ABSTRACT
As declared in the first sentence of the American constitution and throughout the work of Thomas Hobbes, especially Leviathan, a key reason for founding governments is to ‘ensure domestic Tranquility’. Accordingly officials serving the public are tasked at the most fundamental level to spend funds in a manner that most effectively and efficiently keeps people safe. Doing so is neither easy nor precise, and the funds available for this purpose are, of course, limited. Moreover, there are inevitably distortions stemming from public and personal emotion and from political pressures. But to the degree possible the task should be carried out systematically and professionally. To do otherwise is irresponsible, a profound betrayal of the public trust and, because human lives are at stake, immoral.
