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Improve government

How to improve government with the Meta-Problem Method

Resources versus needs

Government needs to balance many competing priorities and values, but it is constrained by limited resources, as are we. Identifying and managing tradeoffs is inescapable.

The question then is which problem (or cluster of problems) should we choose to solve? Where will our efforts lead to the greatest improvement in our government?

That is a dilemma you can solve with the Meta-Problem Method. It is about choosing the best problem to solve, but only after you’ve defined the goals you care about, explored your many options, and weighed the trade-offs. To learn more about the Meta-Problem Method click here.

What can I do?

The key decision we each need to make is what we’re willing to give up personally (time, convenience, money) to solve a given problem.

In the case of improving government, your choices could include working from the inside by committing your career to government service. Or you could use your nights and weekends to volunteer or take political actions.

Key questions to ask yourself.

  • Which causes are most important to me personally? Can I get started with something small or get involved with a group to learn what my options are? Talking to people on the other side of the issue can help you understand the complexity and clarify your beliefs.
  • Do I want to work in government directly to deliver the improvements I desire? First-hand experience of the inner workings of government can help you understand why it has so many problems and give you smarter ideas for how to address them.
  • What am I willing and able to do? How can I apply my skillset to this problem? Which options will provide the greatest return compared to the effort involved?

How can I multiply my impact?

With smart focus and a dash of luck, influencing government is a great opportunity to have a huge impact. When your actions shape new policies, hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people can benefit from those changes.

Choose an example below to learn more about the
Meta-Problem Method and how it can help guide your choices.