Bureaucracy is one of the most controversial and provocative topics in political science. On the one hand, state officials apply this system of government to make vital decisions. It affects human lives and my freedom as an ordinary citizen due to imposed control and regulations. On the other hand, Greenberg and Page (2018) define it as a “dirty word” that exists in American politics as it is related to inefficiency, non-responsiveness, controversies, and challenges (p. 365). The battle between bureaucracy supporters and opponents occurs at different levels, revealing its advantages like organization and concentration and evident shortages like blind adherence to rules and the neglect of personal interests. I want to trust my country’s government and believe that all their decisions are reasonable and well-planned. However, it is not a secret that bureaucracy may hinder innovation, health care, education, and even environmental prosperity. There are many laws and protocols to be followed to offer services. Instead of taking one step to ask for help, a person needs to visit several instances and cooperate with several departments to reach the required goal.
Despite various opinions and attitudes, I think that bureaucracy is an effective aspect in life. People cannot be free from everything in their lives, and they need some portion of control at the genetic level. Bureaucracy implies a set of beliefs, roles, and obligations from all citizens, regardless of their positions and skills (Lee & van Ryzin, 2018). The choice of a bureaucratic structure means coordinating and organizing individuals with different interests into groups and making the system work.
Although the American federal bureaucracy is not perfect, there are many other democratic examples that work properly. Thus, it is possible to promote some changes concerning the bureaucracy and achieve positive results. For example, the participation of citizens in the country’s decisions should be highly appreciated. Modern technological progress allows communication from different parts of the world, and the US government needs to try to reach its citizens and ask for free and independent opinions. Increased cooperation between the government and citizens remedies unfair and ineffective bureaucracy.
References
Greenberg, E. S., & Page, B. I. (2018). The struggle for democracy – 2018 elections and updates edition. Pearson.
Lee, D., & van Ryzin, G. G. (2018). Bureaucratic reputation in the eyes of citizens: An analysis of US federal agencies. International Review of Administrative Sciences. Web.