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Hear commentary by Paul Light on why young, talented workers are steering clear of jobs in the federal government (from National Public Radio).
The federal government is having increasing difficulty faithfully executing the laws, which is what Alexander Hamilton called “the true test” of a good government. This book diagnoses the symptoms, explains their general causes, and proposes ways to improve the effectiveness of the federal government. Employing Hamilton’s seven measures of an energetic federal service, Paul Light shows how the government is wanting in each measure.
After assessing the federal report card, Light offers a comprehensive agenda for reform, including new laws limiting the number of political appointees, reducing the layers of government management, reducing the size of government as its baby-boom employees retire, revitalizing the federal career, and reducing the heavy outsourcing of federal work. Although there are many ways to fix each of the seven problems with government, only a comprehensive agenda will bring the kind of reform needed to reverse the overall erosion of the capacity to faithfully execute all the laws.
(20080514)
Says the hidden storyReviewed by Thomas M. Magee, 2009-09-25
This is a good book. I highly recommend it to anyone who is a
political junkie or a government insider. Paul Light says some
things that no one else is saying. He really uncovers what is truly
happening to government that effects how it operates.
This book is primarily an academic book. It is not written in a way
to excite. However it is very well documented. His work comes
primarily from his own research. Paul also bases his book in basic
theory, quoting Jefferson and Hamilton, and the Federalist papers
frequently throughout the book. The book is very well organized.
The ideas are laid out in a nice easy to understand manor that gets
well wrapped up in the end.
The book is kind of tame. His points are buried in facts. He does
mention something no one else anywhere does. Paul Light talks about
the secret growth of government. He documents the size of
government that Washington seems to try to hide. The secret
government is the growth of government contracts. The ratio of
contractors in 90 was like 1 to 3. Now the ration is 5 or 6 to 1.
These contractors frequently costs twice as much as civil servants.
I also like his point about how reform has become a shell game. The
government is constantly reforming, a point which he documents
well. This constant change does take attention away from true
performance. I also like his point about the retirement wave
lurking in the near future. This is a huge event that people in
Washington seem to want to avoid. Every now and then someone talks
about it. However there hasn't been much increase in hiring to
match the words.
I think if you work in the system or are a very serious student of
the system you need to read the book. It will open up your eyes to
some points that go against the grain and you haven't thought about
before.
A well reasoned view of governmentReviewed by M3BRZ, 2008-09-03
Paul Light, an academic specialist in government affairs, provides a cogent, sell referenced view of government as it is, versus how it should be. Strongly recommended for those working in, or interested in governmental affairs.
A Government Ill ExecutedReviewed by Catherine Desmarattes, 2008-08-14
I purchased this book for class. I don't regret buying it. It was very informative. I would recommend it to anyone interested in public administration.
Reversing the decline of the federal serviceReviewed by Dwight Ink, 2008-07-15
"A Government Ill Executed" by Paul Light is the most useful book I
have read recently concerning the operation of our federal
government. He finds it plagued by poor execution, citing such
familiar examples as negligent medical care of veterans, contract
problems in Iraq, and the Katrina debacle, a decline he is eager to
reverse.
Light goes back to Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, finding
traces of each in the strengths and weaknesses of our modern
government. In fact, the theme of the book is similar to that of
Alexander Hamilton when he argued in Federalist Paper No. 70 that
"a government ill executed is a bad government."
Much of this very readable book is devoted to problems that Light
believes have led to a significant decline in the effectiveness of
the federal government. For example, he describes the increased
layering of the federal government and the growing number of
low-level political appointees that slow government processes and
dilute accountability. Light laments the current conditions that
reduce the ability of government to attract talented men and women
to the federal career service, and once in government, reduces
their incentive to remain.
In citing these and other growing deficiencies, Light suggests the
need for a bold attack to reverse this decline, pointing out that
addressing only one problem at a time will have little impact. To
move beyond merely tinkering with change, he urges a packaging of
actions that address a number of interrelated problems. His agenda
lists 28 specific changes designed to restore a more energetic
federal service. Recognizing the challenges in building sufficient
consensus to achieve this ambitious goal, Light suggests that it
may take a national commission on government restructuring to
advance a successful comprehensive reform.
Paul Light's timely package of reform ideas deserves careful
consideration by the presidential transition teams of both Senators
McCain and Obama.
A Must-Read for federal government managementReviewed by Richard J. Stillman, 2008-07-14
Paul Light's "A Government Well-Executed" is a must-read, not only
for students of government, but for anyone who wants the federal
government to perform better. It astutely synthesizes the
managerial issues that need to be addressed today and lays out
realistically what must be done to remedy these urgent problems.
There is no book available that does a better job -- clearly,
concisely, comprehensively.
Richard Stillman
Editor in Chief
Public Administration Quarterly
