Among the greatest forces protecting bureaucracies from changing are the special-interest groups who immediately jump on the "gravy train" when a new program is created to make sure their interests are protected. Furthermore, they hire lobbyists to keep the agency alive even after it has stopped serving the public's interest. The poor taxpayer doesn't stand a chance.

One of the most misrepresented terms imposed on the public is that of "stakeholder." The so-called stakeholders now happen to be the special interest groups, agency employees and other agencies. They are the ones that have the say in what the agency does. They draft and lobby the legislation, and they are the ones legislators choose to serve on committees to guide the agency. The "real" stakeholders are the taxpayers — the real owners — who are left with the bill but have no say in the service they receive or the return on their investment. It seems politicians have unwittingly become part of the de facto conspiracy against taxpayers.

Government bureaucracies are controlled by myriad legislative committees. They are the board of directors of the bureaucracies. They are the stewards of the public's institutions who have the power and responsibility to see the public gets good customer service and to report back to them as to the return on their investment. They are the ones that should be accountable to the public. Taxpayers have to depend on legislators to make sure our government is meeting the needs of the "stakeholders."

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Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net