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Power Knowledge

A collection of 36 issues

What Gets Politicians Re-Elected

The other evening, I sat on the couch and read a story wrongly told. It was about a recent primary loss down south. The incumbent was outspent, the story went, the incumbent had extreme positions. The candidate who won had cash and moderateness on his side, the story explained. And

A Good Thing to Know About the Politicians Who Represent Us

How is it that Senator Angus King, governor of Maine twice over and 80 years old to Maine's other Senator Susan Collins' 71 years, became the junior Senator from the Pine Tree State? One of the most significant words in policy: seniority. Senator Susan Collins came to

How Much Do Your Legislators Make

"Bush horrified to learn Presidential salary," the October 2000 Onion article read. "A measly couple hundred grand a year?" the soon-to-be-president was "quoted" as saying. "Not per month, even? Because I've already spent more than $60 million to get this job.

Learning the Rules of the Game

If I asked you to join my baseball game, but you'd never played and didn't know the rules, you might find the experience a little frustrating. And democracy can be a bit like this, can't it? We're asked to participate – a healthy

The Fascinating, Often Dysfunctional Marriage of Politics & Policy

Wheat grown in Kansas, shipped from northern California ports, and rotting in shipping containers overseas tells a fascinating story of the dynamic at the heart of American policymaking. Back in the roaring 1950s, Congress passed the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act which did a whole lot, but we'

Three Powerful Policy Words

The U.S. Senators from Maryland and Virginia were not well pleased with the recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization. The FAA oversees aviation (of the non-military varietal) in the United States, including things like air traffic controllers, airport modernization, and consumer protections. More on all that here. And reauthorization

The Different Kinds of Power a Politician Can Have

Once, at a town meeting about off-leash hours (a hot and contentious local issue if ever there was one), a bird lover used a distinction I've never forgotten. There's perception and there's reality, he said. The reality is that off-leash dogs generally aren'

Decoding Politician Speak

Politicians usually make for a lousy interview. There are exceptions, but it's a safe bet that if a legislator is on a show you like, it'll be as fun as watching the grass grow. The reason comes down to three highly strategic (for political parties), infuriating

The 6 Most Important Names to Know in Policymaking

Six has long been a significant number for human beings. Six Flags. Six-packs. Six degrees of Kevin Bacon. That Bruce Willis movie The Sixth Sense. So it is only fitting that there are six key names to know in policymaking. 1. Your city/town councilor 2. Your state representative 3.

Why Term Limits Don't Quite Strengthen Democracy

There is a bumper sticker I see from time to time: "Congress isn't a nursing home. Support term limits." With 65 members (15%) of the U.S. House and 34 members (34%) of the Senate over 70, Congress does appear to lead the country in workplace