In recent weeks we have seen heroic actions by financial regulators. From the Treasury Secretary to the Federal Reserve to the New York State insurance commissioner, public officials have worked tirelessly to control the chaos in the financial marketplace. Once again, it is clear that America has learned very well how to respond to crises. But is that all we have learned? It's a question we need to ask ourselves and our candidates for President and Congress. Amid the ongoing turmoil, it seems obvious we must reinvent our government and create an efficient system that can anticipate and avoid major crises. Despite many opportunities, however, this is not a lesson we have taken to heart. Whether the task is fixing health care, upgrading K-12 education, bolstering national security, or a host of other missions, the U.S. is better at patching problems than fixing them. Part of the reason is that we have two parties lacking comity and a sense of shared national responsibility. But beyond the partisan divide, I would argue that the processes of government are broken, preventing us from taking responsible actions.
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