WHICH PEOPLE MAKE GOOD GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS? 4
Running head: WHICH PEOPLE MAKE GOOD GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS? 1
Which People make Good Government Officials?
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Which People make Good Government Officials?
The architects of a good government should possess certain traits that will move the governance of a nation to greater heights. The elected government officials are accountable for the public they rule. They should be responsive to any grievances brought forward by the citizens by ensuring that they handle the matters appropriately. However, accountability is complex because people react differently to being accountable. Being answerable to choices one makes as a government official is not easy and requires him/her to be strong enough not to be dazed by the views of the people concerning his/her decisions. Therefore, good government officials should be strong when it comes to decision making, accountable for every action he/she makes concerning the demands of the people and should be a strong communicator to represent their people properly.
A good government official should be bold in his/her decision making. Confidence and mental strengths while making decisions are crucial because a government official undertakes some actions without knowing whether it is right or wrong. Having to answer for the activities undertaken is quite hard, and it requires boldness in the decision to partake something. A government official being a representative of the citizens they govern need to serve them purposefully by ensuring that all of their requirements are met. For example, deciding between accomplishing two projects, water, and health projects, for a given amount of funds will require strength in decision making to ensure the contentment of the people. Being a government official, therefore, calls for a defined way of making bold decisions to ensure that people are satisfied with every action he/she takes.
Accountability is a trait of a good government official. The people hold these officials accountable for every step they take and what they say and expect them not to change anything regarding their actions. In the USA government, checks and balances are issued in every transaction made but what is important is how the government is responsible to the public (Beck, 2017). The projects these officials fulfill make them accountable to the public. However, sometimes people are not satisfied with the various achievements of leaders, and they hold them responsible. Government officials should thus be accountable and cope up with the perverse response to accountability by the public.
A good government official should be a good communicator. The people elect an official to speak for them in the halls of power. There are some issues that the public need to be addressed; unemployment trends, national security, health concerns and challenges facing education (Grindle, 2004). It is upon their chosen representatives to take the task in their hands and air them in government. The representative should be a good communicator to ensure that he/she is a bridge between the government and the public. Although the people may get information from various tools of communication, a good official should ensure that he/she reaches to them in person to build trust. He/she should, therefore, communicate to the public appropriately, in the right time and manner.
Good government representatives have certain qualities that ensure that the public is contented with their grievances. He/she has to be strong when making decisions and accountable for every step they take in accordance with the needs of the people. They should form a bridge between the government and the people. With these qualities, the relationship between the government and the people is strengthened.
Beck, J. (2017). The Tricky Psychology of Holding Government Accountable. The Atlantic. Retrieved from: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/01/government-accountability-psychology/512888/
Grindle, M. S. (2004). Good enough governance: poverty reduction and reform in developing countries. Governance, 17(4), 525-548.