SMART Government: A Framework for Effective Public Service
Modern government should deliver services that meet the SMART criteria: Scalable, Meaningful/Measurable, Accountable, Responsible, and Transparent.
This framework ensures that federal programs serve citizens effectively while using resources wisely.
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Federal policies should apply uniformly nationwide with minimal individualization. Examples include military services, national parks, interstate highways, and initiatives such as the space program or internet development that created jobs and private sector growth.
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Government services must be delivered with excellence an provide meaningful outcomes for broad constituencies—not just special interest groups.
Success and failure should be measurable, with underperforming programs either corrected, eliminated, or moved to state/local government or the private sector.
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Leaders must be accountable to both government oversight and citizens for service excellence.
Clear lines of responsibility ensure that someone answers for both successes and failures.
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Tax dollars must be used effectively to deliver promised outcomes. Implementation should be methodical and thoughtful—not haphazard—even for urgent priorities like border security.
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Government must openly communicate about progress, challenges, and accountability measures.
Citizens deserve visibility into how their government operates
When federal programs cannot meet these SMART criteria, responsibilities should shift to state and local governments or the private sector—provided these entities can satisfy the same standards. This framework ensures government focuses on what it can do excellently while enabling others to handle what it cannot.