Governments operate under a vagueness of purpose that frustrates its workers and preempts the efficient disposition of its charge. The disadvantage of government is augmented by the sweeping trends of the last century wherein the New Deal encouraged and facilitated massive expansion of the dominion of government. The proliferation of multitudes of fragmented governments has not mitigated, but has compounded, the problem. The number is growing by 4,000 per year or eleven per day. Colorado has nearly 2,000 governments.
Governments do, of course, have charges, and they perform many critical functions.
However, those charges, by virtue of the very nature of government, must remain vague. The need to sustain reasonable decision making latitude, supports the argument for vagueness. The temptation for elected officials to respond to the desires of special interests by directing public resources into new areas is evidently irresistible. To the employee committed to results, the situation is untenable. Goal achievers and self starters either stop being self-starters or leave government service.