Talking about Government’s Mission
Americans don’t have a clear sense of the mission of government, of why it exists and what differentiates it. In our Talking about Government research, we found the public has little sense that government has a mission, goals and motivations that are different from private business, and that it is by definition, supposed to be acting in the public interest. Despite this lack of clarity about government's mission, our research also indicates that Americans yearn for a government that is more proactive and able to address public problems before they occur.
To help Americans develop a broader understanding of government’s mission and to reinforce Americans’ interests in proactive government, we recommend:
- Connecting the role of government to values such as planning for a prosperous and healthy future, stewardship of our resources, and building and preservation of community. These concepts remind people of government’s purpose and our common responsibility to leave our children a country that can live up to those values.
- Reinforcing the notion of shared fate, in the form of the common good or quality of life. This concept allows you to advance citizen thinking and mutual responsibility and discuss why government is a necessary tool for achieving quality of life for all.
- Emphasizing government’s mission as distinct from, but not antithetical to, business. It is important to illustrate how we all benefit most when business and government work together.
Among the selected examples, the Citizens’ Guide to a Strong Economy speaks to government’s protective role and its role in maintaining quality of life. And, in Raise Revenue to Cut R.I.’s deficit, the author explains that state revenues are Rhode Island’s collective investment in creating quality of life that all Rhode Islanders can enjoy and expect.