Kakistocracy, a term that describes what our government has become, a government controlled by "leaders" who are the least able or least principled citizens. These leaders are labeled "kakistocrats." In Reform the Kakistocracy , Kovacs describes how the kakistocracy transformed our federal government from one of limited powers to one of immense power without any constitutional changes. This decades-long transformation revised the functions and powers of Congress, the executive, and the courts. These revisions change how each branch of government fulfills its institutional role as a check on the powers of the other branches. They also fundamentally affect the relationship of citizens to their government. The result of the transformation is decades of policy failures, harmful wealth inequality, a health care system costing two times more than in other industrialized nations, and the imposition of such massive amounts of debt that citizens will eventually live in involuntary servitude to the federal government. As part of the discussion, Kovacs takes on the real - world conflict faced by the kakistocrats - who should be the beneficiary of their loyalty? Of course, it is the Constitution but what does that mean when applied to day-to-day decisions? Kakistocrats deal with laws and regulations, sometimes very vague, deal-making, favors, supporters, opponents, citizens, political parties, interest groups, contributors and other branches of government. How does a kakistocrat balance all these competing factors to be faithful to the Constitution? Unlike many books on government reform, Reform the Kakistocracy does not let the reader dangle with fuzzy answers. It presents a clear, thought-provoking, roadmap of governance principles and proposals for restructuring the kakistocracy to achieve a sustainable government that can be managed by citizens. Some may call the roadmap controversial, aggressive, naive or completely unworkable in this political climate, but the roadmap puts serious, creative, ideas into the marketplace for discussion. Review reviewed by: Diane Donovan for Midwest Book Review Reform the Kakistocracy: Rule by the Least Able or Least Principled Citizens defines the term 'kakistocracy' as being "what our government has become, a government-controlled by "leaders" who are the least able or least principled citizens." Keeping this definition in mind is intrinsic to understanding the driving force of a thought-provoking treatise dedicated to "the Dutiful Cog", defined as "that person who keeps society running by getting up every day and going to work, taking care of family, paying taxes, contributing to community, and being continuously loyal to the nation." William L. Kovacs believes the tenacity of these 'cogs' will prevail over political battles and corruption. Reform the Kakistocracy offers the 'how to' manual for this process. Chapters provide both a political and social history of the raise of this too-complex national control system and comments on who runs it, how people respond to it, and how it's rewritten the US Constitution for its own special interests and gain. Philosophy, history, and political inspection blend in an arena where the moves of leaders are closely examined and critiqued: "The most disconcerting aspect of these changes is that by using massive executive power to change laws without Congress, the next president using the same executive power can also change the laws without Congress." It questions: "For whom did we form a government?" We, the people seem to have left the original equation. Politicians will be the least likely readers of a book which lambastes this system. But, the Dutiful Cog will. This isn't a general treatise, but offers specifics on the methods and approaches that least-qualified leaders use to circumvent political process, freedoms, and moral and ethical ideals of behavior. Reform the Kakistocracy isn't just a condemnation of the system, or a history of how it came to be. Chapters offer "A Few Modest Proposals for Restructuring" which range from reversing regulatory complexity to the federal government divesting itself of unnecessary assets and returning control of lands to states that ceded them to the federal government. The proof of the success of this treatise lies in these and other specifics. This is where Kovacs excels, placing his work head and shoulders above the usual approach to critiquing the federal government and its processes. By making its examples specific and linked to daily life and familiar political process and results, Reform the Kakistocracy provides Dutiful Cogs with more than a bit of hope for a more effective future, including a blueprint for enacting real change. From income tax revision to citizen management of the Kakistocracy, this is a thought-provoking, action-oriented blend of history, philosophical, and political inspection. It is highly recommended reading for readers who would understand the process of chan