Editing Goo-goos

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The '''goo-goos''', or '''good government''' guys, were political groups working in the early 20th century to reform urban municipal governments in the [[United States]] that were dominated by graft and corruption. Goo-goos supported candidates who would fight for political reform. The term was first used in the 1890s by their detractors.

In [[New York City]], the exclusive [[City Club of New York]] was the domain of "goo-goos," who sponsored "Good Government Clubs" in every assembly district. Their efforts led to the election of a reform mayor in 1894, a setback for  the political machine known as [[Tammany Hall]].

Members of several political reform movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were often labeled as goo-goos, including the [[Mugwump]]s and the [[Progressives]]. While old political labels like ''mugwump'' and ''progressive'' have been reinvented several times, and have shifted in meaning as a result, the term goo-goo still has political currency, and has changed little since it was first used in the late 19th century.

In American politics, the term is still used occasionally as a mildly derisive label for high-minded citizens or reformers. [[Mike Royko]], a [[Chicago]] political columnist of the late 20th century, revived the word without reinventing it. Royko was a critic and astute observer of Chicago politics. When Royko wrote about the "goo-goos" along [[Lake Shore Drive]], he may even have agreed with them, but [[Slats Grobnik]], his fictional Chicagoan, was very cynical about them.

==In popular culture==
*In the eighth episode of the TV series [[Boss_(TV_series)#Season_2_.282012.29|''Boss'', season 2]] ("Consequence"), [[Alderman]] William Ross tells Mayor Thomas Kane that Ross can deliver goo-goos' votes (along with those of other voters he controls), in exchange for Kane's giving Ross leeway to appoint four [[ward boss]]es.
* In ''[[Of Mice and Men]]'' by [[John Steinbeck]], in telling George about his preferred "parlour", Whit observes that in addition to clean girls, and comfortable chairs, the proprietress (Susy), "Don't let no goo-goos in, neither."

==See also==
*[[Good governance]]

==References==

* {{Cite book |last=Mariner |first=James L. |url=https://archive.org/details/graftersgoogoosc0000merr/ |title=Grafters and Goo Goos: Corruption and Reform in Chicago, 1833-2003 |publisher=Southern Illinois University Press |year=2004 |isbn=0-8093-2571-3 |location=Carbondale, IL |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last=Moe |first=Doug |title=The World of Mike Royko |publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |year=1999 |isbn=0-299-16540-X}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/urbanbossesmachi00stav/ |title=Urban Bosses, Machines and Progressive Reformers |publisher=D. C. Heath and Co. |year=1984 |isbn=0-89874-119-X |editor-last=Stave |editor-first=Bruce M. |location=Lexington, MA |url-access=registration}}

[[Category:Political terminology of the United States]]
[[Category:Tammany Hall]]