Dismantling Democratic States (Princeton Studies in American Politics)

Rating:
Summary: A Book For The 2004 Election
Review: There is no doubt in my mind that public servants are easy targets for politicians and that this will continue (btw -- I am not a govt employee). But in the current environment where the typical citizen has a new found respect for firemen, policemen, health professionals, military personnel, and those civil servants that support them, logic would dictate that perhaps the more enlightened politicians will adopt a less reformist approach in coming elections.

Of course, that would mean they would have to specifically talk about their actual policy views, and how those policies would determine the manner in which these public resources are utilized.

It would be nice if one of the candidates read Prof. Suleiman's book and took the refreshing approach of applauding our civil servants and the institutions they work for. Maybe the material inefficiency of government is not to be found in the civil servants or the institutions themselves -- but is more likely a function of ill-defined policy coming down from senior elected officials.

On a final note, once my wife finishes the book, I am sending my slightly used copy to my Senator. I encourage all the other readers of this book to do the same (Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, whatever). My hope is that it will do more good there than sitting on my bookshelf.