Experiencing Politics: A Legislator's Stories of Government and Health CareUniversity of California Press, 2000 M11 22 - 342 pages John E. McDonough affords a rare glimpse into the practice of state politics in this insider's account of the fascinating interface between political science and real-life politics. A member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for thirteen years and a skilled storyteller, McDonough eloquently weaves together stories of politics and policy with engaging theoretical models in a way that illuminates both the theory and the practice. By providing a link between scholarship and the world of experience, he communicates much about the essence of representative democracy. In the process, he demonstrates how politics extend beyond the public sphere into many aspects of life involving diverse values and interests. McDonough describes the nature of conflict, the role of interests, agenda setting, the nature and pace of change, the use of language, and more. Accessible, insightful, and original, his stories touch on a broad range of issues—including health care politics, campaigns, and elections; a street gang called the X-men; the death penalty; campaign finance reform, and tenants versus landlords. To the author, politics is everywhere and political dynamics are universal. While the setting for this book is one legislature, the lessons and insights are intended for everyone. |
Contents
BASiCS | 17 |
The Stories We Tell and the XMen | 46 |
THEMES | 81 |
Interests and a Fiscal Crisis | 119 |
Representation Relationships and Campaign Warchests | 158 |
MoDELS | 197 |
Agendas and Childrens Health Care | 237 |
Conversations Games and the Death Penalty | 287 |
Concluding Remarks | 311 |
| 329 | |
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Experiencing Politics: A Legislator's Stories of Government and Health Care John Edward McDonough No preview available - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
amendment approval began bill Boston budget Buell campaign finance candidate capital punishment chair chairman challenge chapter Children’s conversation costs coverage Craven death penalty debate Democratic deregulation Dukakis dynamic early Egleston Egleston Square election employer mandate Father Jack favor federal Finneran fiscal crisis Flaherty floor funds gang governor groups Health Care Committee health insurance hospital House and Senate ideas included interest issues Jamaica Plain January Judy Meredith Keverian kids knew leaders legislative legislature lobbyists major Massachusetts Medicaid metaphor Michael Dukakis million move one’s organizations percent President problem proposal punctuated equilibrium reform regulation relationships rent control Representatives Republican rules self-interest session single-payer Speaker Stan state’s stories synecdoche tenants tion Tom Finneran U.S. Senator uninsured universal health care veto Voke vote voters wanted warchests Weld’s William Bulger William Weld X-Men