Is the Government Working for You?

Dear Fiscal Times Reader, The headline from Gallup a few months ago summed it up: "Americans Losing Confidence in All Branches of U.S. Government." One of our jobs at The Fiscal Times is to measure how well the federal government spends your tax dollars, so that headline didn't surprise us — but it sent another signal that it's time for us all to take action. Our special new series, "REBOOT AMERICA," highlights 9 bold solutions for restoring confidence in a government struggling to come to grips with a fast-changing society, mind-boggling innovations in technology and business practices, and growing public impatience with bureaucratic ineptness, waste and corruption. We've kicked off a conversation with policy experts, lawmakers and YOU! Check out our solutions below and ADD YOURS by logging into this special forum for registered users. We'll send the best ideas to Washington. It's Your Government – Help Fix It! America's 21st Century Challenge: Restoring Faith in Government - Eric Pianin and Rob Garver How Many Agencies Does It Take to Change a Lightbulb? - Former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) The Federal Tech Mess Is Costing Taxpayers Billions - David Francis How Stupid, Redundant, Obsolete Laws Are Paralyzing Us - Philip K. Howard, founder of Common Good How Dark Money Is Distorting Politics and Undermining Democracy - Bruce F. Freed and Karl J. Sandstrom, Center for Political Accountability Budget Process Has Mutated into a Political Weapon - Robert D. Reischauer, former CBO director How to Make Government Regulations Less Burdensome - Eric Schnurer, president of Public Works Federal Waste, Fraud and Abuse — No One Pays the Price - Brianna Ehley 6 Ways to Recruit and Retain a Top Federal Workforce - Rob Garver Competition vs. Complacency — Let the Best Team Win - Eric Schnurer, president of Public Works  Editor in Chief