RENEWING THE PUBLIC'S FAITH IN WASHINGTON

The issue of trust transcends the mere balancing of budgets. There is a growing awareness that the U.S. government is overextended, making promises it can't reasonably expect to keep. Essential services are perceived as being at risk -- now and in the future -- and the public seems skeptical of the competence and integrity of their public leaders.

There is a need toconsider a menu of cost-saving reforms, including rationalizing agencies, process reengineering, ending ineffective programs and re-evaluating policy decisions with large price tags associated with them. To do this, the U.S. will have to shed the shackles of outdated government structures: hierarchical, siloed organizations; service models driven by bureaucracy instead of citizen needs; budgets that ignore results; and tax systems designed for a long-gone economy. These century-old systems need to be replaced with new models that better address the needs of the 21st century. This transformation will require new ways of doing business for every aspect of  government, from organizational structures and operating practices to personnel systems and service delivery models.

Citizens are concerned about mounting debt and wasteful spending. But they still expect government to provide essential services. Trust is primarily a performance issue. The public will accept imperfection so long as government is getting the important stuff right. The steady drumbeat of coverage in the press on the ethical lapses of public officials erodes public trust. Not only can greater transparency reduce the opportunity for abuse of public funds, it can broaden the general understanding of the challenges facing elected officials.

Working together, members of both parties need to set the country on the path to long-term fiscal stability and reaffirm that Congress can and will respond to the real problems of the economy, financial markets and businesses face. This means renewing the public's faith in Washington. This means providing  the certainty  businesses and job creators need to make long-term investments in the United States. Most of all this means doing away with Squabbling, Brinkmanship, Posturing and Punting!!!!