Civic Engagement, Public Trust, and Policy Reform
I grew up immersed in politics. My great-uncle, Fred Rooney, served as a Congressman representing the Lehigh Valley, and years later my father, T.J. Rooney, would serve as a Pennsylvania State Representative. I cannot remember a period in my life that existed outside the context of politics and public policy. From a young age, I volunteered on political campaigns, attended community events, and observed firsthand how decisions made by elected officials directly impacted people’s lives. While attending Kutztown University, I began working with a government relations firm as a political and communications analyst, further reinforcing my understanding of the importance of governance and policymaking in shaping society.
Government plays a fundamental role in maintaining civil society. It creates the structure through which individuals may live free from violence and instability. John Locke, through his work on social contract theory, argued that government is ultimately an agreement between individuals who voluntarily surrender certain freedoms in exchange for collective protection and order (Locke, 1997). Policies enacted within this framework possess tremendous power. At their best, they can improve quality of life, expand opportunity, and promote public wellbeing. At their worst, poorly constructed or improperly motivated policies can cause lasting social and economic harm.
In the American system, the ultimate power rests with the people, who elect representatives responsible for debating and shaping policy. Yet despite this authority, civic participation continues to decline. The U.S. Census Bureau (2012) found that nearly half of eligible Americans choose not to vote during national elections, with participation rates dropping even further during off-year elections (p. 244). Simultaneously, trust in government institutions has eroded significantly. A Pew Research Center study (2015) found that only 19 percent of Americans believed they could trust the federal government consistently, while 74 percent believed elected officials prioritized their own interests over those of the public (p. 1, 6).
This growing disconnect between the public and governing institutions has fostered frustration, cynicism, and political disengagement. However, civic involvement remains one of the most effective tools available for reform. Greater participation in the electoral process, whether through voting, advocacy, policy research, or public service, allows citizens to influence decision-making and hold institutions accountable. Meaningful reform becomes possible when individuals actively engage in shaping the policies that govern their communities and nation.
Two policy areas in particular require serious attention: public education and healthcare.
The Measure of America project, conducted by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), identified access to knowledge and the ability to live a long, healthy life as two universally valued indicators of human wellbeing (SSRC, 2019). Yet despite the United States spending more on education and healthcare than many other developed nations, outcomes often remain comparatively poor. Isabel Sawhill, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, argues in America’s Two Most Troubled Sectors that both systems continue to underperform despite massive financial investment (Sawhill, 2016).
Education remains one of the most important investments a nation can make. It promotes individual advancement, economic mobility, civic participation, and long-term societal prosperity (SSRC, 2019). However, many aspects of the current public education system remain rooted in outdated models that struggle to address the realities of modern students and communities.
One of the reasons I applied to Lehigh University’s Politics and Policy master’s program was the work being conducted by faculty members examining educational reform. In Old School Still Matters, Dr. Edward Fife outlines several key areas for improving public education, including reducing the emphasis on standardized testing, restructuring the traditional school calendar, and limiting excessive business influence within educational systems. These are issues that can be addressed through thoughtful policymaking and civic engagement.
The current educational structure frequently prioritizes standardization over individuality. Students are often evaluated through narrow academic benchmarks that fail to account for different learning styles, strengths, and personal circumstances. Students who do not conform to these expectations are frequently viewed as underperforming or disruptive rather than being supported in ways that foster their unique potential. Research into individualized learning approaches, adaptive teaching strategies, and more holistic educational environments is essential if schools are to better serve future generations.
At the same time, increasing social pressures have contributed to rising mental health concerns among young Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that depression and anxiety, two major contributing factors associated with suicide risk, have continued to rise among transitional-age youth in the United States (CDC, 2019, April 19).
The medical community has often relied heavily on psychotropic medications to address these concerns. While such medications have helped many individuals, important questions remain regarding long-term effects, pharmaceutical influence, and the quality of existing research. Brezis argues that portions of the pharmaceutical industry have used flawed or selectively interpreted data to overstate the effectiveness and safety of certain medications while minimizing associated risks (Brezis, p. 85–86). He further contends that pharmaceutical lobbying efforts have allowed manufacturers to exert significant influence over regulatory processes designed to protect public health (Brezis, p. 87).
These concerns do not invalidate the value of psychiatric medicine altogether, but they do highlight the need for more transparent research, stronger oversight, and broader discussions regarding alternative or complementary forms of treatment. Greater investment in preventative care, therapy, community-based interventions, lifestyle approaches, and research into underlying causes of mental health conditions may allow for more comprehensive and individualized care models.
Healthcare policy should prioritize patient wellbeing rather than profitability or convenience. Likewise, educational policy should prioritize student growth, adaptability, and human development rather than rigid institutional preservation.
Americans too often bear the consequences of poor policymaking by leaders who are intended to advocate on their behalf. Yet policy failures are not irreversible. Through research, civic engagement, transparency, and public accountability, institutions can evolve to better serve the people they represent.
Strong public policy should invest directly in human wellbeing. Educational systems should foster creativity, individuality, and opportunity. Healthcare systems should support effective, ethical, and evidence-based treatment focused on long-term health outcomes rather than short-term economic incentives.
When policies are designed around the needs of people rather than institutions, trust can begin to be restored, and society as a whole benefits.
