The Profits of Distrust

Reviews / Votes

'Teodoro, Zuhlke, and Switzer make a compelling case that trust in water and trust in government are intimately linked. The implications for water professionals are profound. When we excel, we advance both public health and civic engagement. When we fail - or when others intentionally feed distrust - the result is disillusionment.' David B. LaFrance, Chief Executive Officer, American Water Works Association 'The Profits of Distrust demonstrates a far-reaching consequence of America's infrastructure crisis: as pipes crumble, so does the public's confidence in government. What's more, the authors show that distrust is contagious and leads those who are most politically marginalized to rely on more expensive, and less trustworthy, private providers for essential public services. This enlightening book links the mechanics of service delivery to our democratic ideals, and suggests how both might be repaired.' Megan Mullin, Professor of Environmental Politics, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University 'Water is the stuff of life, but it's also the river that runs through every corner of politics. In this fascinating new book, Teodoro, Zuhlke, and Switzer explore the values that shape the big decisions about water, from the distribution of one of government's most important resources to the big puzzles of inequality that play themselves out in water policy. This is a great book about how politics affects water and how water affects politics.' Donald F. Kettl, Professor Emeritus and Former Dean, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland '... a judicious, important contribution to the literature on public policy. ... Highly recommended.' D. L. Feldman, Choice