Comments on: Lean Politics: Give Up Ideological Waste

By: Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:31:19 +0000

Your clarity is simple and brilliant. Thsi is the kind of piece that should be appearing in op eds around the country instead of the partisan dribble we currently read. The next question is obvious…how to get the effective government issue in play as versus what we have today in the public forum?

By: gordon

gordon — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:23:25 +0000

I agree that effectiveness is an important benchmark for any form of governance and I also support your arguments against the immature ideological bickering that often passes for serious debate. I enjoy your blogs (more please) but suggest that the ‘effectiveness’ argument by itself is essentially utilitarian. This is perhaps reflective of a managerialist approach which I know has currency today and which you seem to subscribe to. It may be counter-intuitive for you, but I would be interested to know what you think of an approach to governance which stresses ‘principle’(values) over consequences.

By: Jerry Eppler

Jerry Eppler — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 22:52:51 +0000

Excellent summary and analysis of the role of government and the private business sector, regarding the gulf tragedy. I now understand why Al Wilgus respected you so much as a boss.

By: Gil Miller-Muro

Gil Miller-Muro — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 20:56:22 +0000

Right on!

I fear that the lack of effective governance is being fed by our culture of debating public policy through short sound bytes on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and CNBC. Easy to swallow and simplistic, as you stated, sound bytes, from both sides of the political spectrum, will never get to the root of our problems. They will only create further divisions.

By: Jim Shaffer

Jim Shaffer — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:04:37 +0000

You are so right, Larry. It’s all about quality of government not whether or not we should have more or less. I’m getting increasingly pissed at all the rhetoric, grand standing and foolishness that demonstrates a lack of common sense and knowledge among those we’ve elected.

Thanks for putting the discussion in perspective.

Jim

By: Alan Wilgus

Alan Wilgus — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:06:32 +0000

Larry,

I enjoyed your blog, terrific insight. I agree, our national debate has exposed us as naive, partisan, and schizophrenic. Our political system has sucked us into the all-consuming game of power-politics without regard for the welfare of our nation or the effectiveness of our government. -Al

By: Jennifer Lancey

Jennifer Lancey — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:44:23 +0000

I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.