Podcast appearances and mentions of Philip K Howard

As President Trump and Elon Musk launch an assault on the federal bureaucracy, Will Marshall, the president of the Progressive Policy Institute, and Philip K. Howard, lawyer and author of “Everyday Freedom,” tell Margaret Hoover that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has the right diagnosis, but the wrong cure. Speaking before a student audience at Hofstra University, Marshall and Howard agree that the federal bureaucracy is due for an overhaul and must be streamlined. But Howard, who has written several books about improving government, argues that efficiency means being more responsive to the needs of Americans. “We need to make government work better,” he says. “Not get rid of it.”Marshall, who also supports reforming and modernizing the government, says that solutions to inefficiency in government are very different from the ones used in the private sector, and that Musk has brought the country to a constitutional crisis. The two longtime reform advocates also reflect on past efforts to reorganize the federal government, discuss the importance of trust for any successful reform initiative, and take questions from Hofstra students.Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Peter and Mark Kalikow, Cliff and Laurel Asness, The Meadowlark Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, Damon Button, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Philip I Kent Foundation and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc. 

Rudy Havenstein is a writer and satirist known for his sharp critiques of America's sprawling institutions and the elites who run them. He joins the show to discuss the accountability crisis in America — how it manifests across political life and, most importantly, what we can do to fix it. Important Links: Rudy's Twitter Rudy's Substack Show Notes: Why we should fear hyperinflation “The Fed is Congress' drug dealer” The Great Financial Crash & America's accountability crisis How to disagree agreeably How democracy REALLY works Why we should bring back Glass-Steagall The problem of cluelessness Solutions to the accountability crisis What has happened to investigative journalism? Why partisanship is overstated Rudy as World Emperor MORE! Books Mentioned: Yellen: The Trailblazing Economist Who Navigated an Era of Upheaval; by Jon Hilsenrath Deterring Democracy; by Noam Chomsky The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government; by Philip K. Howard

On this week's interview Paul talks to return guest, author, and commentator Philip K. Howard about DOGE. For advocates of limited government DOGE is the most exciting effort to cut wasteful spending and bring functionality to the federal government that we have seen since at least the Grace Commission during the Reagan Administration. Howard and Gessing have a robust discussion of DOGE and numerous aspects of its mission and activities so far. They address whether Congress will go along with DOGE, whether there are more effective potential ways to streamline government, and whether this effort will ultimately succeed. More information about Philip K. Howard's work can be found at his Common Good website and at his recent Manhattan Institute paper. 

The Rod and Greg Show Daily Rundown – Friday, February 7, 20254:20 pm: Ryan McMaken, Editor of Mises Wire and The Austrian joins the program to discuss his recent article for the Epoch Times in which he writes about why the U.S., and other countries in the world, are giving up on birthright citizenship.4:38 pm: Philip K. Howard, Chair of Common Good, joins the program to discuss his new report for the Manhattan Institute on how to fix and modernize American infrastructure.6:05 pm: Utah Senate President Stuart Adams joins Rod and Greg for their weekly conversation about what's happening at the 2025 session of the Utah Legislature.6:20 pm: Terry Schilling, President of the American Principles Project, joins the program to discuss how the Biden Administration doled out hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and contracts to promote "radical ideas" on gender ideology.6:38 pm: We'll listen back to Rod and Greg's interviews this week with Joy Pullman of The Federalist on how elections are essentially fake if Presidents don't have control of government agencies, and (at 6:48 pm) with John Daniel Davidson of The Federalist on how defunding USAID is just shutting down leftist propaganda.

Inauguration Week in Review! Joe and John on the ascendant Trump, the triumph of the Tech Bros, Dems in disarray, the Lars Anderson Bridge and the whereabouts of Philip K. Howard. 

On this week's Education Gadfly Show podcast, Philip K. Howard, chair of Common Good and a bestselling author, joins Mike and David to discuss what it takes to create positive school environments, as outlined in his recent Hoover Institution essay, “The human authority needed for good schools.” Then, on the Research Minute, Amber shares an Urban Institute report analyzing states' demographically adjusted 2022 NAEP performance.Recommended content: Philip K. Howard, “The human authority needed for good schools,” Hoover Institution (November 19, 2024).Ashley Berner, “3 ways to increase choice and decrease polarization in U.S. schools,” Thomas B. Fordham Institute (September 23, 2024).Jeff Murray, “Digging into the 2024 survey of American public school teachers,” Thomas B. Fordham Institute (July 25, 2024).Matthew Chingos, States' Demographically Adjusted Performance on the 2022 Nation's Report Card, Urban Institute (2024). Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our podcast? Send them to Stephanie Distler at sdistler@fordhaminstitute.org.

Does modern society have too many laws? Have we complicated legal codes to the point where we're suffocating under them and grinding the government to a screeching halt? Lawyer and author Philip K. Howard is the founder of the nonpartisan coalition, Common Good, which works toward legal and government reform. He's the author of numerous books like, The Death of Common Sense: How Law is Suffocating America and most recently, Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing Society. Philip and Greg discuss the balance between rigid rules and human discretion, the importance of human judgment in law, and how legal micromanagement and excessive regulation curtails individual agency and practical wisdom.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:Freedom does not exist without the authority of law02:42: Freedom does not exist except within a framework of the authority of law. And the authority of law requires human judgment by the people in charge of law, judges, officials, and others. What's a safe workplace, etc.? Whether a seesaw is a reasonable risk? Whatever it is, they have to make those judgments so that people have a sense of where they stand. And then you get freedom back, and people can act again. You no longer have gridlock. But right now we have law, not as a kind of outer fence of a corral of freedom. We have law interceding in daily choices. There's almost nothing you can say in the workplace that doesn't have legal implications. Well, is that a free society? I don't think so. Has law become counterproductive?05:53: Today, the law has become, in many areas, counterproductive. I mean, it doesn't make people feel more free; it makes them feel less free, right? And the point of the law is to provide a framework to enhance everyone's freedom, so we're not worried that the water we drink is polluted, that we feel comfortable, that we have free speech, and we can say what we think without getting into trouble. Well, that's not true anymore.The role of law is to enhance freedom32:06: We need to have a clearer sense of what the boundaries of our freedom are, and that requires the enforcement of norms that judges and others were not doing. So we have both too little and too much law. Ultimately, my goal—I think the role of law is to enhance freedom—everyone's freedom, freedom from abuse, freedom from dirty water, and to do what humans are good at doing.Law doesn't work without judgment01:01:23: Law doesn't work without the judgment of the people—of the people in charge applying the norms of law. Law is not a speed limit sign that says 55 miles an hour. It's principles like the reasonable person standard or whatever. It's unreasonable search and seizure, free speech. All these things are principles that have to be interpreted by somebody. They're not self-executed.Show Links:Recommended Resources:Daniel KahnemanMike Rose Alexis de Tocqueville The American Law Institute podcast Joe Klein | Time MagazineIkiruVaclav HavelJeremy WaldronGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at Columbia UniversityProfessional WebsiteCommon GoodHis Work:Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing SocietyThe Death of Common Sense: How Law is Suffocating AmericaThe Collapse of the Common Good: How America's Lawsuit Culture Undermines Our Freedom The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and LeftThe Lost Art of Drawing the Line: How Fairness Went Too Far Life Without Lawyers: Restoring Responsibility in America

Joe Klein and John Ellis interview writer and political advisor Philip K. Howard. His latest book Everyday Freedom offers human-centric solutions to the crippling bureaucracy of American government.

Philip K. Howard is the founder and chair of Common Good, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for simplifying government, and has advised both parties on needed reforms. His latest book is Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing Society.   Every community depends on democracy to deliver, whether that's government services, schools, hospitals, or housing. Howard argues that a democracy depends on people being able to take responsibility, to interpret guidelines and perform their jobs or service accordingly. In a time when a significant percentage of Americans no longer believe in democracy, we need a national movement to remake institutions that honor the capacity of humans.     Follow Philip on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/PhilipKHoward    Follow Mila on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/milaatmos    Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Love Future Hindsight? Take our Listener Survey!  http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=6tI0Zi1e78vq&ver=standard    Take the Democracy Group's Listener Survey! https://www.democracygroup.org/survey   Want to support the show and get it early?  https://patreon.com/futurehindsight    Check out the Future Hindsight website!  www.futurehindsight.com   Read the transcript here:   https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/everyday-freedom-philip-k-howard    Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Philip K Howard Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

Rod Arquette Show Daily Rundown – Monday, March 25, 20244:20 pm: Gavin Wax, conservative activist, commentator and columnist, joins the show to discuss his piece for The Daily Caller in which he writes that the shakeup within in the Republican National Committee now means the MAGA movement will bring credibility to the Republican party.6:05 pm: Philip K. Howard, author, activist and attorney joins Rod for a conversation about his new book “Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing Society” and whether Americans are free to do what's right and sensible.6:20 pm: Conn Carroll, Commentary Editor for the Washington Examiner joins Rod to discuss his piece about the feminist campaign to label marriage “racist.”6:38 pm: Utah State Treasurer Marlo Oaks joins the program to discuss the future, or lack thereof, of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing.

On this week's interview Paul talks to attorney and author Philip K. Howard. Howard is Chair of Common Good and a bestselling author, and has advised both parties on needed reforms. In his new book, Everyday Freedom (Rodin Books, 2024), he pinpoints the source of powerlessness that is fraying American culture and causing public failure, and offers a bold vision of simpler governing frameworks to re-empower Americans in their daily choices. Paul and Howard discuss the US Constitution as a framework for our society and public sector labor unions as villians in driving division and failure in American society. 

Philip K. Howard is a lawyer, author and chair of Common Good (www.commongood.org), a nonpartisan organization aimed at replacing red tape with human responsibility and agency. In his discussion with Adam, Philip discusses his latest book “Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing Society,” which argues that the post 1960's legal framework which has guided government policy for 60 years has been a failure. Philip persuasively argues that humans have been disempowered and common sense has been thrown out the window. Inertia and powerlessness have overtaken our politics because so called ‘good government' has come to be synonymous with red tape and inefficiency. Philip calls this stasis a “disease consuming the American spirit,” and that “Modern law fails because it is dehumanizing, and, however hard this may prove to be, it must be replaced by a framework that empowers everyday freedom.”As engaging and incisive a discussion as we've had on this podcast, Adam and Philip's dialogue is essential food for thought. Have a listen!Thanks for helping us save democracy one episode at a time! Join the Dirty Moderate Nation on Substack! Tell us what you think on Twitter! Are you registered to VOTE?

Philip K Howard is a leading reformer of American law and government. He combines thought and action: A prolific, best-selling writer and frequent commentator who founded the non-partisan group, Common Good.He is the author of an eagerly awaited new book, Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing Society.In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Howard discusses the urgent need and prospects for change, in time for vigorous and informed citizen engagement in the pivotal 2024 national elections. In additional to national issues, he offers informed perspectives on state and local developments, including the vast reach of the California state budget. Get full access to The Next Nationalism at jamesstrock.substack.com/subscribe

What do you think of when you hear the word 'error'? It's highly likely you'll think of it negatively as a defect. The obvious way to manage defects, particularly in safety-critical industries, is to have detailed procedures, strict compliance, and zero tolerance for errors. But we know that this doesn't always work. After all, if it did, we'd have far fewer errors.My guest on this episode takes a different approach. He specializes in helping organizations, particularly safety-critical ones where the cost of getting something wrong can be death or injury, to reduce errors, improve safety and build trust. He calls this human reliability. His name is Dr. Jake Mazulewicz, and he's been a firefighter, an emergency medical technician and a military paratrooper.Nowadays, he brings all of those experiences to bear in helping organizations design processes and cultures that allow humans to manage the complexities that don't always allow themselves to be neatly codified into standard procedures. As you'll hear, he's got some fascinating ideas about designing safety models that flex to meet the situation's needs. Key Moments In The Show (mins:secs)02:14 — Dr. Jake's background05:25 — Mechanistic vs. Adaptive systems06:28 — The big problem: too many leaders treat ALL systems as Mechanistic systems09:10 — What to say to a commercial pilot when you're walking off their aircraft after the flight lands10:40 — Four work guidance modes11:00 — 1) Procedures11:53 — 2) Guidelines like, “To find out what an organization values, follow the money."13:00 — 3) Principles like “A jury doesn't decide what to believe. A jury decides who to believe."21:20 — 4) Tacit Knowledge — You can solve complex problems, but can't explain how26:40 — “All models are wrong, but some of them are useful.”31:10 — How one team of electricians dramatically improved safety by using FEWER procedures35:57 — Letter of the law vs. spirit of the law38:20 — Have you heard of Philip K. Howard?... "Let's pretend I haven't.”42:10 — We write rules when we don't have enough trust44:55 — Build trust by overcommunicating your intentions45:25 — “Commander's Intent” in military mission plans47:55 — Listen for "Weak Signals" like hearing, “I'll do whatever it takes…"50:40 — Stay resilient by catching a system before it goes “exponential”54:00 — Chris Argyris' 17-word, 4-step recipe for creating a toxic work culture57:10— A new Early Warning System58:20 — Ask an expert, “What's a 'Weak Signal' in your field, and what does it mean?”1:04:55 — Why a non-punitive approach is so helpful and so uncommon1:10:10 — How to get in touch with Dr. Jake — reliableorg.comFurther InformationTo find out more about Praxtical Human Performance For Leaders visit www.reliableorg.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-mazulewicz/

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Public sector unions have long stood in the way of a more accountable and efficient government – obstructing both progressive and conservative reforms alike. However, what if they're something more than mere inconveniences to governmental reform?  What if they are also, at their core, an unconstitutional usurpation of our constitutionally guaranteed form of representative government? Philip K. Howard is Chair of Common Good and a bestselling author, and he joined the program to discuss this very idea – an idea he explores in depth in his latest book, Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions. 

Adam White and Jace Lington talk with James-Christian Blockwood about his recent Government Executive article on civil service reform. They discuss current proposals to make more civil servants removable at will as well as ways to build a nonpartisan, professional federal workforce that protects the interests of the American people.Show Notes: Let's Rethink the Management of our Civil Service, GovExec, April 28, 2023Partnership for Public Service, Website"You Report to Me” Gray Matters Podcast with David Bernhardt, May 10, 2023“Do Public Sector Unions Make Government Unaccountable?” Gray Matters Podcast with Philip K. Howard, January 24, 2023From Merit to Expertise and Back: The Evolution of the U.S. Civil Service System, Joseph Postell, Gray Center Working Paper, February 6, 2020Restoring Accountability to the Executive Branch, Philip K. Howard, Gray Center Working Paper, February 6, 2020Quick Actions to Improve Recruitment, Hiring, and Accountability in the Federal Workforce, Jeffrey Salmon, Gray Center Policy Brief, March 2021Civil Service: Pulling In or Pushing Away, Sally Katzen, Gray Center Policy Brief, August 2020Jimmy Carter and Civil Service Reform, Stuart E. Eizenstat, Gray Center Working Paper, May 22, 2019This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5816490/advertisement

American society has become a labyrinth of lawsuits, liability, regulations, and restrictions, which undermine liberty and muddy the waters of just plain fun.  Julie interviews a leader of legal reform in America to discuss how this happened… and how can we change it?  Philip K. Howard is a bestselling author-- he argues that our society has been hopelessly corrupted by lawsuit culture. His books include: The Collapse of the Common Good- How America's Lawsuit Culture Undermines Freedom; Life Without Lawyers- Liberating Americans From Too Much Law; Sacred Cows- How Dead Laws Drag Down Democracy; Not Accountable- Rethinking The Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions; Try Common Sense- Replacing the Ideologies of Both Parties; The Death of Common Sense- How Law Is Suffocating America https://rb.gy/q9rx9 Please take our survey: https://lp.juliehartmanshow.com/survey/Don't forget to like this video, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and ring the notification bell so you never miss a future upload!  Check out other Julie Hartman videos: https://www.youtube.com/@juliehartman Follow Julie Hartman on social media: Website: https://juliehartmanshow.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julierhartman/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulieRHartman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timelesswithjuliehartmanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEO at McLaughlin & Associates John McLaughlin comes on to discuss President Biden's poll numbers hitting new lows. Next chair of Common Good Philip K Howard comes on to breakdown the latest in the debt ceiling talks in D.C. Then education expert Dr. Rebecca Good exposes how student misbehavior is on the rise. Finally we take your calls in open phones across America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve has an extended conversation with Philip K. Howard, author of the forthcoming book, Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions. Unions for police and teachers have avoided accountability for their members—but Mr. Howard talks about how Supreme Court could change that

Join the Hoover Book Club for engaging discussions with leading authors on the hottest policy issues of the day. Hoover scholars explore the latest books that delve into some of the most vexing policy issues facing the United States and the world. Find out what makes these authors tick and how they think we should approach our most difficult challenges.  In our latest installment, watch a discussion between Terry Moe, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the William Bennett Munro Professor of political science at Stanford University, and Philip K. Howard, author of Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 10:00 am PT/ 1:00pm ET. ABOUT THE AUTHOR  Philip K. Howard. Philip is a leader of government and legal reform in America. He is Chair of Common Good.  In 2002, Philip formed Common Good, a nonpartisan coalition dedicated to simplifying laws so that Americans can use common sense in daily choices. His 2010 TED Talk has been viewed by more than 750,000 people. His 2015 report, “Two Years, Not Ten Years,” exposed the economic and environmental costs of delayed infrastructure approvals, and its proposals have since been incorporated into federal law.   ABOUT THE BOOK  “Elected leaders come and go, but public unions just say no.” Hiding in plain sight is a fatal defect of modern democracy. Public employee unions have a death grip on the operating machinery of government. Schools can't work, bad cops can't be fired, and politicians sell their souls for union support. With this searing five-point indictment, Philip K. Howard argues that union controls have disempowered elected executives and should be unconstitutional. Union power in government happened almost by accident in the 1960s, ostensibly to give public unions the same bargaining rights as trade unions. But government bargaining is not about dividing profits, but making political choices about public priorities. Moreover, the political nature of decision-making allowed unions to provide campaign support to friendly officials. Public bargaining became collusive. The unions brag about it: “We elect our own bosses.” Sitting on both sides of the bargaining table has allowed public unions to turn the democratic hierarchy upside down. Elected officials answer to public employees. Basic tools of good government have been eliminated. There's no accountability, detailed union entitlements make government largely unmanageable and unaffordable, and public policies are driven by what is good for public employees, not what is good for the public. Public unions keep it that way by brute political force—harnessing the huge cohort of public employees into a political force dedicated to preventing the reform of government. The solution, Howard argues, is not political but constitutional. America's republican form of government requires an executive branch that is empowered to implement public policies, not one shackled to union controls. Public employees have a fiduciary duty to serve the public and should not be allowed to organize politically to harm the public. This short book could unlock a door to fixing a broken democracy.

Philip K. Howard joins the group to discuss his book on public sector unions. The panel — with special guest Cathy Young — also addresses Trump's possible indictment and looks back at the 20th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War. highlights/lowlights Philip's: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-23/lausd-strike-ends-with-no-settlement-but-classes-to-resume Bill's: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/us/politics/desantis-putin-ukraine-russia.html https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a43402697/jack-daniels-parody-dog-toy/ Cathy's: https://apnews.com/article/icc-putin-war-crimes-ukraine-9857eb68d827340394960eccf0589253 Damon's: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/22/surprising-post-trump-consensus/ Mona's: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65057249 https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/11/pandemic-baby-bump-fertility/671964/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Philip K. Howard joins the group to discuss his book on public sector unions. The panel — with special guest Cathy Young — also addresses Trump's possible indictment and looks back at the 20th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War. highlights/lowlights Philip's: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-23/lausd-strike-ends-with-no-settlement-but-classes-to-resume Bill's: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/us/politics/desantis-putin-ukraine-russia.html https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a43402697/jack-daniels-parody-dog-toy/ Cathy's: https://apnews.com/article/icc-putin-war-crimes-ukraine-9857eb68d827340394960eccf0589253 Damon's: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/22/surprising-post-trump-consensus/ Mona's: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65057249 https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/11/pandemic-baby-bump-fertility/671964/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Philip K. Howard, a prolific author and advocate for simplifying American government, joins the Remnant for the first time to discuss his new book, Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions. The resulting conversation plays out like a Remnant greatest hits, offering insights on subjects as well-trodden as institutions, our dysfunctional parties, and the banging of spoons on high chairs. Come for some fiendishly nerdy ramblings on the nature of public sector unions, but stay for some hopeful thoughts on how America's legal and legislative systems could be improved.  Show Notes: - Philip's website - Philip's new book, Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions - Philip previews the book in National Review… - …and in Reason - Rachel Maddow's “Lean Forward” ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Selvaggi talks with Philip K. Howard about the legal theories in his newly released book Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions which questions whether the structure of public employees unions frustrates the will of the people, and cedes the responsibility of elected officials to an unelected and unaccountable privileged class. Guest: Philip […]

Joe Selvaggi talks with Philip K. Howard about the legal theories in his newly released book Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions which questions whether the structure of public employees unions frustrates the will of the people, and cedes the responsibility of elected officials to an unelected and unaccountable privileged class.

George Will calls it the year's "most-needed book on public affairs"—Philip K. Howard's Not Accountable tackles public sector unions head-on, arguing that they're not only dangerous, but unconstitutional. Not Accountable is a non-partisan vision for fixing the biggest flaw in government. Consider a few data points: Public sector membership in the United States is around 7 million. 4.6 million teachers. 1.3 million service employees. California, with 300,000 teachers, is only able to terminate two or three per year for poor performance. 40,000 Californian retirees receive over $100,000 in pension salary. In the end, who pays? Our children do—both in lost learning outcomes, future taxes, and less money in state and federal budgets for other services. Howard, the founder of the Common Good organization, joins me Sunday to make the case for a legal solution – not a democratic one – for fixing the broken system. Progressives, libertarians, and conservatives alike should be up in arms about the lack of accountability for police officers, teachers, and all those who are supposed to serve the public good. What can we do about it? Find out this Sunday on the show of ideas.

Paul Gigot speaks with author Philip K. Howard about how public unions have created a lack of accountability and an "anti-merit" system in government, and how legal challenges are needed to restore democratic government that works.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his new book, “NOT Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions” Philip K. Howard argues that public employee unions undermine democratic governance and should be unconstitutional. American voters elect governors and mayors who, under union agreements, have been disempowered from managing schools, police departments and other public agencies. He presents a searing five-point indictment that constitutional government can't work when elected leaders lose control over the public operating machinery. Newt's guest is Philip K. Howard, a leader of government and legal reform in America. He is Chair of Common Good, a best-selling author and has advised both political parties on needed reforms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his new book "Not Accountable," attorney and bestselling author Philip K. Howard critiques public employee unions and their impact in the United States. He argues that organizations like the American Federation of Teachers, the Fraternal Order of Police and others representing millions of government workers have usurped decision-making power from elected officials and are arguably unconstitutional.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam White and Jace Lington chat with Philip K. Howard about the problems public unions create for modern governance, the subject of his new book, Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions. They discuss specific challenges faced by executive officials at the local, state, and federal level working with unionized employees and ways […]

Adam White and Jace Lington chat with Philip K. Howard about the problems public unions create for modern governance, the subject of his new book, Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions. They discuss specific challenges faced by executive officials at the local, state, and federal level working with unionized employees and ways to address those issues. Source

Adam White and Jace Lington chat with Philip K. Howard about the problems public unions create for modern governance, the subject of his new book, Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions. They discuss specific challenges faced by executive officials at the local, state, and federal level working with unionized employees and ways to address those issues. Source

Philip K. Howard joins the show to discuss Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions.

Hey Folks, Chris From BKLYN was delayed getting back from Las Vegas so we couldn't get an episode in the can for midnight but we didn't want to leave you hanging so while you wait for our new episode later this week, check out this classic "High Society Radio Presents: The Chris From Brooklyn Bonus Content Funtime Interview With Philip K. Howard.Original Description:BK Chris interviews author and attorney Philip K Howard about his work and new book, The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Government. You may know Philip from his appearances on The Daily Show.Philip K Howard Twitter: https://twitter.com/philipkhowardPhilip K Howard Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Common-Good/198065950226193See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Philip K. Howard is a longtime leader of government and legal reform in the United States. Amid the current political turmoil, Howard has set his sights on the remorseless increase in the power of public employee unions. This is a thread linking public sector pension shortfalls; local, state, and federal government bureaucratic dysfunction; outdated public infrastructure that costs far more to improve than in comparable nations; and the struggles between parents and teachers’ unions on issues from student masking to curriculum development. Howard’s guiding star is to hold government accountable to the citizens it is intended to serve.In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, Howard discusses his efforts to reform public sector collective bargaining—including an innovative project to challenge its constitutionality. He also explores the evolution of the legal profession, including the decline of the lawyer-statesman ideal. Philip K. Howard’s latest book is Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left (W.W. Norton & Company, January 2019). His 2010 Ted Talk has been viewed over 650,000 times.Howard is also the author of the best-seller The Death of Common Sense (Random House, 1995), The Collapse of the Common Good (Ballantine Books, 2002), Life Without Lawyers (W.W. Norton & Company, 2009), and The Rule of Nobody (W.W. Norton & Company, 2014). He writes periodically for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and other publications. In 2002, Howard founded Common Good, a nonpartisan national coalition dedicated to restoring common sense to America. His 2015 report “Two Years, Not Ten Years” delineated the economic and environmental costs of delayed infrastructure approvals, and has been endorsed by leaders of both major political parties.The son of a minister, Philip K. Howard got his start working summers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for Nobel laureate Eugene Wigner and has been active in public affairs his entire adult life. He is a prominent civic leader in New York City and has advised national political leaders on legal and regulatory reform for three decades, including Vice President Al Gore and numerous governors. He is Senior Counsel at the law firm Covington & Burling, LLP. Howard is a graduate of Yale College and the University of Virginia Law School, and lives in Manhattan with his wife Alexandra. They have four children.The Serve to Lead podcast has recently moved to Substack (and continues to repopulate in updated settings). It can be accessed in the usual formats, including:Apple Podcasts | Amazon Audible | Amazon Music | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Spotify | Stitcher | Podchaser | TuneIn Reference to Patrick J. Shiltz, “On Being a Healthy, Happy, and Ethical Member of an Unhealthy, Unhappy, and Unethical Profession,” Vanderbilt Law Review, Volume 52, Issue 4, 1999. Image: Covington & Burling LLP Get full access to The Next Nationalism at jamesstrock.substack.com/subscribe

The founder of Common Good and author of "Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left," Philip K. Howard, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Howard's latest report, "Accountability on Trial," which contends that accountability is being undercut by public union contracts.

Red tape rules America. Philip K. Howard joins Geoff Kabaservice to discuss how thousands of nonsensical laws hamper any good the government can do. Years-long environmental review harms the environment because it means that infrastructure isn't updated. Regulations intended to protect people destroy small businesses And America isn't about to change because partisanship encourages the tangled web of inefficiency. Democrats and Republicans refuse to work together to craft meaningful policies and break down harmful regulations. Republicans seem to be driven by the policies that line their pockets rather than sensible reforms that align with conservative principles. And Democrats, while professing to be interested in helping minorities, conserving the environment, etc., often jump straight into government expansion without addressing the myriad of inefficiencies that come with it. Can America untangle itself from the red tape and break out of its partisan gridlock?

Philip K. Howard is a lawyer and author who has written extensively on government and legal reform. He is also the founder of Common Good, a nonpartisan national coalition dedicated to restoring common sense to America by simplifying government. In this episode, he discusses President Biden’s proposed infrastructure plan.

We’ve made it to our 300th weekly episode! While it’s easy to congratulate ourselves for being among the few podcasts to produce this many shows, Jim and Richard are most proud of our extraordinary range of guests.During our first six years together, we've often highlighted out-of-the-box thinkers, who share ideas that are too rarely discussed: People who speak about solutions through an independent lens— neither firmly left nor right. For this episode, we revisit interviews with six guests— or roughly 2% of all the people we've spoken with for "How Do We Fix It?" We begin with the public intellectual and problem solver Philip K. Howard, who was our very first guest. Others featured here are Claire Cain Miller of The Upshot at The New York Times, Mike Rowe, who became famous with the TV show "Dirty Jobs", science evangelist, Ainissa Ramirez, Jerry Taylor, President and Founder of The Niskanen Center, and R&B musician Daryl Davis, who has personally persuaded more than 200 men and women to quit white supremacist groups.As Jim says, it's been a great privilege to spend time with so many remarkable people and listen to their remarkable personal stories and ideas. We have used the intimate, informal medium of podcasting to pull the curtain back and dive into a rich pool of ideas at the deep end. We are also grateful to the Democracy Group podcast network (we are founding members), Solutions Journalism Network for grants and advice, and Heterodox Academy for introducing this show and our listeners to a remarkable range of creative intellectuals. Thank you, all!This week's Recommendation: What else, but listening to our catalog of shows at How Do We Fix It? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Frank Morano is joined by Philip K. Howard, John Mainelli, Gary Korb,  and Marlaina Schiavo on The Other Side of Midnight.

The efficacy of government is often only the domain of niche audiences, but the failure of government to address a massive public health crisis over the last year have brought back cries for effective government. Perhaps the management failures could prompt a review of how to make government operate more efficiently and effectively. Philip K. Howard, a leading expert on civil service and Founder of the Campaign for Common Good. His latest book is Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left. He has advised national political leaders on legal and regulatory reform for fifteen years, including former Vice President Al Gore and numerous governors. He joined the podcast to explain how to better cut red tape to make government more effective.

Last month, the White House put out an Executive Order that claims to make it easier to hire and fire feds by creating a new Schedule F within the excepted service of the federal government.  The order has been roundly criticized as politicizing the civil service and throwing out over 100 years of precedent.  But, good government reformers have been calling for an overhaul of the federal civil service for ages, from red tape to accountability. Philip K. Howard, a leading expert on civil service and Founder of the Campaign for Common Good. His latest book is Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left. He has advised national political leaders on legal and regulatory reform for fifteen years, including former Vice President Al Gore and numerous governors. He joined the podcast to discuss the Schedule F order and how to better cut red tape in government hiring and firing.

Chris From Brooklyn is back at again talking with Philip K. Howard about outdated and antiquated laws that need reforming and with Rick Strassman about DMT and so much more!Follow the host on social:Chris From Brooklyn Twitter https://twitter.com/ChrisFromBklynHigh Society Radio Instagram https://www.instagram.com/highsocietyradioHigh Society Radio YouTube http://bit.ly/HSRYoutubeHigh Society Radio Twitter https://twitter.com/HSRadioshowWebsite https://gasdigitalnetwork.com/gdn-show-channels/high-society-radio/Mike Harrington Twitter https://twitter.com/TheMHarringtonMike Harrington Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themharrington/Notes Of A Goon is a weekly podcast where Goon of note, Chris from BK sits down and yells about childhood trauma, how he'd fix the whole damn country, and all sorts of other bullshit. All while splitting a six pack with you the listener. Chris is joined by his stalwart producer and homeless weirdo Mike Harrington on this journey of self reflection and yelling. There's lots of yelling.

Lionel Shriver, Philip K. Howard with Geoffrey Harpham | In her latest novel, Lionel Shriver introduced us to a dark, dystopian future most of us would rather not encounter in real life. Philip K. Howard, however, has a more hopeful view of the future and its ultimate potential. Were either of them able to convince the attendees their way is the right way? The only way?

The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Governmentby Philip K. HowardMichael Medved talks to the author.  Overview of the bookThe secret to good government is a question no one in Washington is asking: “What’s the right thing to do?” What’s wrong in Washington is deeper than you think.Yes, there’s gridlock, polarization, and self-dealing. But hidden underneath is something bigger and more destructive. It’s a broken governing system. From that comes wasteful government, rising debt, failing schools, expensive health care, and economic hardship.Rules have replaced leadership in America. Bureaucracy, regulation, and outmoded law tie our hands and confine policy choices. Nobody asks, “What’s the right thing to do here?” Instead, they wonder, “What does the rule book say?”There’s a fatal flaw in America’s governing system—trying to decree correctness through rigid laws will never work. Public paralysis is the inevitable result of the steady accretion of detailed rules. America is now run by dead people—by political leaders from the past who enacted mandatory programs that churn ahead regardless of waste, irrelevance, or new priorities.America needs to radically simplify its operating system and give people—officials and citizens alike—the freedom to be practical. Rules can’t accomplish our goals. Only humans can get things done.In The Rule of Nobody Philip K. Howard argues for a return to the framers’ vision of public law—setting goals and boundaries, not dictating daily choices. This incendiary book explains how America went wrong and offers a guide for how to liberate human ingenuity to meet the challenges of this century.

On this episode, Philip K. Howard discusses his book “Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left.”

Phil Howard is the founder and CEO of Common Good, a nonpartisan reform coalition with the goal of restoring the freedom of officials and citizens to use common sense. He is a noted commentator on the effects of modern law and bureaucracy on human behavior and the workings of society, and he recently authored an OpEd in The Hill calling for an independent, bipartisan commission tasked with decisions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, which he discusses today. Mr. Howard argues that the spread of COVID-19 could have been prevented, or at least curbed, had restrictions not hindered necessary research and precautions. He firmly believes that what we need is an authority mechanism that won’t prevent the country from getting back up and running and that will cut through the red tape. If each restaurant needs to be inspected before reopening, for example, the path to reopen the economy will be much slower. We need to use this crisis, he explains, to reinvent how the government operates and how it responds to crises. Go to NoLabels.org to learn more about how we are bringing together a bipartisan group of public and private leaders working to stop the virus, save lives and get Americans back to work.Follow No Labels •  Twitter  •  Facebook •  Instagram

This is episode 9, “The Rule of Nobody,”  It features the Arendt Center's Founder and Director Roger Berkowitz in a Zoom conversation with Philip K. Howard, lawyer and activist. Howard has written five books including “The Death of Common Sense” and “The Rule of Nobody,” a reference to Hannah Arendt's description of bureaucratic rule.  He also started Common Good, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which advocates simplifying government.

Larry talks with "Common Good" founder Philip K. Howard who's calling for a post-pandemic "Recovery Authority" charged with removing bureaucratic hurdles to restart the US economy. Plus, "Bar Rescue" host Jon Taffer on saving the food services industry.

Author and attorney Philip K. Howard is at the forefront of legal reform and the fight against government micromanagement. His latest book, “Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left,” takes aim at the bloated bureaucracies of both parties and proposes a practical government that allows Americans to live WITHOUT all the red tape. In this interview, Glenn and Philip discuss how our overstuffed rule books – mixed with modern fears of failure, pain, and lawsuits – have created a less free society. From teachers burdened with paperwork to men afraid to mentor, our regulations need a massive overhaul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To celebrate the launch of our Kickstarter, we're bringing you seven new interviews with seven mystery guests in seven days! Something a little different today - our guest is Philip K. Howard, lawyer, author, small-government advocate, and a former adviser to Donald Trump's transition team. In this episode, Current Affairs business manager and King of Interviews Eli Massey sits down with Howard for a somewhat feisty conversation. We hope you enjoy this episode. If you want to help us expand and improve Current Affairs, please consider donating to our Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/804992239/help-current-affairs-expand-in-2020

Best of the Program | 7/11 Nobody Wants War - h1  Gay Woke Fading - h1 Taken Down Obamacare (w/ Ken Paxton) - h1  News of the Week (w/ Andrew Wilkow) - h2 Try Common Sense (w/ Philip K. Howard) - h3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hour 1 Nobody wants war, including Iran. Sanctions is the strategy while Peace through war. America is the best of friends at peace, but the worst of enemies at war  ...UK Poll says Gay wokeness is fading ...Lt. Governor of Texas, Ken Paxton joins to discuss his states Unconstitutional Obamacare Lawsuit. Border in crisis explained Hour 2 Andrew Wilkow joins Glenn with News of the Day. Big Tech Censorship, The Border Crisis and Tommy Robinson. Beware of the Neutral Left. Jeff Bezos is The Lawmower Man. We'll All be Riding the Google Trains to Amazon Jobs  Hour 3 Try Common Sense with author Philp K. Howard. Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left, Rules and regulations are replacing our freedom. Mechanism for accountability has been lost. No one is thinking for themselves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Philip K. Howard is a prominent attorney and commentator. He's the Founder and Chair of Common Good and author of the classic, "The Death of Common Sense" and author of the new book, "The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government." Howard discusses whether it's worth it for people to trust the government. He shares his thoughts on how the government has made people inept. Howard believes legal rigidity strangles common sense solutions to our problems. The Constitution was drafted in only 10 pages, yet so many modern bills are thousands of pages long. Howard explains how life would be without lawyers. Website: www.PhilipKHoward.com

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Philip K. Howard has spent a lifetime pursuing common sense cures to government excess and bloat. The patient is in critical condition: a raft of rules and regulations have infected every corner of the federal bureaucracy, from how agriculture products are harvested to how first responders can assist those at an accident scene. In the great tradition of Thomas Paine, Philip Howard is a lawyer and pamphleteer on a mission: cutting red tape wherever he sees it. His latest book: Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left, is a call to action as Election 2020 gets underway.   Inside the ICE House: https://www.theice.com/podcast/inside-the-ice-house

The longest-ever federal government shutdown and the flawed Presidency of Donald Trump are symptoms of something far deeper: Dysfunction in Washington.In this episode, Philip K. Howard attacks the failed ideologies of Republicans and Democrats, and calls for a radical simplification of government to re-empower Americans in their daily choices. Americans are a practical people, he says. They want government to be practical."Unfortunately, we got this idea in the 1960's that we could solve the problems of human fallibility by just telling everybody how to do everything," Philip tells us. "Rules are the ultimate dictator, and even worse, you can't yell at them."For more than a decade, Philip has been campaigning for a government that works. He is an expert on the effects of modern law and bureaucracy on human behavior. Philip is the author of several books, including the best-seller “The Death of Common Sense: How Law Is Suffocating America” and, “Try Common Sense: Replacing Failed Ideologies of Left and Right” He’s the founder of Common Good, a nonprofit group with this mission statement "simplify government, put humans back in charge, and cut mindless red tape.” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Sixth Annual Executive Branch Review Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. and will examine the increase in federal regulatory activity and the legal and practical considerations of regulatory reform. This daylong conference will feature plenary panels, addresses, and breakout panels.Opening Remarks: Hon. Donald McGahn, White House CounselMr. Philip K. Howard, Senior Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP and Founder & Chair, Common GoodProf. Jennifer L. Mascott, Assistant Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason UniversityMs. Tammy D. McCutchen, Principal, Littler Mendelson PCMr. Bill Valdez, President, Senior Executives AssociationModerator: Hon. A. Raymond Randolph, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit

This symposium was co-sponsored by the Regulatory Transparency Project and took place at the Antonin Scalia Law School on February 2, 2018.Keynote Speaker:Philip K. Howard, Senior Counsel, Covington & Burling, LLP, and Founder, Common GoodIntroduction:Gregory Conko, Interim Executive Director, Law & Economics Center * * * * * As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Philip K. Howard is an attorney who is the Founder and Chair of Common Good, and author of the classic, “The Death of Common Sense” and the new book, “The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government.” Jason Hartman and Philip discuss whether people should trust the government, and Philip shares his thoughts on how the government has made people inept. The two of them also delve into how life would be without lawyers. Philip K. Howard is a well-known leader of government and legal reform in America. His new book, The Rule of Nobody (W. W. Norton & Company, April 2014), has been praised by Fareed Zakaria as “an utterly compelling and persuasive book that, if followed, could change the way America works.” His Ted Talk has has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. His other books include the best-seller The Death of Common Sense (Random House, 1995), The Collapse of the Common Good (Ballantine Books, 2002), and Life Without Lawyers (W. W. Norton & Company, 2009). Philip formed Common Good, a nonpartisan national coalition dedicated to restoring common sense in America, in 2002. He also sometimes writes for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times, and has appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the News Hour, Today, Good Morning America, Charlie Rose, and numerous other programs. Philip is a civic leader in New York City, and has spent close to two decades advising national political leaders on legal and regulatory reform. His clients have included Vice President Al Gore and numerous governors. Websites: www.philipkhoward.com www.commongood.org

It's the biggest issue of the Presidential campaign that the candidates are not talking about: bloated government and the poor delivery of services.   From very long TSA airport security lines to the dysfunction at your local DMV, our interactions with government can be extremely frustrating.  Exceedingly complex rules and laws make things even worse.    For decades, Philip K. Howard has been a leading voice on how to streamline government and make it work for all of us. His latest book is "The Rule of Nobody: Saving America From Dead Laws and Broken Government." He's the founder of the good government group, Common Good.   In this 12-minute episode of "Fix It Shorts," Philip gives alarming examples of how regulations have programmed officials and politicians of both parties to follow rigid rules that often leave very little... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you want to get of sense of what we're about, this highlights show may be a good place to start. We've put together a "best of" podcast that reflects our values and makes the argument for why we're worth listening to.  From Episode 4, released in June, reformer Philip K. Howard made the case for better government and simpler, shorter laws, instead of all the red tape and tangled mess that we have today. In his Ted Talk lecture and his latest book, “The Rule of Nobody,” Philip argues passionately for legal and government reform.  Not many parents can say their lives were changed by an uneventful subway ride. Lenore Skenazy, our guest in Episode 20, tells us about the uproar that followed her decision to let her 9-year-old son ride the subway on his own.  Her column about it led to the movement, "Free Range Kids." Other guests on this highlights show include Hara Marano of Psychology Today, who says there's a mental health crisis on American college campuses and Greg Lukianoff spoke to us in September.... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

All of us pay taxes, but how well is that money being spent? Many government services are poorly delivered. From the local DMV or zoning department to the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs, government can be a big tangled mess. For decades, Philip K. Howard has been a leading expert on how streamline government and make it work for all of us. His latest book is "The Rule of Nobody." In this episode, Richard, Jim and Philip a lively conversation about the problem and how to would fix it. http://philipkhoward.com/book/the-rule-of-nobody/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Philip K. Howard (Common Good legal reform coalition) gives a talk for the Rothermere American Institute

This week on the podcast, noted legal reformer Philip K. Howard discusses his latest work, "The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government."

Philip K. Howard is a prominent attorney and commentator. He's the Founder and Chair of Common Good and author of the classic, "The Death of Common Sense" and author of the new book, "The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government.”   Howard discusses whether it's worth it for people to trust the government. He shares his thoughts on how the government has made people inept.    Howard believes legal rigidity strangles common sense solutions to our problems. The Constitution was drafted in only 10 pages, yet so many modern bills are thousands of pages long. Howard explains how life would be without lawyers.   Philip K. Howard is a well-known leader of government and legal reform in America. His new book, The Rule of Nobody (W. W. Norton & Company, April 2014), has been praised by Fareed Zakaria as “an utterly compelling and persuasive book that, if followed, could change the way America works.” His Ted Talk has has been viewed by almost 500,000 people.     Philip is also the author of the best-seller The Death of Common Sense (Random House, 1995), The Collapse of the Common Good (Ballantine Books, 2002) and Life Without Lawyers (W. W. Norton & Company, 2009).     In 2002, Philip formed Common Good, a nonpartisan national coalition dedicated to restoring common sense to America. Philip writes periodically for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times, and has appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the News Hour, Today, Good Morning America, Charlie Rose, and numerous other programs.     The son of a minister, Philip got his start working summers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for Nobel laureate Eugene Wigner and has been active in public affairs his entire adult life. He is a prominent civic leader in New York City and has advised national political leaders on legal and regulatory reform for fifteen years, including Vice President Al Gore and numerous governors. He is a Partner at the law firm Covington & Burling, LLP. He is a graduate of Yale College and the University of Virginia Law School, and lives in Manhattan with his wife Alexandra. They have four children.   Find out more about Philip K. Howard at www.philipkhoward.com.    Visit Common Good at www.commongood.org.

We all know that our system of government is broken.  Mostly we attribute it to bickering and bitter partisanship.  But also, in part, it’s the fault of millions upon millions of pages of rules and regulations that seemingly govern every aspect of our lives. This is true on the local, state and national level.Many of these rules are well meaning.  They were put in place to address a problem, or right a wrong or fix an imbalance, but the process has gotten out of hand and hardly kept pace with the progress of the world around them.  What we have now, not only stifles innovation, it increases cost and runs counter to some of of our most cherished principles and ideas as to what our country is about. Philip K. Howard, the author of The Death of Common Sense, takes a look at all of these rules in The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government. My conversation with Philip K. Howard:

For anyone who looks at our government today and says, “Everything seems great to me. No room for improvement here,” well, today’s conversation is not for you.Now that that person has stopped listening, here’s what the rest of America can learn from today’s talk: The problem is even worse that you thought. While most discussion on fixing government deals with the politics and the posturing, we instead might want to focus on something much more difficult to fix: Nobody is actually in charge. A mountain of overlapping, contradictory and often unnecessary laws, regulations, oversight committees and more seem designed specifically to block responsibility and accountability – and ensure the status quo.So how did we get here? How can we get out? And where is the leadership?Few think about the need to simplify and clarify American government, policies and laws more than Philip K. Howard: Lawyer, author and thoughtful critic of the areas of our political system many others seem to ignore. He is Founder & Chair of Common Good and his new book is “The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government.”

Philip K. Howard, author of "Life without Lawyers" and "The Death of Common Sense," spoke at Duke Divinity School Nov. 3 about his vision for fixing the broken U.S. legal and regulatory system and for promoting civil justice. The topic wass "Reclaiming Human Judgment in Public Choices." Howard joined a panel including Duke professors Sam Wells, dean of Duke University Chapel and research professor of Christian ethics at the Divinity School; Lawrence Baxter, professor of the practice of law; and Joel Fleishman, professor of law and public policy sciences.

Philip K. Howard, author of "Life without Lawyers" and "The Death of Common Sense," spoke at Duke Divinity School Nov. 3 about his vision for fixing the broken U.S. legal and regulatory system and for promoting civil justice. The topic wass "Reclaiming Human Judgment in Public Choices." Howard joined a panel including Duke professors Sam Wells, dean of Duke University Chapel and research professor of Christian ethics at the Divinity School; Lawrence Baxter, professor of the practice of law; and Joel Fleishman, professor of law and public policy sciences.

Philip K. Howard is a conservative who inspires standing ovations from liberal audiences (short example here.) He says that governance in America---from the capitol to the classroom---has achieved near-total dysfunctionality by accumulating so many layers of piecemeal legalisms that the requirements of navigating them has replaced any hope of getting actual justice or effectiveness. Most attempts to fix the problems have made them worse. Howard thinks they can be fixed in a way that restores core functionality. Howard is the author of Life Without Lawyers (2009) and Death of Common Sense (1994) and is the founder and chair of Common Good, a reform advocacy nonprofit.