Washington’s currant lawmakers and others, (including civil servants and contractors) have forsaken the public interest in adopting an attitude ranging anywhere from “don’t give a hoot” to “downright hostile.”

A common consensus amongst tax payers is that there are entirely too many civil servants and even worse, everyone agrees they are outrageously overpaid. They have a “I don’t care, I’m working for my retirement” attitude and there is no consistently in their delivery of quality services. It also seems many people believe government has doled out contracts to favored contractors who are belligerent, overpaid and many are blatantly corrupt as many never deliver results stipulated on existing contracts.  

All the while, government employees contend there is too much government outsourcing and many services should be returned to civil servants. (Yah right - sounds like Socialism)  In March, former comptroller general David M. Walker said about the Defense Department, "There is a need to focus greater attention on what type of functions should be contracted out and which ones should not." Another March report from the Government Accountability Office concluded, "A major concern is the risk of loss of government control over and accountability for mission-related policy and program decisions." (what the heck does that mean?)

There’s no accountability to the people.

It looks like they need more accountability and less frivolous bickering, but then, who am I to say. I’m only a tax payer and my opinion doesn’t count for anything. No one ask the tax payers, we only pay the bills we’re not some liberal Ivy League professor which means; we are not qualified to give an opinion. I’ll give my unauthorized opinion, “there’s too many “lifers” in Washington.” Government’s temperature should be taken from the conscience of its masses and not just a few self-serving lifers. 

Let’s face it, government employees don’t have such a great track record. If you don’t believe it, try conversing with one of them. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana failed to commutate with  The Federal Emergency Management Agency which never got their act together. If we were better prepared for what could happen we wouldn’t have to react to what did happen.  

If the farmers of America had such a track record, we would all starve to death.

While the press was busy crucifying FEMA nothing got done. Just the same old hype, and over reacting to politics and not enough action on the problem. Every one wants something to be done but no one offers a solution. Just a lot of complaining and finger pointing, but then, that’s what we are best at, isn’t it.

Their always passing the buck.

FEMA was blamed for its lack of preparedness and inadequate response but then no one could have imagined the magnitude of the situation. Washington was in a reaction mode and was not prepared nor can they ever be prepared for such extremes.

Poor Performance And Don’t Care Attitude

There are innumerous instances of poor performance and contract management by federal agencies. Many agencies abilities and procedures have been questioned, ranging from the collapse of the FBI's Virtual Case File project to the Census Bureau's problems with developing handheld computers for data collection. The State Department, US Immigration Services, US Customs and others have our boarders in shambles. It’s become just another politician’s way of validating their jobs and funneling money to their cronies. When it comes time to act there is only reaction because there are no ground rules. In 2007 the State Department couldn’t handle the simple task of an order from Homeland Security to get passports in order.  

There’s need for change, but at who’s expense?

Whoever the new administration, he has the insurmountable task of correcting over “one hundred forty two years of mismanagement” and attempt to revitalize America and bring it into the Twenty First Century. America must become a leader in something other than touting superiority and Military domination.  

This is exactly the result Southern leaders feared when the Northern Government forced their ideology onto them. Dominance, forced policies and no accountability. 

There are tremendous challenges ahead which won’t get done without total cooperation from all public servants.

Government Governing Civilians

Should government develop administrative overseers and turn the business of application to civilians? (of the people for the people) Many government agencies have become outdated and ineffective. (we don’t need to keep building wagons when we have cars.)

The number of executive branch employees (excluding 747,000 U.S. Postal Service workers) stands at 1.89 million, where is the reasonability in that? There are police forces upon police forces, and department no one has even heard of. One small instance is the computer is slowly making the postal service unnecessary but special interest look after the 750,000 jobs at stake.  We no longer need an army of people delivering junk mail, yet it and many other outdated agencies will continue to operate at the expense of the taxpayers.

Should the government be an administrative facilitating body for a citizen workforce?  Can and will the new administration train governments employees and contractors to  become one workforce undivided as they develop and implement new and old technologies for the betterment of America? Will all Americans share the prosperity of developing new energy technologies? Will wealth become a universal condition of citizenship?

Change the rules

In developing future rules of engagement there must be better defined relationships between government and citizen.  Government must stop being the aggressor and become the comforter. It is in these assignments that challenges for future generations will bring our great nation into a transformation of a virtual land of equality and opportunity.

Happy Trails