In the tragic days of Mussolini, the trains in Italy ran on time as never before and I am told in their way, their horrible way, that the Nazi concentration-camp system in Germany was a model of horrible efficiency. The really basic thing in government is policy. Bad administration, to be sure, can destroy good policy, but good administration can never save bad policy.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Stevenson argues that bad policy cannot be saved by good administration, using historical examples of efficient tyranny.
- In plain terms
- Good administration cannot fix bad policy, even if it runs efficiently.
- What can you take from it?
- Policy matters more than administrative efficiency.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why does policy matter more than execution?
- Can efficiency justify bad goals?
Another view
It downplays the value of competent implementation.
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