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If bureaucrats/technocrats "guard" us against "populists", who guards them? Most bureaucrats and technocrats are just like any other human beings: often partis

If bureaucrats/technocrats "guard" us against "populists", who guards them? Most bureaucrats and technocrats are just like any other human beings: often partisan, selfish and not decisively more able to distinguish a "good" decision from a bad one. At best statecraft is the ultimate field for The Iron Law of Bureaucracy https://www.jerrypournelle.com/reports/jerryp/iron.html https://www.jerrypournelle.com/reports/jerryp/iron.html

perl4ever 7y ago
Would you talk about soldiers, police officers, teachers, and firefighters the same way? The word "bureaucrat" is just a catchall term for the people who work for the government and can't possibly be important or decent people because they don't occupy any mental space in your head.
- natmaka 7y ago
  > The word "bureaucrat" is just a catchall term for the people who work for the government "People who work for the government" are "civil servants" (or "public servants") A bureaucrat is a member of an "administrative system governing a large institution". Each civil servant has some power when it comes to do what/how he wants to. On this behalf bureaucrats and (even more) technocrats are among the most powerful. > soldiers A soldier must obey (nearly) blindly, becoming a mere instrument for brass. Brass bureaucrats/technocrats have their own political agenda, and many adjust their actions accordingly. > police officers Most aren't bureaucrats. Theoretically they enforce laws, even if they don't agree with them. In practice many adjust their actions according to their own political agenda. > teachers Most aren't bureaucrats. Many teach according to their own political agenda, or just guard while repeating state propaganda. > firefighters Most aren't bureaucrats/technocrats. Moreover their field is not politically-loaded (nearly everyone agrees about what they have to do, and how).

perl4ever 7y ago

Would you talk about soldiers, police officers, teachers, and firefighters the same way? The word "bureaucrat" is just a catchall term for the people who work for the government and can't possibly be important or decent people because they don't occupy any mental space in your head.

natmaka 7y ago
> The word "bureaucrat" is just a catchall term for the people who work for the government "People who work for the government" are "civil servants" (or "public servants") A bureaucrat is a member of an "administrative system governing a large institution". Each civil servant has some power when it comes to do what/how he wants to. On this behalf bureaucrats and (even more) technocrats are among the most powerful. > soldiers A soldier must obey (nearly) blindly, becoming a mere instrument for brass. Brass bureaucrats/technocrats have their own political agenda, and many adjust their actions accordingly. > police officers Most aren't bureaucrats. Theoretically they enforce laws, even if they don't agree with them. In practice many adjust their actions according to their own political agenda. > teachers Most aren't bureaucrats. Many teach according to their own political agenda, or just guard while repeating state propaganda. > firefighters Most aren't bureaucrats/technocrats. Moreover their field is not politically-loaded (nearly everyone agrees about what they have to do, and how).