The Politics Industry

How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy

By: Katherine M. Gehl, Michael E. Porter

Narrated by: Stephen R. Thorne

Most people believe that our political system is a public institution with high-minded principles and impartial rules derived from the Constitution. In reality, it has become a private industry dominated by a textbook duopoly - the Democrats and the Republicans - and plagued and perverted by unhealthy competition between the players. Tragically, it has therefore become incapable of delivering solutions to America's key economic and social challenges. In fact, there's virtually no connection between our political leaders solving problems and getting reelected.

In The Politics Industry, Katherine Gehl and Michael Porter take a radical new approach. They ingeniously apply the tools of business analysis - and Porter's distinctive Five Forces framework - to show how the political system functions just as every other competitive industry does, and how the duopoly has led to the devastating outcomes we see today.

Using this competition lens, Gehl and Porter identify the most powerful lever for change - a strategy comprised of a clear set of choices in two key areas: how our elections work and how we make our laws. Their bracing assessment and practical recommendations cut through the endless debate about various proposed fixes, such as term limits and campaign finance reform. The result: true political innovation.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Katherine M. Gehl and Michael E. Porter (P)2020 Kalorama

Top Notch

I found the book fascinating and the wisdom undeniable. We're on the fast train to nowhere, at least this looks better.

compelling, convincing, fantastic!

if you feel, like most Americans, that
something needs to change in our political system, you absolutely must read this book regardless of party affiliation. the authors do an outstanding job if it luminating problems we face and detailing a realistic and achievable solution.

I have never been so sad and excited

Our legislators have captured our country and we don't realize it, or care. This book gives us a plausible fix, one that brings the democracy back to our republic. A fix that can be achieved. One that will free us of the "monarchy" that congress leaders have built for themselves.

I am so sad that our country has fallen so far that we have party line divisions that make neighbors view each other as the enemy. So sad that the opposition isn't only the parties but the citizens that are happy to revel in their hate for each other.

It is going to be a hard fight, but we have a plan now. Let's get on board and change the future of our country; the future of our world depends on it.

We Should Do This

Top 5 primaries and ranked choice voting. Those are the big ideas here and I strongly agree that we should do them. It's going to be hard because both parties hate it. But if we want our countries to actually work, we should make these changes as fast as we possibly can.

Required reading.

This should be required reading for all regardless of party. Fix the root of the problem, and solutions will flourish!