> Americans aren't Norwegians or Germans, and simply aren't good at large bureaucracy. Unless America starts subcontracting out its administration to the Swedes, better government is going to take either a change in American character or something smaller and less-centralized.
This is a strange assertion, as if Swedes had an innate gene that allowed them to be more adept when they joined public service. Let's assume that that's not true and it's an ability learned through environment and civic education...I'm arguing that that reaching this ideal situation of "good character" will require -- when it is possible -- to make interaction with the government more efficient. Else, you may end up in a situation in which citizens are so distrustful of the government that they never see the point of achieving good civic character. And then we never end up being as good as the Germans and the Swedes.
This is a strange assertion, as if Swedes had an innate gene that allowed them to be more adept when they joined public service. Let's assume that that's not true and it's an ability learned through environment and civic education...I'm arguing that that reaching this ideal situation of "good character" will require -- when it is possible -- to make interaction with the government more efficient. Else, you may end up in a situation in which citizens are so distrustful of the government that they never see the point of achieving good civic character. And then we never end up being as good as the Germans and the Swedes.