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 reminds readers that policy options exist for a nation burdened by massive debt, governing chaos, federal overreach, and endless undeclared wars.
With over forty years in public policy, Kovacs has served as Senior Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Chief Counsel on Capitol Hill, Chairman of a state environmental board, and partner in Washington, D.C., law firms. He has testified before Congress forty times and participated in hundreds of federal rulemakings. Kovacs challenges citizens to rethink how their government works—and how it could work better for them.
His books include:
Reform the Kakistocracy – Winner of the 2021 Independent Press Award for Social/Political Change, offering a roadmap to reverse the concentration of federal power.
The Left’s Little Red Book on Forming a New Green Republic – A sharp parody of Mao’s Little Red Book, revealing how environmental causes can be weaponized to expand government control.
Devolution of Power: Rolling Back the Federal State to Preserve the Republic – A plan for restructuring federal power by returning domestic powers to the states to create more accountability in government.
