Common Sense Government

by GORE, AL

• ISBN13: 9780679771326
• ISBN10: 0679771328
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 1995-10-17
• Publisher: Random House

Summary

The federal government is ailing and needs a cure. The cure lies in embracing a principle long known to the American people but little recognized by Washington - until now: common sense. In this pathbreaking report, Vice President Al Gore, presiding over the National Performance Review, at the request of President Clinton, charts a fundamental shift in how government conducts itself. This report understands that a government that recognizes who its real customers are, works with them to understand their needs, and puts them first, not last, is a government that deserves to govern.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. v
Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction	p. xv
Overview	p. 3
Calling in the Real Experts	p. 3
There's a Wrong Way and a Right Way	p. 6
Reclaiming Government "For the People"	p. 6
Delivering the Goods at Last	p. 13
It's Never Finished	p. 14
A Government That Makes Sense	p. 18
The Real Business of Government	p. 19
Americans Want a Government That Works Better, Costs Less	p. 22
Why We Have a Federal Government	p. 24
How Things Got Out of Hand	p. 27
Failing to Change with a Changing World	p. 31
Going by the Book	p. 33
Re-creating Common Sense Government	p. 36
Getting Results	p. 39
Results, Not Rules	p. 43
What Americans Want: Fewer Rules, More Sense	p. 44
It's Not So Much the "What" as the "How"	p. 45
Get Rid of Bad Rules and Make Good Ones Easier to Understand	p. 48
Make It Easier for Us to Do What Needs to Be Done	p. 51
Assume We're Honest, Not Dishonest; Intelligent, Not Stupid	p. 53
The Results: Working Better and Costing Less	p. 56
Progress Report: Cutting Obsolete Regulations, Pointless Paperwork	p. 58
Progress Report: Rewarding Results, Not Red Tape	p. 62
Progress Report: Getting Out of Washington, Creating Partnerships	p. 66
Progress Report: Negotiating, Not Dictating	p. 73
The Road Ahead	p. 75
Putting Customers First	p. 77
The Service Revolution	p. 79
What Americans Say Good Service Means	p. 81
Ask Us What We Want	p. 81
Don't Tell Us "That's Not My Department"	p. 84
Treat Us with Courtesy, Respect...and Enthusiasm	p. 86
Make It Easy	p. 87
Provide Reliable, Timely Help	p. 88
The Results: A Government That Serves	p. 90
Progress Report: Asking and Listening	p. 91
Progress Report: Establishing Customer Service Standards	p. 94
Progress Report: Benchmarking the Best in Business	p. 95
Progress Report: Using Technology to Serve Customers Better	p. 99
Progress Report: Measuring and Rewarding Service	p. 101
The Road Ahead	p. 104
Getting Our Money's Worth	p. 109
What Americans Want: A Businesslike Government	p. 110
Stop Doing Unnecessary Things	p. 111
Buy Smart	p. 114
Hold Government Accountable	p. 116
The Results: A Smaller, Better, Faster, Cheaper Government	p. 117
Progress Report: Reducing, Eliminating, Spinning Off Programs	p. 119
Progress Report: Using Best Management Practices	p. 126
Progress Report: Measuring and Benchmarking the Best in Business	p. 130
Progress Report: Partnering with Business	p. 132
Progress Report: Selling Obsolete Inventory	p. 133
The Road Ahead	p. 136
More Measurement, More Accountability	p. 136
More Competition, More Privatization	p. 138
Conclusion	p. 140
Making "Good Enough for Government Work" Mean "Best"--Again	p. 140
A Matter of Trust	p. 142
Personal Responsibility	p. 144
Notes	p. 145
Appendices
Status of Major Recommendations by Agency	p. 151
Status of Major Recommendations Affecting Governmental Systems	p. 189
New Recommendations by Agency	p. 214
Regulatory Reform Efforts	p. 270
Summary of Savings to Date	p. 291
Presidential and Congressional Actions Taken	p. 298
Additional Resources	p. 312
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