As Democrats brace ourselves in disbelief for the second inauguration of Donald Trump as President, it is important we face an uncomfortable truth: too many people feel that their government is failing them. Indeed, in too many cases it is.
American opinion surveys suggest that public trust in government is near historic lows. Trump’s election on a promise to “drain the swamp” aided by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is further proof. Democrats must consider the possibility that reversing this anti-government MAGA momentum is less about improving our messaging (which many pundits focus on), and more about fixing our government’s ability to actually deliver on the outcomes people want.
Twenty years ago, I first heard the alluring concept of “government as a platform” from Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America. She implored us to imagine a world where “we love government as much as we love our smartphones,” because government services can and should operate like our best technology—intuitive, responsive, and always handy. The key: improving the user experience of our government.
Why our government feels outdated
As a former big city mayor, I have experienced first-hand our government’s potential to harness our collective power for good, as well as its frustrating ineffectiveness. One reason for our collective frustration is that government programs still mimic the outdated assembly line, which uses identical parts (inflexible regulations) to mass produce an identical product (a social outcome). Government’s outdated systems are dehumanizing and ineffective in a world where citizens and communities cherish their uniqueness and expect their various needs to be met “on-demand” à la Netflix or Amazon.
When I was Mayor of Oakland, California I felt the frustration of outdated systems first-hand. Take addressing homelessness. Nearly all homeless program funding came with strict restrictions—this pot of money…
