Customer Reviews

Public Sector Management: Theory, Critique and Practice (Published in association with The Open University)

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I have read many books on political science and politics. One of the most important distinguishing factors between productive literature and counterproductive literature regarding government is the degree of emotionalism. This book embraces emotionalism in every aspect of government decision making; which is contrary to the role of government. The book suggests that the role of government is to do anything and everything that the people want it to do. This is self-destructive. The role of government is to protect the people from enemies foreign and domestic, provided a judicial-punitive system, establish laws protecting life, property and trade, and to establish the fundamental necessities of an economic system. These are the natural roles of government. However, this book suggests that anything and everything else should be the domain of government as long as the people want it. Their argument? Altruism.
Government is by definition power; real power - the power to come into your house and take what it wants legally. Government is not a philanthropic institution. Altruism is not a task which governments are naturally responsible for, nor is it logical to ask government to be altruistic. Asking a government to act as philanthropy is like asking philanthropy to enforce the nation's laws, or fight wars, or establish currency.
This book is uses lofty, high-minded emotional ploys to an effort to expand government's roles and responsibilities in to genera which are dangerous to the citizens. It is a poetic excuse manual to collapse a nation from within its government.