Southern Legislative Conference ~ CALS 2018 · Dr. Phillip Boyle, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia 1 Exploring the “Public” in Public Leadership 1.Exploring

Southern Legislative Conference ~ CALS 2018

Dr. Phillip Boyle, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia 1

Exploring the “Public” in Public Leadership 1. Exploring the meaning of “public” and the “public good.”

2. Understanding “public leadership” as a normative enterprise.

3. Choices we face in seeking the public good and conflicts that arise in making these choices.

4. How public leaders can “solve” public problems and make “good” public decisions.

5. Implications for those who would lead on behalf of the public good and for the future of our republic.



A god, deity, religious leader ~ a theocracy

The people ~ a democracy

A king, queen, or dictator ~ a monarchy

A group or elite ~

an oligarchy



Tax incentives for film industry

• First, what is the “good” we seek?

• Second, howshould we seek that “good?”

Liberty

Equality

Community Prosperity



Liberty ~ “I”, the Individual “Smart phone” technology raises new questions about a citizen’s

right to privacy

Should police be allowed to

search a driver’s cell phone at the scene of an accident?

Governor emphasizes “personal responsibility” in preparing for

disasters, urging every individual to have a week's worth of food and

purified water on hand

Most states seek to provide consumer choice in health services

Nearly 1,500 bills introduced in state legislatures since 2016 both

loosening and tightening gun restrictions

Longer life expectancy gives rise to questions about whether individuals should be allowed to end their lives…

…and whether

physicians should be allowed to

assist



We value liberty when…FreedomChoiceOpportunityIndependenceMobilityIndividualityPersonal responsibilitySelf-sufficiencySelf-determinationSelf-help

Equality“Groups, Us and Them”

All but 5 states have equal pay laws

Education Trust reports that state public flagship universities are

becoming whiter and richer than residents of states they serve

Legislative study committee recommends internet sales tax to help level playing field for brick

and mortar merchants

Historical statues raise questions about equal treatment across the nation



Arrest booking fees headed to U.S. Supreme Court

We value equality when…FairnessJusticeToleranceInclusionDiversityEqual rightsEqual treatmentEqual opportunityRepresentationLevel playing field

Community ~ “We”Common Good

All 50 states have some form of ignition interlock law for convicted drunk drivers

Drug overdose deaths for ages 12-25 have increased in all 50 states in the past decade,

doubling in 35 and quadrupling in 5

Several states attribute rise in number of children in foster care

to opiate abuse and addiction



Legislator proposes parent and teacher spanking bill to restore parental rights and discipline

Legislators want their daily prayer ceremony to acknowledge and

celebrate more than one religion

Demographic shifts have helped Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh communities take root in the state’s

growing non-Christian population

We value community when…SafetySecurityConnectionBelongingSense of placeSocial/moral orderQuality of lifeThe sacredSocial responsibilityCollective action

Prosperity ~ “Market”

State consolidates three agencies to improve service delivery and

save money

Some states explore public-private partnerships for child welfare systems



20 states have adopted or are considering adopting evidence-based sentencing, in which courts use data-driven predictions of future crime risk to shape sentencing

Tax credits and incentives

State education commission, citing statistics showing no benefit in student

performance from teachers holding advanced degrees, recommends ending

pay raises for new teachers who get them

We value prosperity when…GrowthDevelopmentEconomyEfficiencyProductivityCommercializationPrivatizationReturn on investmentQuantity of lifeMarket rules

Liberty Freedom, choice, independence, access, autonomy, mobility, openness,

transparency, discretion, individual rights, exceptions, exemptions, waivers, voluntary, opportunity, individuality, privacy, due process, accountability,

participation, personal responsibility, self-determination, self-sufficiency, self-help, self-governing, self-rule

EqualityFairness, justice, tolerance, acceptance, diversity, difference, equity, parity, comparable, equivalent, inclusion, impartial, representation, grandfathering,

compensation, redistribution, equal rights, equal opportunity, equal access, equal treatment, equal results, level playing field

Community Safety, security, sense of place, belonging, identity,

connection, attractive, appealing, welcoming,

tradition, customs, culture, history, law, religion, the

sacred, social responsibility, collective

action, peace, health, preservation, conservation,

restoration, social and moral order, quality of life

Prosperity Economy, efficiency, growth, profit, productivity, return on

investment, development, incentives, competition,

consolidation, centralization, privatization,

commercialization, standardization, specialization,

performance measurement, benchmarking, market rules, maximization, quantity of life,

standard of living



1. "This is a job-creating piece of legislation that will help at least 26 companies form and go into business and into the marketplace, thereby creating many more jobs within our state.”

2. Remain competitive in a competitive industry.3. Breweries and distilleries will no longer be required to offer paid tours

with limited samples of their products, which is often described as a “shell game.”

4. Create a better experience for distillery guests ~ allow them to sample whichever spirits they like.

5. Levels the playing field between breweries & distilleries and wholesalers & retailers and between our state and other states.

6. Create better beer and food destinations and reputations.7. The state does not do enough to address alcohol’s negative impacts

on families and opposition to the bill is not about being against alcohol, per se, but being against what alcohol is doing to families.

8. Breweries will be able to serve food.9. Current 3-tiered system was designed and adopted to prevent

monopoly and promote competition.10. Current 3-tiered system creates a barrier to entry for microbreweries

because their production levels are often not high enough to satisfy the needs of a distributer.

LIBERTY ~ Allow guests them to sample whichever spirits they like (4); no longer required to offer paid tours with limited samples of their products

(shell game) (3); 3-tiered system designed to prevent monopoly (9); 3-tiered system creates barrier to entry for microbreweries (10)

COMMUNITY ~ Create a better experience for distillery guests (4);

create better beer and food destinations and reputations (6);

state does not do enough to address alcohol’s negative impacts on

families and opposition to the bill is not about being against alcohol, per se, but being against what alcohol is doing to families (7); breweries will

be able to serve food (8)

PROSPERITY ~ A job-creating piece of legislation that will help at least 26 companies

form and go into business and into the marketplace, thereby creating many more jobs in

our state (1); remain competitive in a competitive industry (2); 3-tiered system

designed to promote competition (9)

EQUALITY ~ Level the playing field between breweries/distilleries and wholesalers and retailers and between our state and other states (5); 3-

tiered system creates a barrier to entry for microbreweries because their production levels are often not high enough to satisfy needs of

distributers (10)

These values reflect our unique history and heritage

Citizens who favor liberty tend to support limited government,

private solutions over public ones, and want

public officials to protect people from

government

Americans for Prosperity, American Civil Liberties Union, Eagle Forum, Open Carry, First Amendment

Foundation, Alliance for School Choice, Public Policy Foundation, Consumer Watch, Center for

Policy Research, Liberty Alliance

Citizens who favor equality support an active role for government, want everyone to benefit from

public spending and services, and want public

officials to use government to help people

Fairness for Prisoners’ Families, Budget and Policy Institute, Innocence Project, Empowerment for All,

Justice Project, Green Party, Legal Services Program, Peace and Justice Coalition, Women of

Achievement, Progressive Network



Citizens who favor community want

government to promote public interest over private,

preserve rather than develop, and want public

officials to protect the common good

Citizens for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Concerned Women for America, Nature

Conservancy, Council on Moral and Civic Concerns, Family Council, Forestry Association, Trust for Historic Preservation, Community Partnership

Center, Adoptive and Foster Parent Association

Citizens who favor prosperity want government to support

private interests, let the market decide public issues, reduce public spending, and want public officials to support

business and economic growth

Chamber of Commerce, Farm Bureau Federation, Center for Economic Education, Citizens for a Sound Economy, Federation of Independent

Business, Manufacturing and Industry Association, Partnership for Excellence in

Education, Center for Performance Excellence, Viable Jobs Coalition, Technology Development

Corporation

Public Problems

Public Choices



Flexible schedulingIndividualized instructionDevelop individual student interests Plan for different learning stylesNo dress codeNo busingVouchersIndividualized learning/instructionAlternatives ~ charter, magnet, cyberPublic support for vouchers and other private options

Open choice within public schoolsParental choice and responsibilityLocal governance and controlLet families control how their education dollars are spentBreak away from “entrenched education bureaucracies”More course and program choicesAllow students to find themselves academically

Same courses, same standardsFair student evaluationsFair disciplineAll students obtain HS diplomaAll sports availableSchool uniformsDo not allow school choiceSign language as foreign languageFunding to make all schools equal, especially for disadvantaged students

Every child gets the same educationReverse re-segregation, close achievement gapsLearning environments free of race, gender, class, ethnic and cultural biasesAlternative, special, bi-lingual educationFree/reduced breakfast/lunch programsTeach all history and cultures

Problem solving and resolving conflictMutual respect, toleranceHealth services, nutrition, nursesSmaller classes, lower teacher ratiosNeighborhood schools, quality not costAdult mentors, partnerships with parents and communityFewer dropouts, all students successfulReduce heavy book bags, provide bigger lockers, more time between classes

Safe, clean, secure, comfortable, healthy, welcoming schoolsMeet social/emotional needs of students Art, music, civics, character education, service learningAvoid becoming places of competition, ranking, social sortingBuild mutual support within the family, classroom, school, and communityReduce suspensions and expulsionsRaise children, don’t just teach themSave recess!

Career preparation, work training, school-business partnerships, apprenticeships, summer work, cooperative and vocational educationEducate for 3 R’s, curriculum relevant to businessFocus on computers, science, work ethic, classroom technology/networksExtend school day and yearRemove discipline problemsBalancing checkbooks, job applications, managing moneyTeacher signing bonuses, incentivesMake schools tax-deductible

Create a competitive environmentGrading, testing, standards, rankings, certification, data-driven decision makingCommercialization and advertisingContractingPerformance payPrivatize schools, maximize use of facilities, cost-effective construction, operate public school systems like a businessGraduate students with skills for success in the global economyProvide students with a competitive edge!

Community Attractive and appealing; increase

health by reducing fossil fuel consumption, air pollution and

greenhouse gas emissions; encourage good land use planning; preserve open space; strengthen feeling of

belonging and connection

Prosperity Reduce travel time; cost of building new roads by increasing capacity;

positive economic return for transit users and providers; reduce need

for and cost of infrastructure; encourage economic development

Liberty Offer choices; system people want to use; improve access to employment

and other opportunities; increase individual freedom by increasing capacity of existing roads; reduce

dependence on foreign oil

Equality Serve ‘need’ riders and ‘choice’ riders;

be affordable and accessible to everyone; increase access to jobs, services, leisure, and education for

everyone



“We don’t need the state mandating every little thing in our lives. Let parents be parents.” ~ provider

State study also found that 5-year olds with dental disease were

more likely to be poor and minority

Study commissioned by the state found one in four kindergartners had dental disease ~

can have negative long-term impacts on a child’s health and

quality of life

“When you teach children oral health at a young age, they'll be able to maintain good

dental hygiene for life.” ~ legislator

“I don’t want someone’s hand in my child’s mouth.” ~ parent

“We’re supposed to have rest time, but now we have to eat

a little earlier so there’s enough time for the children to brush their teeth.”

~ caregiver

“This is also a personal freedom issue…do we need government to

regulate everything we do?”

Studies show fewer deaths and injuries

Studies show lower medical and insurance costs

Chair, House Select Committee on Motorcycle Helmet Laws



Liberty


Don’t require helmets

Require helmets

Liberty


Some riders,

some of the time

No riders, none of the time

All riders, all of the time

• Value problems require us to make normative choices: Moral Ethical Political

• We base our choices on not just what we know (facts), but also on what we believe (values)



1. What arguments do you see and hear?

2. What values do these arguments represent?

How might we achieve the

good we seek without

harming the good we

already have? Implications for Public Leaders and for Our Republic

The art and science of identifying the

good we seek and crafting solutions

to achieve the greatest good

possible with the least amount of

harm

Public decisions involve choices among competing good thingsGood decisions are politically acceptable and technically feasibleMaking such decisions requires both elected citizens and appointed professionals



• The value(s) someone wants to promote

• The value(s) someone else wants to protect



Be willing to lead with nobody in chargeWork with citizens, staff, stakeholders, and each other to craft decisions that achieve the greatest good possible with the least amount of harmBuild sufficient consensus around these decisions to preserve our democratic republic, without which these choices would not exist

Create a nation – individuals capable of self-governing and exercising freedom responsibly

Create a society – justice, fairness, equality

Create a community –

cultural, moral, and

social order

Create an economy –

individual self-sufficiency and general welfare

They institutionalized

them in our republic, our res

publica, our “public thing”

Documents

Southern Legislative Conference ~ CALS 2018 · Dr. Phillip Boyle, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia 1 Exploring the “Public” in Public Leadership 1.Exploring