Garbage Cans and Policy Windows

Thanks for the shout out!

Markets and mayhem When we talk public policy, we talk markets. That means something right now, as we're confronted with policy intended to disrupt markets in ways that aren't being discussed.

Markets, mayhem and Musk: what's being disrupted isn't being talked about.
garbagecanspolicywindows.com/markets-and-...

Where goes public health policy?

Why Seattle’s housing density plans are a disability-rights issue The city’s comprehensive plan would shift zoning rules to allow more multifamily and mixed-use buildings, which have accessibility requirements.

So happy my colleague @ceceliablack.bsky.social is leading the conversation around wheelchair accessible housing, density and nondriver access 👇

Today's lecture on trade policy will be titled "Glade, Charmin, or a rag: decreasing options amidst a return to mercantilism."

Jean Luc Picard, captain of the Enterprise, asking for a damage report.

Push Notification: "Trump speaking live from Oval Office."

Me:

...to policy, perhaps making institutions seem more relevant or responsive.

The idealistic part of me sees deliberative or discursive public policy as having an opportunity actually strengthen the legitimacy of institutions in the current context.

Maybe it's idealism, but I feel that properly leveraged and applied, deliberative public policy can reconnect the public...

Always a good time! As both an academic and a policy practitioner, I find it useful in both my spheres.

That being said - it wasn't written the current context of life threatening challenges to liberal democracy.

It may not be deliberative democracy in the style of "abandon legislative drafting in favour of consensus circles," but it turns on the idea that public policy should be more actively in discussion and deliberation with its subjects and objects through institutions. Maybe.

I am not so reluctant in calling myself a deliberative democrat, and I also anchor a lot of policy work in institutions. Frank Fischer's work on reframing public policy in a discursive and deliberative context was pretty interesting to me.

In case you missed it last night - inaugural post on windows in public policy

$85,000 US to meet with Trump's Josh Lyman and one of Ed and Larry.

Don't think that was worth it.

It's also quite possible that we'll soon be watching the installation of the largest number of partisan patronage appointments ever, in a few weeks.

Windows Political science and public policy have a fascination with windows. There are good reasons why - and they help us understand a bit about why things happen.

New on Garbage Cans and Policy Windows:

"Political science and public policy have a fascination with windows. There are good reasons why - and they help us understand a bit about why things happen."

garbagecanspolicywindows.com/windows/

We won't stare at you for that, but we may ask inopportune questions about upside-down things.

There was a big subplot in a West Wing episode where Bartlett had to go the Residence to do campaign calls because he wouldn't do them in the West Wing.

And on the other hand:

These also make instant sense in Canada. And I was sitting here thinking that serviette was a weird "Hello Bonjour!" kind of Canadianism.

Sure the world's a crazy place, tariffs may tear apart Canada's economy, and no one knows what's next.

This is the perfect opportunity for talking about *public policy*, isn't it?