Gov. Daniels Quest to Root Out Pork Should Be Applauded, Not Ridiculed
Competition and privatization are proven, practical management tools
By Geoffrey Segal

Re: "Former Bush Aide Fights Nickname: Gov. Privatize"

It is rare to find politicians who stand on principle and make policy decisions based on what is right rather than what the polls say. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is one of those leaders and his policies have delivered prosperity and growth.

Thanks to the lease of the Indiana Toll Road, Indiana is the only state in the country with a fully funded transportation investment program. Daniels' massive modernization of the state's welfare system is expected to save taxpayers at least $100 million a year-while improving the quality of services to those who need it most.

We all know that government is inefficient and wastes taxpayers' money.

It's odd then, to complain about legitimate efforts to reduce waste and improve efficiency. Daniels quest to root out pork should be applauded not ridiculed.

Einstein said the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Government shouldn't be special-business as usual will produce the same lackluster, expensive results. Competition and privatization are proven management tools rooted in practicality. To Daniels results matter, and that's a good thing.

Geoffrey Segal is the director of government reform at the Reason Foundation. An archive of his work is here, and Reason's privatization and government reform research and commentary is here.

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