ABSTRACT
“Speaking to power,” it is imagined, requires a Macro Public Administration (P.A.) with both positive and overlapping negative resources-building on the excellent macro P.A. work already done. The traditional P.A. discourse lures many to the mechanic’s helper role; it is more comfortable than thinking through macro abstractions that can include effete talk about items like gadflies and fools. The rationalizing discourse encourages the P. A. thinker to cast herself in the role of mechanic’s helper-helping to tighten the nuts and bolts of the bureaucratic machine, betting all on technique. More “power speaking” at the same conference; Morley Winograd noted that the conference’s program mailer described the Vice-President as “The Father of Virtual Government.” “Power speaking;” Vice-President Albert Gore IJhas announced the establishment of a new A US Government website, a one-stop access to government services for seniors. There are minor reasons for the “speaking to power” difficulty, like the danger of the speaker being marginalized when the message is negative.
