Kakistocracy, a term that describes what our government has become, a government controlled by “leaders” who are the least able or least principled citizens. These leaders are labeled “kakistocrats.”
In Reform the Kakistocracy, Kovacs describes how the kakistocracy transformed our federal government from one of limited powers to one of immense power without any constitutional changes. This decades-long transformation revised the functions and powers of Congress, the executive, and the courts. These revisions change how each branch of government fulfills its institutional role as a check on the powers of the other branches. They also fundamentally affect the relationship of citizens to their government.
The result of the transformation is decades of policy failures, harmful wealth inequality, a health care system costing two times more than in other industrialized nations, and the imposition of such massive amounts of debt that citizens will eventually live in involuntary servitude to the federal government.
As part of the discussion, Kovacs takes on the real – world conflict faced by the kakistocrats – who should be the beneficiary of their loyalty? Of course, it is the Constitution but what does that mean when applied to day-to-day decisions? Kakistocrats deal with laws and regulations, sometimes very vague, deal-making, favors, supporters, opponents, citizens, political parties, interest groups, contributors and other branches of government. How does a kakistocrat balance all these competing factors to be faithful to the Constitution?
Unlike many books on government reform, Reform the Kakistocracy does not let the reader dangle with fuzzy answers. It presents a clear, thought-provoking, roadmap of governance principles and proposals for restructuring the kakistocracy to achieve a sustainable government that can be managed by citizens. Some may call the roadmap controversial, aggressive, naive or completely unworkable in this political climate, but the roadmap puts serious, creative, ideas into the marketplace for discussion.
About the Author
William L. Kovacs has been involved in the nation’s policy-making process for four decades. He held positions as senior vice president, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, chief counsel on Capitol Hill providing legislative counsel on two landmark laws in one Congress, chairman of a state environmental board, and partner in DC law firms. He has testified before Congress thirty-nine times, participated in several hundred federal rule-makings, and delivered major policy presentations in over forty states.
His first book, Reform the Kakistocracy, won the 2021 Independent Press Award in the category of Social/Political change; the 2020 Bronze Award from the Nonfiction Authors’ Association; and has received 5-Stars from Readers Favorite.
Reform the Kakistocracy sets out how the federal government transformed itself from one of limited powers to one of immense power without any constitutional changes. These changes in institutional power fundamentally affect the relationship of citizens to their government. Government is now the master and citizens the servants of government. The book sets out many clear and thought-provoking ideas for reforming government to make it work for citizens.
His second book, The Left’s Little Red Book on Forming a New Green Republic, a parody, structured in quote format, to tell the story of how the radical Left uses concern for the environment to attack capitalism and promote socialism. It paints a vivid picture of life in the Left’s New Green Republic.
