The hottest Bureaucracy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Pottinger on Trump 2.0

ChinaTalk • 296 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy National Security Bureaucracy Pandemic response
  1. What leaders say matters - whether it's during speeches or impulsive tweets, it's important to take them seriously.
  2. High-level engagement is crucial in US-China relations - having Presidents engage directly can ensure important messages are communicated.
  3. Strategic ambiguity in foreign policy may need to be revised - particularly in the context of US commitment to defend Taiwan.

Links to Consider

In My Tribe • 394 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Education Government Non-profit Bureaucracy
  1. American colleges and universities have traditionally been prestigious, but recent actions have diminished their value, creating opportunities for disruption.
  2. The surge in new business formation in the US, following the pandemic, showcases the adaptability and innovation of American capitalism.
  3. Complex social problems require precise knowledge for effective solutions, and both government interventions and social activism may fall short in addressing them.

Is the NSC Unwell?

ChinaTalk • 207 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security Foreign Policy Bureaucracy
  1. The organizational design of the NSC leads to crushing burdens for midlevel and senior staffers.
  2. Working in government is demanding and takes a toll on health, thus requiring a steady influx of talent.
  3. National security decisions require trust-building among various stakeholders and can be uniquely challenging due to high stakes and limited bandwidth.

Never Underestimate the Power of Unfinished Business

Who is Robert Malone • 21 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Policy Law Bureaucracy Elections
  1. The Senior Executive Service (SES) plays a big role in how U.S. government agencies operate. These employees are appointed and have job security, making it hard for presidents to remove them.
  2. Political changes often affect the SES and its policies. For example, President Trump tried to create a new classification for federal jobs, but President Biden quickly repealed it.
  3. Recent court decisions are shifting the balance of power between federal agencies and the judicial system. This could make it harder for agencies like the SES to hold onto their power without clear support from the law.
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Of Napoleon and Kafka: A (Brief) Genealogy of Power, Part Three

Earthly Fortunes • 176 implied HN points • 20 May 23
🕹 Technology Software Organization Productivity Hierarchy Bureaucracy
  1. In the past, power shifted from the church to civil services during the Industrial and French Revolutions.
  2. Napoleon revolutionized modern warfare and governance by implementing structured hierarchies, rules, and specialist roles.
  3. Software companies today mirror bureaucratic structures with defined hierarchies, rules, and organizational processes.

What David Brooks Gets Wrong about the Time Tax

Can We Still Govern? • 196 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Policy Conservatism Administration Bureaucracy
  1. David Brooks addresses administrative burdens, but overlooks contributions from private companies and conservative politicians as well.
  2. Bureaucracies tend to create administrative burdens, which accumulate over time and may not align with the organization's mission.
  3. Brooks proposes sludge audits and enhancing customer experience as ways to address bureaucracy, emphasizing that markets also generate administrative burdens.

Make America Hungary Again

Can We Still Govern? • 148 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Authoritarianism Media Control Higher education Bureaucracy
  1. The MAGA movement's admiration for Viktor Orban signifies a desire for authoritarianism over greatness, as demonstrated by Orban's undemocratic tactics in Hungary.
  2. Orban's success lies in his ability to consolidate power by controlling institutions like the media, judiciary, and higher education, mirroring patterns seen in the potential rise of American Orbanism.
  3. Orban's strategy includes increasing control over the bureaucracy to create a network of loyalists, leading to a corrupt system enabling his authoritarian rule, which American politicians are observing for potential application.

The Dictatorship of Dysfunction

From the New World • 16 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Sovereignty Bureaucracy Political theory Legitimacy
  1. Bureaucracies can become dysfunctional over time, leading to questions about a state's ability to function effectively. It's important for leaders at all levels to make decisions and act decisively.
  2. To improve government processes, we should move away from outdated methods like the waterfall hierarchy. Instead, adopting agile approaches that focus on user feedback can make a big difference.
  3. The relationship between state power and individual freedom is complicated. Understanding this tension can help us see why some political structures struggle to adapt and remain effective.

The WHO Pandemic Agreement may be worrying, but it is also really stupid

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 160 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Global Health International Law Bureaucracy Healthcare Pandemic response
  1. The WHO Pandemic Agreement raises concerns but also appears impractical, focusing on bureaucratic procedures rather than concrete solutions.
  2. The Agreement involves bloated language and vague aspirations, lacking clear strategies to improve global healthcare.
  3. Key components, like the WHO PABS System and Global Supply Chain Network, reveal convoluted bureaucratic efforts with little practical benefit.

The Unbearable Heaviness of Government

The New Urban Order • 119 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Tech Leadership Public Services Bureaucracy
  1. Local governments struggle to effectively integrate digital technology for improved services like solving congestion or waste management.
  2. The conflict between the agile, user-centric approach of digital tech and the process-oriented nature of government is a central theme in Jennifer Pahlka's book, Recoding America.
  3. Government service delivery challenges are not solely about technology; they also involve bureaucratic culture, the need for implementation-focused leaders, and the importance of public accountability in driving improvement.

Milei vs. A School Board Epidemiologist

Variations on a Theme • 79 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Epidemiology Bureaucracy Education Policy
  1. Javier Milei, a Libertarian, faced challenges in pushing for government limitations and administrative state cuts after being elected President of Argentina.
  2. The story highlights how bureaucrats often resist change, prioritize personal status, and maintain power against external pressure, even to the detriment of societal outcomes.
  3. The narrative underscores the importance of scrutinizing reformers and holding them accountable, as outsider status doesn't always guarantee sustainable reforms in complex systems.

"A Problem With Authority"—The Person You Think You Are Punching May Not Exist

72 Degrees North • 59 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💼 Business Management Workplace dynamics Corporate culture Bureaucracy Hierarchy
  1. There may not be people who inherently have a problem with authority, it could be a construct created by workplace environments.
  2. Disobeying authority doesn't necessarily stem from resistance to orders, but could be rooted in impatience, arrogance, or ego.
  3. Corporate hierarchy and authority can sometimes be arbitrary and driven by societal norms rather than individual merit or charisma.

A Note: What Is "Management" Anyway?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 92 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Management Consulting Theory Bureaucracy Market
  1. Management is different from hierarchical command-and-control, bureaucratic obedience, and market haggling. It's about reconciling various interests for the smooth operation of the system.
  2. Peter F. Drucker viewed the manager as a trustee of civilization and envisioned a role that balanced freedom, efficiency, equity, and order.
  3. Management is seen as a profession that aligns the interests of all stakeholders while ensuring the free development of individuals within society.

TMI Lessons: what was learned and what should have been learned

Gordian Knot News • 131 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🚌 Education Lessons Learned Accountability Regulation Bureaucracy
  1. Lessons learned from Three Mile Island highlighted the inadequacies in nuclear power safety and regulatory systems.
  2. Two major lies in the nuclear establishment were exposed at Three Mile Island, showing the need for accountability.
  3. The NRC's incompetence and flaws showcased at Three Mile Island suggest the need for a complete overhaul of the regulatory system.

ALARA

Gordian Knot News • 241 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
🔬 Science Energy Regulation Costs Bureaucracy
  1. ALARA philosophy in nuclear regulation aims for minimal radioactive emissions.
  2. ALARA can lead to increased costs and hinder technological advancements in nuclear power.
  3. ALARA's focus on reducing radiation exposure may lead to excessive regulation and operational costs.

None of Us is As Dumb As All of Us

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy Leadership Recognition Military Decision-making
  1. Processes, rules, and policies should not be substitutes for leadership. Bureaucracies lead to inefficiency and hindrance in decision-making.
  2. Bureaucracies treat customers and adversaries the same, making it difficult to get requests handled efficiently. They drown common sense and generate unnecessary rules and policies.
  3. Leaders should rely on their presence and values rather than creating new structures as substitutes. Avoid bureaucracy as much as possible, as it can turn against its creators.

Iron Cage

Brain Lenses • 19 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Sociology Economics Capitalism Theory Bureaucracy
  1. Max Weber coined the term 'iron cage' to describe how modern humans are enclosed within capitalistic systems with strict structures.
  2. The structures of capitalism and bureaucracies have created an almost indestructible shell that governs social, relational, and resource management aspects of our lives.
  3. Many people operate within this 'iron cage' without realizing the system they are enclosed in.

Bureaucracies & Artificial Intelligence

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Bureaucracy Government Applications Challenges
  1. Bureaucracies have been a part of societies for a long time, essential for running cities and administrations.
  2. Artificial intelligence tools like Generative AI are starting to be integrated into government bureaucracies, potentially impacting processes like issuing fishing licenses.
  3. The interaction between bureaucrats and AI agents within bureaucracies poses challenges, such as accountability for mistakes and the influence on laws and regulations.

The Rise of Surveillance Bureaucracy

The Digital Anthropologist • 59 implied HN points • 01 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Surveillance Bureaucracy Digital technology Privacy Ethics
  1. Surveillance bureaucracy uses digital technologies like sensors, cameras, and monitoring software to improve efficiency and compliance in both government and business.
  2. The rise of surveillance bureaucracy has unintended consequences, leading to resistance and workarounds by surveilled individuals in various industries.
  3. Challenges from non-profit organizations and legal battles are emerging to address the ethical implications of digital surveillance technologies and the need for privacy protections.

Man Vs. Bureaucracy, Part 2,369

Euro Desk Paris • 39 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
🌐 International Bureaucracy Immigration France Government Legal issues
  1. The challenges of bureaucracy and paperwork in a foreign country are highlighted, especially when dealing with expired documents and complex procedures.
  2. Navigating through bureaucratic processes can be frustrating and time-consuming, often involving multiple rejections, confusing instructions, and unexpected obstacles.
  3. The importance of persistence, creativity, and seeking alternative solutions when faced with bureaucratic hurdles, such as exploring different regions for better outcomes.

It's Tax Day: How Does the IRS Search Stack Up?

Talking to Computers: The Email • 0 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Policy Taxation Public Services Bureaucracy
  1. The IRS search engine is not very helpful, especially when handling typos or poorly formed queries. It's important for a tax-related search engine to understand common mistakes.
  2. While the search bar on the IRS website is appropriately placed, it lacks features like search suggestions and autocomplete that could make finding answers easier.
  3. The search results can sometimes highlight useful information, but overall the IRS search system needs significant improvements to better serve the public.

To grow you must build a beautiful, pragmatic, innovative and agile bureaucracy

Respectful Leadership • 0 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25
💼 Business Leadership Management Growth Bureaucracy
  1. Bureaucracy can be helpful for businesses. It helps manage money and keeps things organized so the company can grow smoothly.
  2. Having a flat organization can be risky. As a company gets bigger, it's important to add controls and processes to avoid chaos and potential financial issues.
  3. Deciding how to organize a company isn't easy. Leaders need to balance centralization and decentralization carefully to ensure everything runs well.

A Knotwork of Bureaucracies

the best of a great lot • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Regulation Bureaucracy Policy Legislation
  1. Governmental bureaucracies face challenges in creating effective policies due to uncertainty and complexities in human behavior.
  2. Cultural norms and organizational culture strongly influence the behavior and outcomes within bureaucracies, impacting decision-making and efficiency.
  3. Forces of dysfunction, selfish motivations, and challenges in working across multiple agencies amplify difficulties in creating successful policies within bureaucratic structures.

Thanks, Genius

The Radar • 0 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🌐 International Bureaucracy
  1. Never require permission for common sense. Seeking approval for obvious organizational benefits can sometimes create absurd situations.
  2. Trust your experts. Listening to frontline employees and trusting their assessments saves time and fosters quick problem-solving.
  3. Avoid excessive process. Overreliance on complex approval procedures can lead to organizational inefficiency and absurdities that contradict customer commitments.

Do you want to work in wartime or peacetime?

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
💼 Business Workplace dynamics Startups Job security Bureaucracy
  1. Working in wartime often involves working with lower quality but not zero quality, unlike in peacetime where quality can be excessively high and unnecessary.
  2. In wartime situations like startups, there's a sense of urgency and willingness to take risks for the sake of innovation, unlike in peacetime setups where conflict avoidance and complacency can prevail.
  3. Balancing safety and risk is crucial in work environments - too much safety can lead to complacency while too little safety can cause unnecessary stress and burnout.

First World Hell

Hazy Bridge • 0 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Having to renew a driver's license can be a frustrating and tedious process at the DMV.
  2. Even in technologically advanced cities like San Francisco, the DMV experience can still be inefficient.
  3. Navigating through the DMV system can involve long wait times, unexpected obstacles, and multiple attempts to renew a license.