A Skeptic's Guide To Public Policy

Two veteran reporters publish a list of the '10 main ways that the government spins the public,' and offer their guide to interpreting the spin.

1 minute read

June 20, 2003, 1:00 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Basically, there are about 10 main ways that the government spins the public. Whether it's a presidential press conference about a war, or a city manager's explanation about a land-use decision, often the explanations or justifications sound eerily similar. The trick is cutting through the slapstick and understanding what’s going on and determining the true values, risks, opportunities and trade-offs at stake. Here's our guide to the process after a collective 40-plus years of writing and observation... So, when you hear these words, look for the red flag..."

Thanks to Transport Policy Listserv

Tuesday, June 17, 2003 in Orange County Register

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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