The New Public Management addresses the relationship between government and citizens, not just a practical concern, but from a distinct theoretical position. Earlier in this chapter we examined in detail the ideal concept of citizenship as being active, involved, and public spirited. We also pointed out the alternative legal definition of citizenship -----a view we find to be based not only on legalism but also on self-interest. This theoretical viewpoint so clearly underlies the way in which the New Public Management views the relationship between those in government and those served or regulated by government that is worthwhile to elaborate the theoretical notion of citizen as consumer. This view is largely derived from the so-called economic theory of democracy, a theory that explains political behavior in terms of economic competition. Political parties, for example, are seen as competing for profits. Citizens, in turn, are seen as consumers for whose votes the parties compete. These citizen/consumers make decisions based on their efforts to maximize their own utilities, casting their votes for one or the other party, or simply turning away from politics and seeking great utilities by spending their time and energy elsewhere (Dagger 1997, 105).