ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book analyzes seven scandals and fiascoes that have occurred since World War II. It describes Section 608 rental housing program in which developers were able to reap huge profits and the administrative porkbarreling of the Pierce Administration during the 1980s. The book deals with following general questions. Why did the media, the Congress, the general accounting office, the office of management and budget and the office of the Inspector general do such a poor job in their oversight functions? To what extent is poor management are the root causes of the failures in the past? To what extent are these failures likely to be reformed by better people and tighter administrative procedures? The book describes a set of programs that would minimize discretion on the part of administrators and the temptation to misuse and abuse the public trust.
