Tuesday, August 09, 2016

The Shirky Principle


I read an interesting article by Miss Cellania on Mental Floss the other day: 10 Rules, Laws, and Theorems You Should Know. All of the ten are interesting, but one stood out for me: The Shirkey Principle, which is:

“Institutions will try to preserve the problem to which they are the solution.”

According to The Shirky Principle, organizations tend to become so vested in solutions to their problems that they can inadvertently perpetuate those problems.

Hmmm ...


Even the name of the principle works in this context, because Congress lately tends to shirk its responsibilities ... and when it does occasionally yawn, stretch, scratch it's collective armpit, and decide to do something, it's something important and meaningful, like naming a post office or designating National Kumquat Day.

But perhaps that's better, at least until the adults take over again.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

4 comments:

The Mistress of the Dark said...

Where are we going to find theses adults to take over?

eViL pOp TaRt said...

We keep sending them back to Congress.......Something likes a shirker.

Mike said...

The phone company liked to reorganize. Then you would get the 'That department doesn't exist anymore' answer. Who does xyz now? We're not sure.

allenwoodhaven said...

Very interesting!