tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post9215138623751603769..comments2024-03-19T11:28:58.168-04:00Comments on History Unfolding: Lessons of the Iranian NIEDavid Kaiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020082243968071584noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-61450664630261777982007-12-09T08:38:00.000-05:002007-12-09T08:38:00.000-05:00Not surprising nor exclusive to spying that CIA ag...Not surprising nor exclusive to spying that CIA agents would withhold information from each other and their management. Information is power in a bureaucracy.<BR/><BR/>This can be overcome somewhat by an enlightened management that shares credit with the underlings and makes it clear that it sees them as essential to the enterprise.<BR/><BR/>But enlightened management is as rare in bureaucracy as anywhere else. The problem is that there are few other motivations (like profit) to share information, so each rational participant must weigh each sharing of information for its value to him/herself. And far too often, that value can be not just a wash, but actively deleterious.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://whirledview.typepad.com" REL="nofollow">CKR</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-5843776836299623552007-12-08T12:15:00.000-05:002007-12-08T12:15:00.000-05:00Nice post, David. You might want to reflect on the...Nice post, David. You might want to reflect on the distorting effects of money on the democratic process. Career bureaucrats are relatively poor. As a result, they can be intimidated by threats of job loss, demotion, or loss of reputation (that hits future earning power). The Bushes and Cheneys of the world are independently wealthy so they have no fear of what I call "economic terrorism". Take a look around. Any dissent in this country is punished by attacking someone's economic security (i.e. their job or if that fails with a costly lawsuit). In a sense, the aristocracy is fighting back against the democratic project. <BR/><BR/>P.S. When I first came to this country 10 years ago I couldn't believe the low voter turnout at elections. Having seen the immense spending by lobbyists to buy the right candidate (democrat or repulican) I can understand the reluctance to vote for either side.StVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01686116077008419756noreply@blogger.com