Across the political spectrum, Americans agree on one thing: trust in government is near historic lows. According to recent surveys, fewer than 20% of Americans say they trust the federal government to do what is right “most of the time.” Partisan gridlock, corporate influence, and opaque policymaking have created a political system that feels distant from—and often hostile to—the very people it claims to serve.
The solution isn’t more ideology. It’s more accountability, transparency, and integrity—driven by voter-centered policy that puts citizens, not parties or donors, at the heart of decision-making.
What Is Voter-Centered Policy?
Voter-centered policy is a governance philosophy that prioritizes pragmatic, transparent, and evidence-based solutions that reflect the will and needs of the electorate—not lobbyists, party elites, or political consultants.
This means:
- Policies shaped by data, not dogma
- Legislation written in plain language, not legal jargon
- Governing with humility, not hubris
- Outcomes measured in impact, not ideology
“The core idea is simple: government should work for the people, not just those who fund it or run it.”
Why Trust Is Broken
1. Hyper-Partisanship
When political identity matters more than facts, problem-solving dies. Polarization turns public service into a zero-sum game, not a civic duty.
2. Opaque Deal-Making
Citizens are shut out of backroom negotiations, omnibus bills, and bureaucratic loopholes. Few know what’s in a law until after it’s passed.
3. Donor Capture
Mega-donors and corporate PACs have more influence over policy priorities than average voters. This distorts incentives and undermines public faith.
4. Failure to Deliver
From broken healthcare systems to crumbling infrastructure, voters see promises made but rarely kept. When government consistently underperforms, trust erodes.
Principles of Voter-Centered Policy Reform
To rebuild civic trust, leaders must adopt a fundamentally different approach—one that respects the intelligence, dignity, and needs of the electorate.
1. Radical Transparency
Let the public see how the sausage is made. Publish line-by-line budgets, disclose bill authorship, televise all committee negotiations.
2. Nonpartisan Policy Development
Use independent commissions and data-driven panels to draft major legislation—similar to how monetary policy is insulated from politics.
3. Citizen-Led Agenda Setting
Introduce participatory policy tools: ballot initiatives, citizen assemblies, ranked-choice voting, and deliberative polling to reflect real voter priorities.
4. Performance-Based Governance
Hold agencies and programs accountable to clear, measurable benchmarks. Reward what works. Replace what fails.
5. Generational Fairness
Ensure policy doesn’t just benefit current voters at the expense of future ones. Long-term thinking builds long-term trust.
What Kotlikoff 2012 Got Right
In his independent presidential campaign, Laurence Kotlikoff championed a platform focused on restoring rational, transparent, and voter-first government. He proposed:
- Generational accounting to replace short-term deficit gimmicks
- Neutral tax reform to eliminate loopholes and restore fairness
- Healthcare and Social Security reform based on math, not messaging
- A flat leadership structure that prioritized expert input over partisan spin
Kotlikoff’s vision remains a blueprint for nonpartisan, people-first reform.
“We don’t need left or right. We need forward—with honesty, competence, and public trust.”
Final Thoughts: A Democracy Worth Believing In
Government doesn’t have to be broken. Trust isn’t gone—it’s just dormant. It can be rebuilt—but only if voters see themselves in the laws, budgets, and decisions that shape their lives.
Voter-centered policy is how we fix what politics has broken.
At Kotlikoff 2012, we remain committed to reforming government from the ground up—not by tearing it down, but by making it finally serve the people it claims to represent.
