Module 13

Module 13

 

Why is bureaucracy important?

DUE: Sidlow, Chapter 13 The Bureaucracy

 

Happy gratitude holiday, you two. I hope you each have an opportunity to hit the “pause” button on life for a little while and be thankful for the good things in your life. Sometimes, we get so busy we don’t even notice them, but they are there… you are there. Appreciate your physical body for sustaining your life and breath, appreciate your spirit for not giving up, appreciate your mind for its curiosity and its desire to be educated. 

 

One thing I appreciate this week is actually the topic of one of our remaining chapters: bureaucracy. That’s right, these past few weeks in America, bureaucracy was a key player in the ability of our election system to function effectively in the face of unprecedented challenges. Bureaucrats across the country did their jobs, played their roles in the elections process, stamped and signed and processed paper in accordance with their job descriptions and with the high ethical commitments so many bureaucrats actually have, but are seldom recognized for. Our election system has been effective, in large part because of bureaucracy, and so maybe it’s appropriate to be thankful for all the bureaucratic “pencil pushers” across the country – everyday heroes of the moment – who did their jobs these past weeks and months and by doing so, facilitated a successful elections process which will not, it seems, break under pressure. 

 

Bureaucracy, one could say, is beautiful. Please make that statement the theme for your blog post this week, after reading the chapter in your textbook. 

 

Other than that, just continue to work on your Term Project – maybe some of your conversations will take place over your Thanksgiving meal (virtual or otherwise).