[EL] making a Democracy Index at the ballot box

[Paul Lehto]

On Tue, May 8, 2012 at 11:54 AM, Doug Hess <douglasrhess at gmail.com> wrote:

> It is true that performance measurement can create unintended
> consequences. And, of course, how to interpret them (or summarize them) is
> very tricky and can generate some tension. [snip]  Donald Moynihan at the
> LaFollette School at Univ of Wisconsin-Madison studies when and how people
> use performance measurement. He finds evidence that some officials are very
> interested in this data (i.e., they are not just defensive manipulators
> shirking their responsibilities).


Moynihan finds evidence that "some officials"  are very interested in this
type of data and want to know.

The problem is that those jurisdictions that most need change are the same
jurisdictions that tend generally to have officials who are not  very
interested in this type of data because they know it will create problems
for them either immediately or in the future.

If one is going to do metrics, don't make it voluntary or subject to
substantial risks based on the noncooperation of any jurisdiction.

Paul Lehto, J.D.

-- 
Paul R Lehto, J.D.
P.O. Box 1
Ishpeming, MI  49849
lehto.paul at gmail.com
906-204-4026 (cell)
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