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The whole trick of designing institutions is to make sure that when they act for their own self-preservation (as they will and do) they will simultaneously be a
by pmb 14y ago
The whole trick of designing institutions is to make sure that when they act for their own self-preservation (as they will and do) they will simultaneously be achieving the goal we want them to be achieving.
- betterunix 14y agoSo what is the TSA's goal with airport security?
- joshuahedlund 14y agoHow do you design institutions to correct for this, anyway? In general, if you set up an institution to solve a problem, there is an incentive not to actually solve the problem because it would eliminate the need for the institution's existence...
- Firehed 14y agoSo, ensure that organizations that fail to achieve their goal go away? This isn't complicated: if you want to keep your job, you need to do it, and meet some sort of standard in doing so. The problem is we've somehow managed to create organizations that continue to exist even when they completely fail to accomplish the intended tasks. Once your method of self-preservation shifts from "functioning" to "lobbying", the whole thing needs to be dismantled. The TSA is fortunate in that they have other people lobbying on their behalf, but that doesn't change the fact that they exist due to legislation rather than effectiveness.
- r00fus 14y agoThe TSA has acheived this goal, if by "we" you mean the military/security industrial complex that employs millions and costs tax payers trillions.