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Free Book Content Available Online through Routledge
Did you know, through ASPA's partnership with Routledge, that ASPA members now have discounts on book purchases and free chapters available for download?
The current book chapter available is an excerpt from Managing Digital Governance and is available on ASPA's designated page on the Routledge website. This resource explores some of the challenges 21st century public managers face in their efforts to provide online services to the citizens they serve, as well as how public managers can best create public values via strategic digital governance initiatives.
Get your free chapter now and, if you like the book, receive 20 percent off the cover price when you order it with ASPA's discount code!
Make the most of these opportunities to build your public administration library! Contact us with questions.
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Welcome New ASPA Members!
Click here to view the most recent new ASPA members!
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APSA Invites Applicants for Pracademic Fellowship Program
The American Political Science Association invites applicants for its Pracademic Fellowship Program in Washington, DC. The program places mid-career faculty in federal agencies in the Washington, DC area, where they work directly with decisionmakers. The program is open to faculty members in political science, public management, public policy, public administration and related fields who are interested in engaging with the world of practitioners. All applications require a CV and research statement and are due October 14, 2018. Click here for more information.
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11th Annual Public Performance Conference Next Week
Taking place Oct. 18-19, this year's Public Performance Conference is co-hosted by ASPA and Suffolk University, in partnership with ASPA's Section on Public Performance and Management. The conference will look at using data to improve the efficiency and efficacy of public services around the theme, "Turning Data into Action: What Every Public and Nonprofit Manager Needs to Know About Data-Driven Change." Expected tracks include innovative practices in public and nonprofit organizations; creating a culture of performance; open data and technology; local and county performance; state and federal performance; and engaging citizens. Click here for more information.
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NAPA Fall Meeting This November
Join the National Academy of Public Administration as it kicks off a year-long initiative to name Grand Challenges in Public Administration at its annual Fall Meeting, Nov. 1-2, 2018. The Fall Meeting is an annual event bringing the Academy's Fellowship and the public together to share best practices, learn from one another and address critical issues of good governance. Fellows of the Academy are former cabinet officers, Members of Congress, governors, mayors and state legislators, as well as prominent scholars, business executives, nonprofit leaders and public administrators. We hope you will join us for two days of learning, networking and progress in making government work and work for all. Click here for more information.
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2018 NECOPA Next Month
The 2018 NECOPA will take place Nov. 2-4 at the University of Baltimore. Its theme will be, "Blind Spots in Public Administration: Looking Inward to Improve Responses to Changing Landscapes." We all have intellectual blind spots: those issues or topics where our view is obstructed from seeing clearly. In these spaces, we are literally blind to what is happening and, as a result, unable to gather information to change our point of view. What intellectual blind spots exist for public administration and our broader system of governance? On what topics is our view obstructed? Where are voices hushed or silenced and whose voices are they? This conference aims to consider these questions in an attempt to uncover, explore and address these blinds spots. Click here for more information.
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AAPAM 39th Roundtable Conference Nov. 6-9
The African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) has announced its 39th Annual Roundtable Conference will take place in Gabarone, Botswana, Nov. 6-9. This year's theme will be, "Resourcefulness, Integration and Inclusivity; Fundamentals for the Transformation of Governance and Public Administration in Africa to achieve the Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals." If Africa aims to achieve the transformational goals stipulated in the Agenda 2063 and SDGs 2030, it is essential to tap into the vast resourcefulness of its people by deepening economic and political integration and embracing the imperative of inclusivity to ensure all African people are included in the transformation agenda. Emphasis on key areas such as innovation, resourcefulness, integration and inclusive growth will move Africa from its current marginalized state to a dynamic member of the international community. Click here for more information.
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2018 International Conference and Workshops on Participatory/Gender Responsive Budgeting
Taking place Nov. 14-16 around the theme, "Bridging the Gap Between Gender Responsive Budgeting and Participatory Budgeting," this year's International Conference and Workshops on Participatory/Gender Responsive Budgeting Nexus: African Context and Perspectives will take place in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Looking at seven sub-themes including public budgeting and gender nexus; sustainable development goals and gender budgeting; sustainable development goals and participatory budgeting; gender budgeting and taxation; gender budgeting and government expenditures; participatory budgeting outcomes; and gender responsive budgeting outcomes, this conference will focus on those who have historically been excluded from the budget process, especially women and the indigent. Click here for more information.
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Section on Democracy and Social Justice Call for Nominations
ASPA's Section on Democracy and Social Justice continues to call for nominations for its 2019 Best Book Award, to be presented at ASPA's 2019 Annual Conference. Author(s) of the selected article will be honored during the Gloria Hobson Nordin Social Equity Award Luncheon. All nominations are due by Nov. 16, 2018. Click here for more information.
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13th Annual Public Administration Research Conference Call for Proposals
The Center for Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Central Florida's (UCF) School of Public Administration will host its 13th annual Public Administration Research Conference. The conference will be held March 1, 2019 at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center on the UCF campus in Orlando. The theme, "Evidence-Based Policymaking: Using Big Data to Evaluate Public Sector Innovation and Improve Organizational Performance," focuses on important public administration issues. All submissions are due Nov. 20, 2018. Click here for more information.
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2018 International Conference on Public Administration Begins Nov. 30
Co-hosted by ASPA, Syracuse University's Maxwell School and University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, this year's International Conference on Public Administration will take please in Chengdu, China, Nov. 30 - Dec. 2. The theme for the event will be, "Improving Agility of Government Organizations." Themes and sub-topics will include "smart government" and lessons learned; promising practices in detecting and responding to changing risks and opportunities; balancing costs vs. benefits of improved agility; agility in upgrading delivery of public services; where agility works best; agile acquisition of IT systems; and public private partnerships: do they make government more or less agile? The conference committees will select and recommend the best papers for publication in one of the industry's premier journals including Public Administration Review, Chinese Public Administration and Chinese Public Administration Review. Click here for more information.
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SAAPAM 19th Annual Conference Call for Papers
The South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM) announces its Call for Papers for its 2019 conference, to take place May 7-10 at the University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit. The theme of the conference will be, "Public Affairs, Governance and the Fourth Industrial Revolution." Political parties in government are often considered catalysts in providing interventions to addressing some of these basic human needs issues in cases where they have collective value for a society. Classification of government in ministries and departments is an example of providing a focused approach to identify those needs which are inherently to the benefit of society as opposed to individual or private. This begs for an art of public affairs and governance to provide institutional mechanisms to realize set goals for each area. All abstracts for consideration are due by Nov. 30, 2018; full papers will be due Feb. 28, 2019. Click here for more information.
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SPLA Rohr Scholarship Award Nomination Period Now Open
ASPA's Section on Public Law and Administration (SPLA) annually awards one $500 scholarship to help defray the costs associated with attending ASPA's Annual Conference. SPLA now is accepting nominations for this year's award. Qualified applicants must be a graduate or post-graduate student enrolled in a public administration program. Recipients must be present at the SPLA Annual Event to receive the award, participate in the SPLA general meeting and commit to serving as the Student Representative for the Section for one calendar year. The nomination deadline is Nov. 30, 2018. Click here for more information.
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Call for Proposals: Nervous Areas of Government
Susan Gooden, interim dean of the Wilder School at Virginia Commonwealth University, has issued a call for proposals for a new book she is compiling: Nervous Areas of Government: Addressing Iniquities Around the World. Governments around the world face the challenge of espousing principles of fairness but practicing inequity in their administration. Nervousness is an emotional and physical reaction that can interfere with one's ability to perform critical tasks. Both individuals and organizations can experience nervousness. In government, it becomes harmful when it debilitates actions that are needed to promote social equity and justice. Each of the chapters in this edited volume focuses on a single country and examines a specific nervous area of government. Together, this volume expands our understanding of nervousness in the administration of government services around the world, important historical and political considerations and specific evidence of promising progress. It considers the complexity of nervous areas of governments around the world, while identifying encouraging approaches and initiatives. All proposals are due Dec. 15, 2018. Click here for more information.
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PAR Update
Vol 78:6 will be released for November/December. Below, find a sneak peak of the Table of Contents for that edition!
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Prospect Theory Goes Public: Experimental Evidence on Cognitive Biases in Public Policy and Management Decisions
Nicola Bellé, Paola Cantarelli and Paolo Belardinelli
Framing Effects under Different Uses of Performance Information: An Experimental Study on Public Managers
Paolo Belardinelli, Nicola Bellé, Mariafrancesca Sicilia and Ileana Steccolini
Analyzing the Complexity of Performance Information Use: Experiments with Stakeholders to Disaggregate Dimensions of Performance, Data Sources, and Data Types
Richard M. Walker, M. Jin Lee, Oliver James and Samuel M. Y. Ho
Financial Rewards Do Not Stimulate Coproduction: Evidence from Two Experiments
William Voorberg, Sebastian Jilke, Lars Tummers and Victor Bekkers
How Do Socially Distinctive Newcomers Fare? Evidence from a Field Experiment
Simon Calmar Andersen and Donald P. Moynihan
Body-Worn Cameras and Policing: A List Experiment of Citizen Overt and True Support
Daniel E. Bromberg, Étienne Charbonneau and Andrew Smith
Enlisting the Public in Facilitating Election Administration: A Field Experiment
Andrew Menger and Robert M. Stein
The State of Mixed Methods Research in Public Administration and Public Policy
Kathryn Hendren, Qian Eric Luo and Sanjay K. Pandey
VIEWPOINT ARTICLES
Public Administration Challenges in the World of AI and Bots
P. K. Agarwal
The Next Industrial Revolution? The Role of Public Administration in Supporting Government to Oversee 3D Printing Technologies
Helen Dickinson
BOOK REVIEWS
Understanding Collective Decision Making—A Fitness Landscape Model Approach by Lasse Gerrits and Peter Marks (2017)
Reviewed by Göktuğ Morçöl
When Doing the Right Thing Is Impossible by Lisa Tessman (2017)
Reviewed by John R. McCaskill
Inequality and Governance in the Metropolis: Place Equality Regimes and Fiscal Choices in Eleven Countries edited by Jefferey M. Sellers, Marta Arretche, Daniel Kubler and Eran Razin (2017)
Reviewed by Scott A. Bollens
Plus, check out what’s new on EarlyView!
Direct Government Investment: Perverse Privatization or New Tool of Government?
Charles R. Wise and Eva M. Witesman
Behavioral Public Administration ad fontes: A Synthesis of Research on Bounded Rationality, Cognitive Biases, and Nudging in Public Organizations
R. Paul Battaglio Jr., Paolo Belardinelli, Nicola Bellé and Paola Cantarelli
A Norm of Evidence and Research in Decision‐making (NERD): Scale Development, Reliability, and Validity
Jeremy L. Hall and Gregg G. Van Ryzin
Equity or Efficiency? Explaining Public Officials' Values
Marcos Fernández‐Gutiérrez and Steven Van de Walle
Negative Externality of Fiscal Problems: Dissecting the Contagion Effect of Municipal Bankruptcy
Lang (Kate) Yang
Creating Broader Research Impacts through Boundary Organizations
Aimee L. Franklin, Athena Grossman, Jennifer Le and Mark Shafer
The State of Mixed Methods Research in Public Administration and Public Policy
Kathryn Hendren, Qian Eric Luo and Sanjay K. Pandey
Defining E‐leadership as Competence in ICT‐Mediated Communications: An Exploratory Assessment
Alexandru V. Roman, Montgomery Van Wart, XiaoHu Wang, Cheol Liu, Soonhee Kim and Alma McCarthy
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Public Integrity Update
For the latest news on Public Integrity's articles and topics getting international attention, join the Journal's Twitter page: https://twitter.com/PubIntegrity, or our other active sites at:
Websites:
Public Integrity
ASPA
LinkedIn
Facebook
Introducing a New Editorial Series in Public Integrity: "The State of the Republic"
By Donald E. Klingner, Distinguished Professor, University of Colorado Springs
Introduction:
In 1968 I graduated from Cal Berkeley with a BA in Political Science. Now, after five years with the federal government and 45 as a public university professor, I look back at the places I've been, the people I've known and the things I've done. Each day, I look forward to doing the job in front of me with skill, passion and professionalism. I remain committed to the values I developed a half century ago—social equity, economic justice and political participation.
Because the values that are most important are always those most threatened, the quest to advance public service never ends. When Benjamin Franklin was asked what he and other framers of the U.S. Constitution had created, he answered, "A republic, if you can keep it." As Editor-at-Large for Public Integrity, I'll be writing a series of bimonthly scholarly essays on "The State of the Republic." These will appear over the next two years, beginning in January 2019. They will focus on current U.S. public policy issues that are critical to the future of global democratic governance. Each will be "bookended" by one or more short pieces authored by global experts. Topics will include:
- Equality: Equality of opportunity and access for all (economic, social and political), the influence of the Constitution and its intellectual roots.
- Voting Rights and Political Participation: Representative vs. direct democracy, vote suppression, disenfranchisement, fraud and gerrymandering.
- Peaceable Assembly: Ethical concerns related to the people's ability to gather together in physical and virtual public spaces, including balancing 1st and 2nd Amendment rights, police relations and terrorism.
- Privacy: Constitutional protections and the role of government in protecting citizens in the age of data harvesting.
- Migration and Immigration: The history of diasporas, cultural identity politics and multiculturalism, demographic trends, migration and immigration policy, human trafficking, political inclusion and economic sustainability.
- Gender Equality: patriarchy and misogyny, discrimination, rights movements, domestic violence and pay parity.
- Informed Citizens: The key to democracy, public education, fake news, alternative facts, social media and political propaganda.
- Corruption: The effects of transparency and accountability in public, corporate and community-based organizations; prevention policies and practices.
- Public Safety: Violence in society and toleration of it, including public spaces like streets, schools and public gatherings; institutionalized support for hate speech and violence that perpetuates insecurity and discrimination.
- Environmental Sustainability: Rollback on climate change, air and water quality, environmental racism, assault on public lands and corporate social responsibility.
- Peace, War and Everything in Between: Slow burn conflicts, open-ended wars, killer drones, mercenaries, child soldiers and UN peacekeeping efforts.
- The Future: Is the glass half full, half empty or broken? Miguel Cervantes' Don Quixote de la Mancha, the case for optimism vs. pessimism and the role of professional associations that support professional public administration and public service.
Because political culture and discourse are increasingly shaped by sound bites and propaganda-driven media echo chambers, people get little training—negative examples aside—on how to discuss policy issues with those who disagree on their objectives or strategies. While opposing viewpoints are inevitable, they are best discussed conscientiously, coherently and strategically. While not all readers will agree with my perspective in these essays, they will be rooted in fact, well-argued and thoughtfully written. They will model the rules of civic engagement:
- No matter how much you disagree with someone, be more concerned with learning what they believe and why than with explaining or defending your own viewpoint.
- No matter how illogical or uninformed they seem to be, do not cut them off, tune them out or attack their ideas by attacking them personally.
- If you have trouble with these two rules, repeat this mantra silently to yourself as you listen to them: "Is it possible that for any reason, under any circumstances, what they have to say might conceivably be true?" Repeat as necessary.
- If this mantra gives you trouble, do it while breathing through your nose, not your mouth.
As public administrators, public servants and scholars, we share the belief that we can help governments, businesses and NGOs work more effectively together to support economic development political participation, social justice and environmental sustainability. Almost 90 years ago, the Great Depression stoked the fear and anger that led to World War II. But, just as those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it, so are those who have learned from history although their leaders have not. The United States faces hard times again today. While unemployment is down and the stock market up, inequality and underemployment hamper economic growth. Our aging population, crumbling infrastructure, underfunded schools, tattered social safety net, expensive wars and spiraling public and private debt make us increasingly vulnerable—maybe not to foreign armies, but certainly to fentanyl and other drugs, and to the foreign trolls and bots that stoke social conflict and use social media to attack our democracy.
Our elected leaders face their own hard times. Effective solutions to big issues tend to be unpalatable and politically risky. So, while their best approach is to take the high road and appeal to our intelligence, shared values and a continued belief that the American dream is real, they instead may find it easier to blame others. Seeking scapegoats, they may point to other countries as thwarting U.S. political or economic hegemony, to immigrants for stealing "our" jobs and undermining "our" culture or to other Americans (those "not like us") for supporting beliefs, policies or lifestyles different from their own. "Divide and conquer" trumps "E pluribus Unum."
I look forward to joining our colleagues over the next two years as we contribute together to the ongoing conversation among engaged and informed citizens that—together with a contentious yet mutually respectful relationship between public administrators and elected officials—is the cornerstone of democracy.
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New on PA TIMES Online
Every Monday and Friday, ASPA publishes a curated collection of original content that covers public service, management and international affairs.
This quarter, we welcome submissions that focus on global public administration. Send your contributions to us at any time; the deadline is rolling. Contact us for more information.
Check out our recent articles and columns:
21st Century Higher Education in America: A Reason for Alarm?
By William Clements
Teachers and the Mid-Term Elections: My Eyebrows are Raised
By Carmen Ashley
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PublicServiceCareers.org
Find your next career opportunity at publicservicecareers.org. This online job board is the perfect resource for making a career change or landing your first job in the public service. It lists dozens of positions in academia, government and the nonprofit sector. Below are just a few current listings.
Borough Commissioner – New York City Parks, New York, NY
Assistant/Associate Professor – Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
Director, School of Public Affairs – Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, PA
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American Society for Public Administration
1730 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036
Please send inquiries to Managing Editor Karen E. T. Garrett.
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