Analytics in Government

[Belsnickel]

Lemme get ready, here.



So this is, essentially, what I study. Public policy analysis/assessment is all about using data to determine the best possible policy solutions for implementation as well as evaluating current policy that is in place so as to improve outcomes related to effectiveness, efficiency, and equity. This is something used a lot in our government below the levels of the elected officials. Career staffers in particular utilize these tools to help them adjust the implementation of laws. There are even agencies within the government devoted to this sort of thing. The Congressional Research Service and the Government Accountability Office are just two stand-alones that report to Congress with two different roles, but most agencies also have wonks within their ranks that do in house work for them.

Here is the problem with what you suggest. A government run in this manner is called a technocracy (see my title to the left). It is a government run by experts using the data they come up with. This is all fine and dandy on the surface, seems like an okay thing. But our government is not a technocracy, it is a democracy. A democracy demands that the people be the ultimate determination of the actions of our government. In a technocracy, the data and the experts rule and what the people want doesn't matter. That's not our government, and it also isn't as effective as we'd like to think. I know, that seems weird coming from someone that self identifies as a technocrat.

Technocrats are important tools in a democratic government. Like what the CRS does, we provide information for elected officials to help make their decisions, but they must also be guided by the agendas in play. These agendas are the ones guided by the parties, but also by the people and society as a whole. There is only so much time they can spend on the floor of their legislative body (though more if they weren't busy taking bribes seeking donations) and so these agendas determine what things they will focus on. The current mood may also indicate that some optimum solutions may not be acceptable to the public at this time and so that legislation is pocketed for a time down the road when maybe they can sway public opinion, more.

This, of course, is all in theory. This is how our government should work, and would work were it not for the influence of corporations and the wealthy. Currently, wonks in the government are being ignored and lobbyists are replacing them. Instead of relying on technocrats, experts in their field in the government, to help craft good policy our elected officials are allowing special interests to do this for them. What is happening is that wonks cut their teeth in government and then jump ship for a much larger paycheck with a lobbyist. They utilize their access, relationships, and acquired knowledge to seek out the elected officials most favorable to their cause and hand them biased information so that they get a win for their employer and a nice fat paycheck.

It should be noted that FDR did this sort of thing. This is what his "Brain Trust" was all about. These days, instead of experts as political appointees we get big money donors with ties to Wall Street. And that is a knock against Clinton and Obama as much as anyone else.