Understanding the Reality and Yes, Often the Necessity of Bureaucracy

By Lance Winslow
For those who are constantly criticizing government, perhaps, they need to understand a little more about what it is, how it works, why we need it, and the reality of the bureaucracy. Not long ago, I met an interesting gentleman and he had been a successful entrepreneur and then later decided to become a county commissioner. It's good to see such folks working in government, and we need more of them because they bring a good deal of expertise from the private sector into government; and it's really needed.

However, make no mistake government is not a business with a profit motive, nor should it try to become that. A good book to read on this topic is;

"Bureaucracy" by Ludwig van Misses,

and I highly recommend it. When I recommended it to the gentleman above, he figured he knew enough about bureaucracy and business and didn't feel he'd learn anything; I disagree completely.

You see, my thoughts are it rationalizes both sides of the argument. As an entrepreneur, I hated that every time I turned around some government agency was telling me what I could and couldn't do, some form had to be filled out, some tax, fee, fine, assessment, etc had to be paid, or that because there is no law against it, I couldn't do it, until they made up rules to govern whatever it was I was doing.

And by the time I was done with all the nonsense, I couldn't make any money at whatever it was I was doing, and there was no real reason for any of it, as the opportunity in the market had then passed. You know like "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and so, this book "Bureaucracy" rationalizes all the things I was tired of dealing with.

Indeed, maybe you or this gentleman about wouldn't learn much from this book, as in how your agency or business runs, but you will shake your head in agreement through most of it, and it is economic philosophy anyway, so it's pretty decent. Everyone should read it, and it should be required reading at MBA schools and required government administration degrees; also, everyone who studies political science, or votes; so, basically everyone.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes that if you want book reviews then you need to mail him your book, and if it's good you'll get a decent book review, but if not, you'll be sorry! http://www.bloggingcontent.net

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