The State of the Union. Government and the Quest for a Better Society

This work is a statement, an assessment of where America stands, how society has changed in the since the 1950s, and who or what is responsible for frustrations in the 1990s. Derek Bok examines the nation's progress in five areas that Americans generally consider to be of importance: economic prosperity; quality of life; opportunity; personal security; and societal values. He shows that although Americans are better off in most areas than they were in 1960, they have performed poorly overall compared with other leading industrial nations. And when it comes to providing adequate health care at a reasonable cost, educating young people for high-skilled jobs, alleviating poverty and urban blight, and reducing crime, America's record has been dismal. Comparing the United States with other leading industrial nations on more than 60 key indicators, Bok shows that America rank below average in more than two-thirds of cases and at the bottom in more than half. What has caused this decline, and what can be done about it? In virtually all important areas of American life, Bok concludes, government policies have played a significant, often decisive role in accounting for America's successes as well as failures. But whereas others call for downsizing the federal government, Bok argues that government is essential to achieving America's goals. In short, Ronald Reagan was only half right. Government is the problem. But it is also the most important part of the solution. By assessing the state of the nation and identifying the reasons for its current condition, this book helps set the agenda for improving America's performance in the future.