> Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 16:19:40 -0700 (PDT) > Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Tom Walker) > Subject: [PEN-L:11893] Re: Risk and Unequal Opportunity under cap > ulterior motivation of bureaucrats, politicians or voters. In other words, > bureaucrats may sincerely believe it is better *public policy* to fail > conventionally, not merely a career expedient. ;-) Obviously the probabilities of success have everything to do with the relative merits of going by convention or otherwise. By definition, convention would connote that which is more reliable, hence bureaucratic rationality follows for the slogan cited. The penalty side is also worth mentioning. The penalty for failing unconventionally would be higher than failing conventionally. (e.g., "You tried WHAT?!?") I worked in the Federal bureaucracy for a few years and the biggest secret I have to impart is that bureaucrats act entirely at the behest of elected officials. Every nook and cranny of the bureaucracy has a patron somewhere; otherwise it wouldn't be there. If you don't obey your patron, you're toast. Your only defense is information you have and they don't, but there is always some traitor among your peers willing to give you up, so information isn't that useful either. Hence *insofar* as voters get the politicians they deserve, they get the bureaucracy they deserve too. All of which doesn't seem without merit from a democratic standpoint. MBS ================================================== Max B. Sawicky Economic Policy Institute [EMAIL PROTECTED] Suite 1200 202-775-8810 (voice) 1660 L Street, NW 202-775-0819 (fax) Washington, DC 20036 Opinions here do not necessarily represent the views of anyone associated with the Economic Policy Institute. ===================================================
