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> A large subset of the American population believe that government can do no good . . . This is why we can't have nice things. Yup, suspicion of government is

> A large subset of the American population believe that government can do no good . . . This is why we can't have nice things. Yup, suspicion of government is the root of all evil, and TSA only act the way they do because some people don't trust them enough. Good lord.

cstross 13y ago
You're wilfully misinterpreting what I wrote. Yes, some government employees do bad things. And suspicion of government is widespread. But the response has not been to try and get better government, it's been to hamstring and hobble government instead. This wilful incompetence in governance is a peculiarly American institution. (I'd have said "unique", but I'm sure there must be at least one other nation out of the 160-odd on this planet that shares it.) And it's hugely detrimental because it contributes to low expectations which in turn lead to poor outcomes.
- growupkids 13y ago
  I have to take issue with the generalization on the number of people that feel this way, there is at least one political party that seems to be quite happy with government doing more and doing it better and I would argue both the major parties seem content to do this albeit for different pet reasons. (The republicans seen to like competent militaries and drug enforcement agencies) With that said, can you provide some examples of willfully making government incompetent (and hopefully not just anecdotes)? I don't mean to seem confrontational on your point, it's provocative to assert this is done on purpose as opposed to it simply happening on its own, so if in fact you are right that would be outrageous and wasteful set of actions to say the least. Some examples might help to put me in your camp, because I'd consider that worthy of a revolution and I am genuinely interested in your point. It's interesting. Potential counter example: NSA. They seem quite competent at their stated mission, frighteningly so. Perhaps this hobbling of government is limited to only certain functions, but not all?
  - cstross 13y ago
    Simple example: just compare IRS tax forms with HMRC here in the UK. It's as night and day. Even though they're both income tax agencies administering a complex tax code. (Yes, the hobbling of government is limited to certain functions: and even within those functions it varies considerably -- it can be argued that there's serious incompetence in the administration of big military procurement contracts, for example, but the reason is that it makes it easier to spread the pork around, which is necessary to steer any large project through to completion because of the way federal spending is administered; whereas once the horrifyingly expensive procurement program has delivered a weapons system, actually operating it is usually carried out quite effectively.)
    - ryandrake 13y ago
      The IRS 1040EZ form is one page: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040ez.pdf http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040ez.pdf The IRS 1040 is two: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf Both require no more effort than copying values from forms that are mailed to you, and some addition/subtraction-level math. I guess they could still be simpler, but come on, it's less work than opening a bank account or filling out your medical history every time you visit a new doctor.

cstross 13y ago

You're wilfully misinterpreting what I wrote. Yes, some government employees do bad things. And suspicion of government is widespread. But the response has not been to try and get better government, it's been to hamstring and hobble government instead. This wilful incompetence in governance is a peculiarly American institution. (I'd have said "unique", but I'm sure there must be at least one other nation out of the 160-odd on this planet that shares it.) And it's hugely detrimental because it contributes to low expectations which in turn lead to poor outcomes.

growupkids 13y ago
I have to take issue with the generalization on the number of people that feel this way, there is at least one political party that seems to be quite happy with government doing more and doing it better and I would argue both the major parties seem content to do this albeit for different pet reasons. (The republicans seen to like competent militaries and drug enforcement agencies) With that said, can you provide some examples of willfully making government incompetent (and hopefully not just anecdotes)? I don't mean to seem confrontational on your point, it's provocative to assert this is done on purpose as opposed to it simply happening on its own, so if in fact you are right that would be outrageous and wasteful set of actions to say the least. Some examples might help to put me in your camp, because I'd consider that worthy of a revolution and I am genuinely interested in your point. It's interesting. Potential counter example: NSA. They seem quite competent at their stated mission, frighteningly so. Perhaps this hobbling of government is limited to only certain functions, but not all?
- cstross 13y ago
  Simple example: just compare IRS tax forms with HMRC here in the UK. It's as night and day. Even though they're both income tax agencies administering a complex tax code. (Yes, the hobbling of government is limited to certain functions: and even within those functions it varies considerably -- it can be argued that there's serious incompetence in the administration of big military procurement contracts, for example, but the reason is that it makes it easier to spread the pork around, which is necessary to steer any large project through to completion because of the way federal spending is administered; whereas once the horrifyingly expensive procurement program has delivered a weapons system, actually operating it is usually carried out quite effectively.)
  - ryandrake 13y ago
    The IRS 1040EZ form is one page: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040ez.pdf http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040ez.pdf The IRS 1040 is two: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf Both require no more effort than copying values from forms that are mailed to you, and some addition/subtraction-level math. I guess they could still be simpler, but come on, it's less work than opening a bank account or filling out your medical history every time you visit a new doctor.