Can-Do Government

In the making of year-end lists there is no end, and from the Brookings Institution comes one considerably weightier than most. Based on responses from 450 historians and political scientists, Brookings has ranked the federal government’s greatest achievements of the post-World War II era. Like all such lists this one reflects the biases of its makers. As the study notes, the mainly white, male, highly educated respondents were hardly representative of Americans as a whole. The rankings, in short, invite argument. Nonetheless, they are a useful key to the major policy accomplishments of the last half-century and an unabashed plug for government’s ability to affect life for the better. “If a nation’s greatness is measured in part by the kinds of problems it asks its government to solve,” Brookings notes, “the United States measures up very well indeed.”

Achievement was ranked on the basis of how successful, important and difficult an endeavor was. A little over half of the government’s 50 biggest hits were based on spending as a policy tool--for example, in programs to provide health care to the elderly and increase homeownership. Twenty focused on regulatory policies, from improving air and water quality to ending workplace discrimination. The remaining four involved a mix of spending and regulation.

Brookings cites endurance, consensus and patience as the keys to getting things done. But before everything there has to be a coherent policy strategy, which means clearly identifying a problem and providing the resources for addressing it. Success also partly depends on seeing the moral rightness in a course of action, whether defending world peace or furthering human equality. Finally, there can be no achievement unless government is ready to act where the private or nonprofit sector won’t. Promoting financial security in retirement--No. 10 on the list--is one example.

Most of the respondents in the survey identified themselves either as liberals (65%) or Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents (82%). That political tilt is implicit in some of the rankings. Thus the U.S. achievement in containing communism, surely the major geopolitical development of the second half of the 20th century, places only 14th on the list, outranked even by strengthening the nation’s highway system (seventh). Similarly, conservative respondents would be likely to give higher place to welfare reform (42nd), tax reform (48th) and devolving responsibility to the states (50th).

Rebuilding Western Europe after World War II was rated the top federal achievement, followed by expanding voting rights, promoting access to public accommodations, reducing disease and reducing workplace discrimination. Along with almost all the other major achievements, these reflect what Brookings calls a stunning level of bipartisan commitment. “Great endeavors appear to require equally great consensus.” Congress and the incoming administration should take careful note.

Reflecting on the last 50 years, Brookings asks whether government will ever again be so bold in its initiatives. Are leaders courageous enough to take the risks, is the public patient enough to accept early difficulties while it waits for success? The question will remain unanswerable until some new national or international challenge again puts government to the test.