Rory Sutherland

That's an interesting observation, which is that we have an automatic default when we want to solve a problem that we add things rather than removing them. There is actually a very good point.

That's an interesting observation, which is that we have an automatic default when we want to solve a problem that we add things rather than removing them. There is actually a very good point.

That's an interesting observation, which is that we have an automatic default when we want to solve a problem that we add things rather than removing them. There is actually a very good point.

I think Nassim made this point when Elon was appointed the director of government efficiency, where he said, quite rightly, you should be the director of government effectiveness, because it's perfectly possible to do things very efficiently, which you shouldn't be doing at all.

I think Nassim made this point when Elon was appointed the director of government efficiency, where he said, quite rightly, you should be the director of government effectiveness, because it's perfectly possible to do things very efficiently, which you shouldn't be doing at all.

I think Nassim made this point when Elon was appointed the director of government efficiency, where he said, quite rightly, you should be the director of government effectiveness, because it's perfectly possible to do things very efficiently, which you shouldn't be doing at all.

And that's a Peter Drucker quote, which is, I think, nothing's more wasteful or stupid than to see something done efficiently that shouldn't be done at all. And undoubtedly, I think there are particularly among things which are ostensibly well-intentioned, okay? We never ask the question, would we be better off if we just got rid of this entirely?

And that's a Peter Drucker quote, which is, I think, nothing's more wasteful or stupid than to see something done efficiently that shouldn't be done at all. And undoubtedly, I think there are particularly among things which are ostensibly well-intentioned, okay? We never ask the question, would we be better off if we just got rid of this entirely?

And that's a Peter Drucker quote, which is, I think, nothing's more wasteful or stupid than to see something done efficiently that shouldn't be done at all. And undoubtedly, I think there are particularly among things which are ostensibly well-intentioned, okay? We never ask the question, would we be better off if we just got rid of this entirely?

And so there's a great quote from cybernetics, a guy called Stafford Beers, where the quote is, the purpose of the system is what it does, which is quite a lot of systems, quite a lot of bureaucracy has this ostensible purpose, which is entirely praiseworthy and worthwhile. And so we actually attach much less scrutiny to that kind of thing than we do to something that's actually selfish.

And so there's a great quote from cybernetics, a guy called Stafford Beers, where the quote is, the purpose of the system is what it does, which is quite a lot of systems, quite a lot of bureaucracy has this ostensible purpose, which is entirely praiseworthy and worthwhile. And so we actually attach much less scrutiny to that kind of thing than we do to something that's actually selfish.

And so there's a great quote from cybernetics, a guy called Stafford Beers, where the quote is, the purpose of the system is what it does, which is quite a lot of systems, quite a lot of bureaucracy has this ostensible purpose, which is entirely praiseworthy and worthwhile. And so we actually attach much less scrutiny to that kind of thing than we do to something that's actually selfish.

I mean, you know, one thing about being a commercial company is people go, what's in it for them? OK, what do they get out of this? I'm suspicious. This is too good to be true. I'm not really comfortable with this. You know, we deploy, quite rightly, you know, high degrees of skepticism towards the private sector because we want to know what they're up to.

I mean, you know, one thing about being a commercial company is people go, what's in it for them? OK, what do they get out of this? I'm suspicious. This is too good to be true. I'm not really comfortable with this. You know, we deploy, quite rightly, you know, high degrees of skepticism towards the private sector because we want to know what they're up to.

I mean, you know, one thing about being a commercial company is people go, what's in it for them? OK, what do they get out of this? I'm suspicious. This is too good to be true. I'm not really comfortable with this. You know, we deploy, quite rightly, you know, high degrees of skepticism towards the private sector because we want to know what they're up to.

Now, to some extent, if you're working in, for example, something that's altruistic or charitable, we suspend that level of skepticism. We go, oh, so well-intentioned. Isn't it brilliant? Okay. Okay. Oh, they're working for so-and-so. Isn't that great?

Now, to some extent, if you're working in, for example, something that's altruistic or charitable, we suspend that level of skepticism. We go, oh, so well-intentioned. Isn't it brilliant? Okay. Okay. Oh, they're working for so-and-so. Isn't that great?

Now, to some extent, if you're working in, for example, something that's altruistic or charitable, we suspend that level of skepticism. We go, oh, so well-intentioned. Isn't it brilliant? Okay. Okay. Oh, they're working for so-and-so. Isn't that great?

Now, it's nonetheless perfectly possible that the ultimate consequences of that well-intentioned action – first of all, it's possible that the motivation isn't nearly as wholesome as we may like to think. But secondly, it's also possible that just because something is well-intentioned doesn't mean the consequences are necessarily positive or benign.

Now, it's nonetheless perfectly possible that the ultimate consequences of that well-intentioned action – first of all, it's possible that the motivation isn't nearly as wholesome as we may like to think. But secondly, it's also possible that just because something is well-intentioned doesn't mean the consequences are necessarily positive or benign.