To Form a More Perfect Union Starting This 4th of July
As we celebrate the 4th, let’s be thankful for what we have in this beautiful country, America. Let’s also be thankful for what is right with our government but insist on improvement when there are problems with our elected officials.
As physicians, we are being increasingly monitored, measured, and incentivized or disincentivized according to our healthcare performance. Similarly, as for our elected representatives, the government should be - without much debate - measured and graded by a set of metrics so to keep clear and honest accounting with transparent, trackable scorecards on their performance. If performance is good, we'll keep them in office and say good things about them. If performance is subpar, cutting salaries and perks might be warranted or removal from office when appropriate.
Government Performance Metrics/Scorecards
Individual Scores:
Peace (P), Security (S), Economy (E), Social Good (SG), Constituent Satisfaction/Approval (CSA), National Policy (NP), International Policy (IP), Cost*(C), Political-Ethical-Constitutional Mistake and Misconduct (PECM2), Societal and Institutional Instability (SI2)
*Cost includes taxes, fees, tariffs/duties^, regulations/sanctions, unfunded mandates, elected official salaries/perks…
^Tariffs/duties, mostly at the Federal level.
Metrics-based Scorecard:
Overall Government Performance Score Index =
Federal level:
(P + S + E +SG + CSA + NP + IP) / (C+ PECM2 + SI2)
Local level:
(P + S + E +SG + CSA + NP) / (C+ PECM2 + SI2)
Index Score Grading:
Excellent – will add 5 to 9% bonus/perks and keep in office
Good – will add 1 to 3% bonus/perks and keep in office
Fair – may keep in office but continue to measure for improvement
Poor – may consider a limited time to show improvement before removal from office and barred from lobbying or related activities for 4 years
Fail – removal from office and barred from lobbying or related activities for 4 to 8 years
Sidebar: Will this or similar scorecard fly? Not likely, for obvious reasons.
Nevertheless, have a happy 4th to you all in Linkedin Land.