from the book: Shadow Dancing on the Grave of Hope:
"The real and effectual discipline which is exercised over a workman is not that of his corporation, but that of his customers. It is the fear of losing their employment which restrains his frauds and corrects his negligence. (italics added)" Adam Smith. "Corporation", in our time would be equivalent to an exclusive union, backed by government coercion, which grants exclusive dominion over a particular profession so that no one can practice that trade and customers can be taken for granted such as public school teachers or public prosecutors. No one gets fired for incompetence, the customer has no say in the delivery of the service and things get worse over time.
When this situation prevails, outrage breaks out periodically and "reform" occurs with fanfare and promise. None of these reforms reform, so that nothing changes except that things get worse. The workers are protected against incompetence and the taxpayers against competence.
The nature of the incompetence is not predictable, but its inevitability is. Bizarre usage is common in public and publically protected enterprises and these will be outlined in the coming months. but it is the lack of economic discipline from the customers, the lack of consequences, which is at the base of all. Watch and see as I outline them. As a case in point, watch GM (government motors) and Chrysler deteriorate even further under the astute governance of political and union managers. It will be political theater at its finest as face is saved and assets and sales decline.
Cheerio and ttfn,
Grant Coulson
