The devastation of Hurricane Maria’s humanitarian disaster has sparked public debate over the US government’s response. As Puerto Ricans suffer without potable water, food, or air conditioning, President Trump lamented that the Puerto Rican people “want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort.” He also attacked the mayor of San Juan for “poor leadership.” Cue the usual cycle of outrage, counter-spin, and ever-deepening division.

But looking beyond disaster response, Trump’s comments inadvertently touch on an important question: How should we be thinking about the role of government in delivering services to the American people?

Government needs to innovate and adapt to 21st-century tools, approaches, and models. We all want the government to function better and more effectively serve the American people, but while a private sector approach to governing is captivating, it won’t get us to where we need to go by itself. Unlike a corporation generating zero-sum returns, the government is not a business; it is the people’s government. Government is a manifestation of citizens’ preferences, and citizens should be empowered as co-producers of government services and goods. At a time of widespread disillusionment with government and a president who stokes anger and resentment in areas inside and outside traditional political battlefields, the answer is not to treat citizens more like customers.

Read the full article by Hollie Russon Gilman on Stanford Social Innovation Review