TED Conversations

David Hamilton

Foolish Marketing Solutions

TEDCRED 50+

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

I don't believe government is an efficient tool for solving problems. I want my representatives to believe it can be, then prove it.

I think most politicians, worldwide, across parties and systems of government, are so caught up in the sport of it all... That in essence, they forget their primary responsibility, to efficiently manage, and use the resources of government.

People on both sides of issues in any country, will often talk about how their side wants to solve problems but the other side gets in the way... but I'm actually not talking about problems, or issues, I'm talking about governance, as management of the bureaucracy. People aren’t just elected to shrink or expand government, or sign policy, they are also elected as managers, or appointers of management, and most of them do a terrible job.

Having spent over a decade in the part time employ of the federal government, I can tell you, who you elect, makes a difference on the ground… Sometimes. People who truly believe that government can be used to efficiently solve problems, take the management part of their job seriously. People who do not believe in governments ability to solve problems, do not take this responsibility seriously.

I worked under appointees, that were across the spectrum, from ultra right, to ultra left. In general, the difference is simple, one group wants you to buy stuff, one wants you to hire people, they’re both stupid.
There is one group of people, however, on both sides of the spectrum, that the bureaucracy must constantly fear. People who believe government cannot do good. Why? Is it just fear of firings or layoffs? NO! The exact opposite.

People who do not believe that government can solve problems, appoint their friends to high paying government positions. They give huge government contracts to incompetent agencies intentionally, and they never fire anyone… Why? They believe, that‘s what everyone is doing.

Keynesians, on the left, meanwhile, are just as bad, because they believe it doesn’t matter how you spend, just spend. That doesn't get problems solved.

Thoughts?

+1
Share:

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.

  • thumb

    Robert Winner 50+

    • 0
    Jun 29 2012: David, Edward Long is on top of this. My comment is that the problem with government is us. We had a Senator in office for over 50 years in Arizona and he passed one bill the Salt River Project Canal. The current senior senator from Arizona is deeply impressed and in love with himself. To my knowledge he has never passed a bill for the state of Arizona. In both cases these people should have been put on notice and if no improvement is noted then removed from office. These people vote themselves raises and perks and have not "earned" the salary. They exempt themselves from Obamacare and kept their free and expensive medical care, they voted raises and a large retirement package for only two terms of office. They are exempt and immune from the very laws they pass for us. They need to be held accountable and available for prosecution when proven illegal acts have happened.

    Only then will government become responsible and conduct themselves in the manner the Constitution and founding fathers outlined.

    Without consequences there cannot and will not be any chages effected.

    All the best. Bob.

    • Philip Crume

      • 0
      Jun 29 2012: This is a good example of why the US is in trouble. It's called a Confirmation Bias: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

      Senator McCain has done a lot more than just one project, here's his legislative record: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/browse?sponsor=300071

      Members of Congress already have healthcare. Obamacare doesn't apply. The main point of Obamacare is that the pool of insured people have enough healthy people to offset the unhealthy, and thereby bring down costs for everyone.

      There's a viral Internet meme going around about Congressional pay, perks, and pensions. Sadly lies spread 100x faster than the truth. Here's an about.com article on that topic: http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm .

      I agree that there are some improvements that need to be made. But if we're going to change anything, let's start with the things that are actually broken.

      There's nothing in the world harder than seeing something that looks true, that makes you angry, before sharing it or talking about it with your friends, to first verify sources and facts.
    • thumb

      David Hamilton 50+

      • 0
      Jul 2 2012: I agree that the problem is us. I just want to point out that solutions to the problem will come from neither side of the current political spectrum, so we must abandon them, and replace them with something functional.
      • thumb

        Robert Winner 50+

        • 0
        Jul 2 2012: I agree. Many people dropped affiliation with the Dems and repubs and registered as independents. That is not a solution it is however a strong statement that the two have departed from the needs,wants, and desires of the people. The problem with adding a valid third party it works to the advantage of one of the current parties in most cases because it splits the vote. The two parties are so entrenched that I t think it would be hard to abandon them. The sad truth is that any system is subject to the same corruption that has infected these two. Thanks for the comment.

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.