City of Rivals ─ Restoring the Glorious Mess of American Democracy

America is once again gripped by fear that we are falling behind and fast. Unlike the Soviet threat that shook our nation a half century ago, the menace today is homegrown. On issues of national importance, the two parties in Congress appear incapable of working together. Whether the threat is competition from China, crumbling infrastructure, or rising debt, Washington’s legitimacy to govern and capacity to solve problems are in doubt.

The Bipartisan Policy Center’s president, Jason Grumet, tackles this issue head-on by dissecting the paralysis in Washington and challenging the conventional diagnosis of the current gridlock. Rather than just wishing that everyone would get along, Grumet offers practical steps to govern a polarized nation and explores the unintended consequences of past reform movements.

Since Watergate, Washington has resolved to make everything transparent. The problem is that too much light is scaring Congressmen away from making the tough choices necessary to govern in the national interest. It’s no secret that the backrooms are where things get done and where politicians can collaborate without reprisal. Grumet boldly presents a new way forward in his first book, a must-read for all who care about our government’s--and our country's--future.