Ezra's Bookshelf

Why Nothing Works

by Marc J. Dunkelman · 407 pages · ~7.5 hrs

Politics & GovernmentSociety & Culture

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Marc Dunkelman diagnoses a peculiar American paralysis: the world's most powerful nation struggles to accomplish basic tasks like building infrastructure, reforming healthcare, or responding effectively to crises. His explanation centers on what he calls 'vetocracy'—a system where countless veto points allow small groups to block action while no one possesses the authority to push through necessary changes. Dunkelman traces how procedural reforms intended to prevent abuse created cascading obstacles to governance. Environmental review processes, stakeholder consultations, and judicial oversight each serve legitimate purposes, yet together they produce gridlock. He examines cases from transportation projects strangled by litigation to pandemic responses hampered by regulatory complexity. Particularly interesting is his argument directed at progressives: the administrative state they championed has become an obstacle to progressive goals. The New Deal succeeded because reformers prioritized getting things done over process purity. Dunkelman calls for recovering that practical orientation while maintaining democratic accountability. The book offers specific reform proposals while acknowledging the political difficulty of streamlining a system that benefits entrenched interests. Anyone frustrated by American dysfunction will find both diagnosis and prescription here.

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