Theory: Political Sick Organization Repeats Itself
If the organization in question is a political agency of government (city, county, state, federal) there is a good chance it is sick (politics being involved in all aspects of its operation). If it is sick, then there is a good chance it will repeat itself over and over again, primarily due to the political nature of its operation. It must stay the same so it keeps operating the same for the government and politicians. Things that end up being repeated are: "Directors" chosen from within the same agency (or, rarely, someone else they know they can control), same power structure, same rules and regulations, same politics, same harassment style, same management style, same buddy system, same people behind scenes controlling things, same reputation of low credibility of organization among similar such organizations and the public, etc.
Such an organization rarely gets new blood (from outside the organization) in power positions, and is essentially going nowhere. It has no new ideas, no toleration of independent thinkers, no real thinkers or doers or innovators .... the people and the agency do just enough to satisfy the politics and supply/man political fish fries/parties, or supply a place for week-end retreats, or hunting/fishing trips for politicians, or serve another function for politicians, etc. Agency also may function to transfer taxpayer money to friends, relatives, etc., of politicians in sweetheart deals through "research/study" done at/through the agency by those receiving the money.
The organization stays the same so the operation and politics can stay the same and the agency can reflect the same political position as the government. There is usually NO WAY a government agency can be great in their pursuit of truth (whether it be in science, education, economics, social programs, etc.) IF it must maintain the political position wanted by the politicians. Thus, people who would think that an agency MUST be seeking truthful answers to important questions to help out the tax-paying public are NOT considering the fact that the agency is controlled by politics, only the political image wanted by the government is projected, and politics trumps truth (and thus all forms of science). The organization is a political one, NOT a research organization, and not a truth-seeking organization.
Yet some people still expect the truth ( = honest research) out of their various agencies. They may get the truth IF it is the same message politicians want to get out to the public. If not, then the public is being fed a political line which politicians want the public to believe (which may or may not be the truth), for example: drilling will make your gasoline prices go down, there is no dangerous toxin in your seafood, your orange juice is safe to drink, charter schools will help improve education of your children, etc., etc.
So what is the normal citizen supposed to do in seeking the truth regarding a question concerning an agency? One can believe in their agencies at one's own peril, or do his own research to try to ascertain the truth, or find a researcher who will tell you the truth (usually the one who is considered the "black sheep" of the organization). Those that would seek the truth must find the answers and truth for themselves, or find real researchers (who are working outside the political area considered) that are not controlled, in any way, by politics. Or find the workers in the agency that are working on subjects of no real interest (and thus less controlled) to politicians so they can do more real research.
Those that work at such agencies, and can think and observe, see nepotism, political appointments, big parties for politicians or their friends, glad-handing among those who support/believe the political hype, promotions/raises of those politically-connected, special treatment for those politically-connected, harassment of people who try to do, and report on, honest research that is contrary to political position, torture of those who oppose activities they think wrong, firings of "troublemakers," and much, much more.
It is fairly common to hear about "researchers" who falsify data (dilute toxins, move collection stations away from problem areas, no longer sample after rains, etc., etc.) to get the answer wanted by them, their agency/company, or politicians. Agencies reflect the political positions of those that control such agencies. For example, if a government's position is to drill for oil, etc., its agencies will NOT come out against drilling. And those individual researchers that seek the truth or oppose the government political position do so at their own peril and risk possible loss of career, job, promotion, raise, home, spouse, etc.
The agency cannot be great or known for its good works unless politics are removed from all aspects of the agency and truth is pursued as the top priority, rather than politics. Citizens should remember that government agencies are political agencies and act/expect accordingly. Citizens should also realize that an "educational" institution (Ex: university) governed by a state and partially (or totally) funded by taxpayer money can also be considered as a government agency and it usually operates as such (being governed by state politics), and does NOT operate primarily as an educational institution but as a political agency.
See my previous posts on sick organizations, especially the one on why they stay sick for a long time.
A few of the thoughts by Lawler on the subject:
Political agency sick organization: Content on going nowhere & just doing enough to satisfy politics & politicians, so keep their jobs.
Political agency "Director" : Person paid a big salary to "think" exactly like the politicians in control of that agency.
If at all possible, get a job where promotion is based on merit, & not politics.
State agency Director cannot do much more than say "yes" lest he angers those above him -- who will get a new Director.
The trouble with Science today is that the scientists must pursue politics to stay employed so they can maybe do some science ......
It appears that politics pits the lies of one against another, & then we vote for the one who has lied to us the best.
The first job of a government employee is to make sure he keeps his job .....
A government agency is a political organization -- NOT scientific or educational. Political answers/policies are "discovered."
An organization that picks its leaders from within continues the politics & policies as from before -- Staying the same for mostly politics.
Adrian R. Lawler, Ph.D., (C) 2012 --
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