Continuing Quote by John Ashcroft
“I decided this early on at Justice: if the traditional way was the most effective way of doing something, then we'd maintain it. But if it was not functioning at optimum levels, we would be doing the country a disservice by continuing to do things "like we've always done them."”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Justice Department remarks, 2001
He argues that policies should be kept only if they work well; otherwise they must be reformed to serve the nation better.
In simple terms: Keep effective policies; change ineffective ones.
Key Takeaway
Evaluate and adapt policies.
Themes
policy
government
efficacy
reform
accountability
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
political
policy
When to use this quote
- government budgeting
- regulatory reform
- public health initiatives
- education standards
Key Concepts
public administration
policy analysis
institutional inertia
Questions to Reflect On
- Are current practices truly optimal?
- What criteria determine effectiveness?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched systems can face political resistance and bureaucratic inertia.
