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I think it is Clay Shirky who said something to the effect that bureaucracies have every incentive to not solve problems. Otherwise the reason for the bureaucra

I think it is Clay Shirky who said something to the effect that bureaucracies have every incentive to not solve problems. Otherwise the reason for the bureaucrats' existence would cease. We won't see solutions from the US government. Ever. Yes the tax stuff is painful but as in your case there are reasons to keep the citizenship.

M2Ys4U 13y ago
The bureaucracy expands to meet the expanding needs of the bureaucracy.
bayesianhorse 13y ago
Actually bureaucracy was invented to battle corruption. But back then you really couldn't call it corruption, because without bureaucracy there were no rules or laws that could be faithfully executed or their faithful execution monitored. Kleptocracy and outright feudalism was the norm. So in essence, without bureaucracy there is no corruption just as there is no shadow without the light. Whenever bureaucracy has to be simplified, keep in mind that the potential for abuse usually increases unless the legislators take very much care.
acchow 13y ago
Tried to find this quote but failed. Any chance you could dig it up? I love it :)
saalweachter 13y ago
I think blaming bureaucracy in general is giving a free pass to Congress. A lot of the federal government is fully aware of their problems, and knows solutions, but they are not authorized dictate policy (except in small, limited ways) or otherwise enact solutions ... they are following their mandate set up by Congress. Congress sets up the bureaucracy to fail, and then blames it for failing. The classic example is the USPS, which is micromanaged by Congress and then berated when the micromanagement produces the expected failure. So blame Congress.
Terr_ 13y ago
That's like saying that programmers have no incentive to solve buggy systems, because otherwise their reason to exist would disappear. Sure, there are probably a nonzero number of folks making their own job-security out there, but in both cases you'll find plenty of people who would be happy to have the system work better and who have some professional pride in it.

M2Ys4U 13y ago

The bureaucracy expands to meet the expanding needs of the bureaucracy.

bayesianhorse 13y ago

Actually bureaucracy was invented to battle corruption. But back then you really couldn't call it corruption, because without bureaucracy there were no rules or laws that could be faithfully executed or their faithful execution monitored. Kleptocracy and outright feudalism was the norm. So in essence, without bureaucracy there is no corruption just as there is no shadow without the light. Whenever bureaucracy has to be simplified, keep in mind that the potential for abuse usually increases unless the legislators take very much care.

acchow 13y ago

Tried to find this quote but failed. Any chance you could dig it up? I love it :)

saalweachter 13y ago

I think blaming bureaucracy in general is giving a free pass to Congress. A lot of the federal government is fully aware of their problems, and knows solutions, but they are not authorized dictate policy (except in small, limited ways) or otherwise enact solutions ... they are following their mandate set up by Congress. Congress sets up the bureaucracy to fail, and then blames it for failing. The classic example is the USPS, which is micromanaged by Congress and then berated when the micromanagement produces the expected failure. So blame Congress.

Terr_ 13y ago

That's like saying that programmers have no incentive to solve buggy systems, because otherwise their reason to exist would disappear. Sure, there are probably a nonzero number of folks making their own job-security out there, but in both cases you'll find plenty of people who would be happy to have the system work better and who have some professional pride in it.