1. What value systems have dominated Public Management in the United States for over the past two centuries?
             It has been my experience that the value systems in this country have changed dramatically, just since I was young. The advent of privatization, affirmative action, downsizing, and the likes, has shown great strides in improving our values with some drawbacks as well. The systems inherently allows for in some cases, more flexibility, stability, and on the down-side, some unneeded rigidity.
             It has been my first hand knowledge that the public management systems that are in place now have improved our insight and ability to involve everyone in the process of governing. The information that is out there, for everyone to acquire, is the building block of these changes. The information superhighway is a prime example. The internet in general allows those who care to have access, to be a part of these systems.
             The values that I knew when I was young were, if you knew someone, then you would get the public jobs. It was not what you knew, but whom. Programs like affirmative action, and the women's movement, just to name a couple, allow for a more diverse and politically correct governing bodies. These certainly have improved the relations of the public as a whole, but on the other hand have not allowed more qualified persons to get the desired jobs due to political correctness. I am in no way downing the advantages of these programs, just pointing out some of the drawbacks.
             On the political spectrum it is still, for the most part, who you know. There are examples of this everyday; all you have to do is look at a television or newspaper. The politicians eagerly hire "bubba" in inadequate positions due to family "requirements." This is not always the case, but it is how it has been done for centuries. This is not always bad; just look a "Billy Beer."
             Value systems in this country have evolved...