Ever since our
government led our country to victory in WW2, we've tended to believe that
pretty much any challenge can be similarly overcome. Hey, we got our act
together and put a man on the moon, didn't we?
Lately, we seem
to be having problems with this approach. Many reasons are offered by our
politicians and media. I'm sure you have your favorite. But none deal with the
role of motivation throughout all areas of government.
An example of
how problems arise when motivation is ignored can be found in our interventions
in other countries (particularly in the Middle East and Africa). We don't seem
to understand that in many countries democracy is seen as a threat to their
power structures, cultures, and social order.
Similarly, we
expect our politicians, government agencies and employees to act in our
interests when their motivations pull them elsewhere. It's not that they
deliberately act against us, but that their culture and motivations concentrate
their minds on other objectives.
An example: In
the recent trial of Whitey Bulger, and in his biography written by Kevin Cullen
and Shelley Murphy, we see the complicity of the FBI acting almost as a
co-conspirator in murders and other crimes. The agents involved were not acting
alone as rogue agents. And the in-fighting among various crime fighting
bureaucracies is enough to make a taxpayer nauseous.
This is not the
first time the FBI has been involved in scandals and egregious incompetence.
Think back to J. Edgar Hoover, his secret files, blackmail, and concentration on
favorable publicity. 9/11 might not have happened if it were not for the
combined negligence of the FBI, CIA, and FAA. The intelligence community seems
to be particularly disposed to turf fighting, and politicians try to cope by
reallocating 'missions', personnel, and budgets. But other agencies are right in
there, ever expanding--watch the TSA. The sheer size of government (the number
of agencies, departments, employees) overwhelms attempts at managing for
results, especially by politicians whose hearts and minds are concentrated
elsewhere.
F. Scott
Fitzgerald once wrote, "The rich are not like you and me." And neither are the
folks working in, and for, government--particularly in DC. Their culture, their
role models, their aspirations, the way they socialize are all different. Out in
the hinterlands, folks seek reward by producing something that's worth more than
it cost, but it's not for them to judge--customers do that. Now, that's a check
and balance.
One way to make
a major dent in the problems, of which we see only a few examples above, is to
change the motivation of our elected representatives--get them to see themselves
as working for us. As it is, we can't even get their attention. By now, you know
that reform will not come from within; no matter how many emails you send, or
who you vote for. And remember Einstein--Insanity: Keep trying the same
solutions, expecting a different result.
STRIKE,
is now available
in paperback. You can obtain it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble (use title and my
full name). Or, from me $12.00 post paid.
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