It's too bad the town hall events last night did not elicit the candidates' visions for making government work better. So far the debates, including in the primary, have covered only the hot-button issues in the news. (See here for a compendium of last night's questions).

A new seven-part Brookings series by political scientist Paul Light, "The Case for Major Government Reform," finds that "the public now more than ever is begging that government...be reformed significantly and thoroughly." It concludes with "The Six Government Reforms We Need in 2021." Here is the last reform, citing our vision:

6. Try Common Sense

...Instead of relying on 'bureaucratic verbiage,' Howard urges the federal government to embrace a 'new operating philosophy built on the bedrock of individual responsibility and accountability.'

Most Americans don't need experts to explain the idiocy of asking teachers, doctors, and others to comply with thousand-page rulebooks. But Washington insiders can't imagine any other system; that's what they do for a living. That's why change requires a new movement — to re-regulate (not de-regulate) and liberate the can-do spirit of Americans across the country. Read our mission statement. It's time to fix it. Want to help? 

• This week, we called on governments at all levels to cut red tape in schools and free up resources amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• Last week, the Niskanen Center released a detailed policy paper, "Faster Growth, Fairer Growth," that cited our work on streamlining infrastructure permitting and adopted recommendations from our "Two Years, Not Ten Years" report.

• Common Good's role in securing permits for the $30 billion Gateway rail tunnel is referenced in an analysis in The Bond Buyer, "Biden victory may boost Gateway project."