| Editorial: The Problem! Politicians and/or Bureaucrats?
A "politician" is defined as one versed in the art or science of government and one engaged in party politics as a profession. A "bureaucrat" is defined as a member of the bureaucracy. "Bureaucracy" is defined as a body of nonelective government officials, an administrative policymaking group, a system of administration marked by officialism, red tape, and proliferation.
So, where is the problem in today's governmental and political system here in the US? We tend to blame the parties involved when things don't go the way we think they should. But, we tend to forget one thing�elected officials are generally in office for a short term, whereas nonelected government officials and personnel may be in their positions for their entire career. Over the long term, which category can have the most impact in getting things done?
I look back over the years at some well-meant legislation that was passed in Congress�then I look in horror at its implementation! Look at the laws related to the Internal Revenue Service; and look at what's happened to their implementation. Look at what happened with HIPPA; it was a reasonably short law, but look at its implementation. Look at the new Medicare law and its implementation. Congress enacts the laws but does not implement them.
From the outside, it looks like the nonelected bureaucrats control the implementation of any laws that are enacted by Congress. Also, it appears that they can have significant input into the development of new laws before they are voted on in Congress. So, who is the most powerful in Washington? In most cases, certainly not the elected politicians, even though they can have an impact. By and large, it is the career bureaucrats that carry the big stick.
I remember visiting with one of my elected senators several years ago. He was very frustrated with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He stated (paraphrased), "We enact laws in Congress and expect them to be implemented. But, if the agencies involved don't like them, they put off their implementation until shortly before time runs out and then say they don't have enough time or personnel to get the job done. It is very, very frustrating to have government agencies play the stalling game on what they disagree with�the system needs to be changed."
One has to remember the purpose of the bureaucrats and that is "self-preservation." We no longer have "statesmen" in Washington or individuals looking out for the good of the people, we have special-interest groups looking for the good of their own clients/people!
These special interest groups and bureaucrats have been hurting and ruining the practice of pharmacy for years. Why not put them out of business, put term limits on all politicians and bureaucrats, and return the government of the US back to the people? It seems like the concept of government by the people was written in a very important document a couple of hundred years ago!
Loyd V. Allen, Jr., Ph.D., R.Ph
Editor-in-Chief | 
