The problem lies in the ambiguity of the words 'government' and 'policy'. Government can refer to elected officials while also encompassing public servants in operational units. Similarly, policy can mean legislation, regulations, or the operational systems of executive agencies. This lack of clarity leads to confusion in discussions. For example, someone may dislike politicians but still value public services like trash collection. The ambiguity makes it difficult to accurately assess people's preferences.
Lou sits down with co-founder and executive director of the Public Policy Lab, Chelsea Mauldin. She gives us a preview of the talk she will be giving at the upcoming Civic Design Conference, Nov. 16 - 18th. They dive deeper into the intersection of design in the public sector and how that can look when dealing with all levels of government policy. Chelsea briefs Lou on how her nonprofit partners with government personnel to develop policy, and how the civic design community is growing today. She also discusses the different struggles her nonprofit faces versus those in the private sector.