Angry American

The Contract with America. The Oklahoma City bombing. Rave receptions for the likes of Rush Limbaugh and G. Gordon Liddy. The budget shutdown in Washington. The Million Man March. Isolated events, or is there some connecting thread? Susan Tolchin says its anger—mainstream, inclusive, legitimate public anger—and its not going to vanish until we as a polity acknowledge it and harness its power.How to tap into this pervasive political anger and release its creative energy without being swept away by its force is the dilemma of the 1990s for government leaders and citizens alike. This timely volume outlines the history, causes, and consequences of anger in American politics today and embraces positive solutions to problems we are all entitled to be angry about: economic uncertainty, cultural divisiveness, political disintegration, and a world changing faster than our ability to assimilate. Tolchins solutions incorporate a renewed sense of community, enhanced political access, and responsive rather than reactive government.

How to tap into pervasive political anger and release its creative energy without being swept away by its force is the dilemma of the 1990s for government leaders and citizens alike. This timely volume outlines the history, causes, and consequences of anger in American politics today and embraces positive solutions to problems we are all entitled to be angry about: economic uncertainty, cultural divisiveness, political disintegration, and a world changing faster than our ability to assimilate. Tolchins solutions incorporate a renewed sense of community, enhanced political access, and responsive rather than reactive government.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-159) and index.

Susan J. Tolchin is a professor of public policy at George Mason Universitys School of Public Policy. She was elected a fellow and board member of the National Academy of Public Administration. In 1997, she received the Marshall Dimock Award from the American Society for Public Administration and the Trachtenberg Award for Research from George Washington University. Martin Tolchin, founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of “The Hill” newspaper, reported on Congress during most of his 40-year career at the New York Times. His numerous awards include the Everett M. Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting on Congress. Mr. Tolchin also received three Page One wards from the Newspaper Guild of New York, and awards from Sigma Delta Chi and the NYC Citizens Budget Commission.