From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Mon Jul 07 2003 - 21:45:31 MDT
Brett writes
> > What possible incentive do government employees have to cut spending?
>
> First, to be clear, I wasn't saying that *government employees*,
> (as opposed to government ministers), either as a class, or as
> individuals do have such an incentive....
> A minister hands down a need to a department head for a
> 10% cut and the department head looks for the ways to
> realise that cut or tries to oppose the cut as the department
> head sees fit. Some negotiation may ensue by a competent
> department head will at least go back to the minister armed
> with information that supports his case. The department
> head sends a message down to his/her subordinates look for
> ways to cut costs. Those that find them, perhaps at pointing
> out inefficiencies due to technological change that make say
> a few old clerical types redundant will probably be rewarded.
Oh, they'll be rewarded all right: probably a larger
office, and a few new and extra subordinates. All
at taxpayer expense, of course. No actual savings
will occur except in vanishingly few instances.
> Human nature being what it is not all the recommendations for
> employee cuts will be motivated by the higher good.
With almost superhuman effort, I refrain from the requisite
sarcastic comment here.
> Some will want to settle old scores, remove competitors,
> use the opportunities in the restructure to alter their
> competitive position.
Say it's not so!
(After all, I'm only human.)
> I am inferring from your question a view that government
> employees see themselves as a class and that their class
> loyalties are not easily shaken up. I think this is mistaken.
No, I was not thinking that at all. They were and are
firmly, IMO, putting #1 ahead of every other consideration.
> Other loyalties in the case of almost all individuals that
> happen to be government employees, such as loyalty
> to oneself, one's family, one's friends, and even to the
> ideal of good public service will in some cases if not
> almost all cases be stronger.
Well, I'd rank them like this:
1. how does the change affect ME?
2. how does the change affect ME?
3. how does the change affect ME?
4. how does the change affect ME?
5. how does the change affect ME?
6. how does the change affect my retirement?
7. how does the change affect my cronies?
8. how does the change affect my boss?
etc. etc.
26. how does this affect my political party?
and finally,
73. how does this affect my world or the country.
Number 86, "how does this live up to my ideal of 'good public service'
is not on my list because government bureaucrats quickly lose their
youthful and naive ideals.
Lee
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