The tortoise and the hare.
If ever Aesop got it right, it is this timeless fable. Though simple, the tale of the steady and measured (albeit slow) tortoise competing against the fast and flashy (albeit cocky) hare has long given us a model for consideration. But I think there’s something often missed in the telling of this fable—the laziness of the hare and the confidence of the tortoise.
In the U.S., we’re also in the grips of a wild and unpredictable race—the 2024 election year. It’s a whirlwind of policy advocacy where it often seems the hare’s antics dominate the narrative, leaving little room for the diligent work of the tortoise. As a non-partisan research lab doing work in the policy arena, LEO faces some unique challenges during this hyperbolic season of national politics. Grandiosity and vitriol tend to peak during Presidential election years leaving less room to highlight the good work that can and must and does go on in Washington. National politics and media coverage thereof can become like watching the hare dash about—attention-grabbing, flashy, and overly sure that it matters the most.
At LEO, where we focus our policy work on advocating for the creation of and use of evidence, the grandiosity of national politics can seem daunting. The 118th Congress, in fact, is one of the least productive in recent history, with fewer bills passed in their first session than any in the past 40 years (Axios). So maybe, quality is more important than quantity? Nope. Of the 70 bills Congress passed last year, most were passed unanimously, but focused on uncontroversial and unsubstantial issues like renaming a clinic or commemorating a coin.
And yet, Kelli Rhee, president and CEO at Arnold Ventures, in outlining her hopes for President Biden’s recent State of the Union address, centered on a keyword, “bipartisanship” (Real Clear Policy). Kelli noted that despite the low productivity of Congress last year, there were key bipartisan wins focused on infrastructure, CHIPS and science, and safer communities. Furthermore, there are key bipartisan efforts at work this year including medical/hospital bill transparency, higher education, and criminal justice. It’s a testament to the enduring power of collaborative efforts, even in tumultuous times.
So if we can expect rhetoric to rule the day in the policy world, what then for evidence-based work and advocacy? Is evidence, as Aesop’s tortoise, the slow, steady foil to the flashy distractions of politics? At LEO we assert that our partisanship is to those in poverty. So, what is our next best step? We champion rigorous research methods and advocate for evidence-based policies because we believe people experiencing hardship deserve programs that work. In our reality of scarce public resources, dollars spent should be spent in the pursuit of building evidence and prioritizing proven solutions.
This year, LEO has had the privilege to work with several legislators and committees to advise on legislative text that allows for evidence to take center stage. Whether it’s funding for vital programs like SNAP, TANF, or initiatives in higher education and child welfare, our focus remains unwavering—continuing to center our advocacy work in the policy space on evidence AND on the providers at the ground level running impactful programs they’ve designed to respond to local needs. While the journey towards evidence-based policy may be slow and steady, akin to the tortoise’s stride, each step forward brings us closer to a win—better policies and better outcomes for our neighbors experiencing poverty.
Read the rest of this edition of Illuminate below!