3 ms·

The US government is not corrupt. It is, however, a government. Governments do not achieve efficiency because they have no feedback mechanism to allow them to

The US government is not corrupt. It is, however, a government. Governments do not achieve efficiency because they have no feedback mechanism to allow them to. Show me a machine or electronic circuit or software without feedback, and I will show you a system that either does not work at all, or, in order to work, has been over-engineered (that's code for not an optimal solution == inefficient). Complex systems must be closed-loop in order to be efficient, else, even if they magically were engineered optimally as open-loop, some non-linearity in the system will eventually undo that miracle. Governments are open loop. I like the circularity of your statement though. As soon as it's working well, then it will be working well!

jibiki 18y ago
> The US government is not corrupt. Fannie Mae? > Governments do not achieve efficiency because they have no feedback mechanism to allow them to. Elections? Defaults? > I like the circularity of your statement though. As soon as it's working well, then it will be working well! I merely meant to point out that the government has the potential for greater efficiency.
- DanielBMarkham 18y ago
  A single entity with hundreds of different concerns working on a multi-year feedback loop which only replaces individual participants beats thousands of different entities working on a single concern with a monthly (or daily) feedback loop which has a do-or-die result? hmmmm.
  - jibiki 18y ago
    I certainly didn't say that government is more efficient than business, I can't imagine where you got that from.
    - DanielBMarkham 18y ago
      I merely meant to point out that the government has the potential for greater efficiency. I must be taking that quote out of context. Greater efficiency than what? Perhaps you meant that it has a potential for greater efficiency than something with no feedback loop at all? My fault. Didn't read far enough back in the chain. Apologies.
      - jibiki 18y ago
        > Greater efficiency than what? Greater efficiency than it has now. I guess my point is that there are many worthy government projects, but increasing the tax base won't help, since the extra money will just end up being captured by the same interests that capture it now.

jibiki 18y ago

> The US government is not corrupt. Fannie Mae? > Governments do not achieve efficiency because they have no feedback mechanism to allow them to. Elections? Defaults? > I like the circularity of your statement though. As soon as it's working well, then it will be working well! I merely meant to point out that the government has the potential for greater efficiency.

DanielBMarkham 18y ago
A single entity with hundreds of different concerns working on a multi-year feedback loop which only replaces individual participants beats thousands of different entities working on a single concern with a monthly (or daily) feedback loop which has a do-or-die result? hmmmm.
- jibiki 18y ago
  I certainly didn't say that government is more efficient than business, I can't imagine where you got that from.
  - DanielBMarkham 18y ago
    I merely meant to point out that the government has the potential for greater efficiency. I must be taking that quote out of context. Greater efficiency than what? Perhaps you meant that it has a potential for greater efficiency than something with no feedback loop at all? My fault. Didn't read far enough back in the chain. Apologies.
    - jibiki 18y ago
      > Greater efficiency than what? Greater efficiency than it has now. I guess my point is that there are many worthy government projects, but increasing the tax base won't help, since the extra money will just end up being captured by the same interests that capture it now.