For example, those who live in areas outside commercially feasible cable television service must still receive public services like mail, road maintenance, and police protection. Some government services can be expensive, difficult to quantify and yet easy to take for granted. In providing for the common good, government must anticipate or deal with dysfunction, as when regulating pollution, upholding public health standards, and controlling criminal behavior. The costs and resource requirements of these types of services are extremely difficult to anticipate. Effectiveness is not enough.
Accountability is essential if government is to retain the public trust.
There is a great deal of concern by the public that public resources be used appropriately. Appropriate use of funds is not always the same as efficient use, however, as in the above examples. Beyond financial correctness, accountability includes viewing citizens as valued consumers of public services, and responding accordingly. It is important to work consciously at increasing governmental effectiveness and efficiency. As in business, a more rational use of public resources will be achieved by establishing program and spending priorities through a formal process.