Reducing Governmental Red Tape

Frank Herbert in “Heretics of Dune,” wrote that “Bureaucracy destroys initiative,” and that “there is little that bureaucrats hate more than innovation, especially innovation that produces better results than the old routines. Improvements always make those at the top of the heap look inept. Who enjoys appearing inept?”

Unfortunately, under this scenario government bureaucrats would indubitably look at blockchain technology with trepidation. The reason for this trepidation lays within the fact that blockchain technology allows for the streamlining of government processes on an inter-department level. At the same time open ledger technology would enable the removing of repetitive layers of paperwork that goes on in-between governmental agencies. The overburdening of regulations and the inefficiency of cross-referencing information in a secure manner, costs the public taxpayers in both time and money. Eliminating inefficiencies in this process is worth billions of dollars in productivity and savings.

These government inefficiencies can be tackled through the building of a multilayered blockchain system that would be constructed on the building blocks of public-private and permission granted systems. Such an integrated system would allow for different levels of access to the blockchain. Thus, allowing only essential information to be shared while others remain private. At the same time, new information under permissible circumstances could be added onto the blockchain, and under such a system, the government “red tape” would be reduced. Furthermore, information would be centrally available, thereby ensuring the smooth running of governmental bureaucracy.

While many within the government might not be inclined to streamlining the system, due to their own self-interests, the public would undoubtedly gain from such a transformation.   Such a system could immediately be helpful once written and integrated into numerous fields such as health care and national security. In terms of health care, a unified blockchain platform would alleviate issues with lost medical records and prescription of medications. On a national defense level, the technology would allow for more coordinated State and Federal NICS background checks and unified identification systems. The two combined would be beneficial on both civilian and military levels.

These are just small examples of how, blockchain technology could be used to cut down on bureaucracy and increase efficiency at the same time. The emphasis in years to come will be the transforming these sorts of projects from a “possibility” to an “actuality.”

Blockchain + Government = “Less bureaucratic overlap, increase in accountability, safeguarding the accuracy and immutability of data, while building trust between taxpayers and the government“(©PBC, LLC)