> The problem is that hiring in New York City government is subject to possibly the most insane rules in the country.... And I say that as someone who didn’t think anything could be worse than the federal hiring rules.
This piece is a great, accidental argument for smaller government in NYC.
> We have these supposedly merit-based hiring systems because in the mid- to late-19th century, positions in government were filled through patronage, or what’s known as the spoils system.
One can either have "supposedly merit-based" or definitely spoils (i.e. graft). Smaller government that accepts some (smaller) spoils to gain nimbleness is a good balance IF the free press calls out egregious graft and IF the electorate will throw out any bums.