Reflections on American Democracy: A Discussion with Frank Fukuyama and Norman Ornstein
In the face of the recent political upheaval, the Volcker Alliance convened a discussion with two revered political scientists to reflect on what this moment in history may mean for the future of our elections, democracy, and civil service.
Tributes to our founding chairman
Paul A. Volcker
“One cannot sit here in 2018 without a strong sense of concern about the future of this country, and more particularly the state of public service. Distrust and ill-will permeate attitudes toward government. Too many of the best in the assailed bureaucracy, both in Congress and in key administrative posts, have left too soon, doubting that their voices could be heard or that their goals could be achieved. That needs to change. And it won’t be easy. As a signal of my concern, I decided to establish a foundation with a mission impossible: Can we stimulate others—particularly schools of public policy, of management, of administration—to rethink how government can and should respond to the needs of the twenty-first century?”
- Paul A. Volcker, excerpt from his memoir, "Keeping at It: The Quest for Sound Money and Good Government"