[galveston]

I don't know who wrote this, and maybe you have already seen it, but it is just too good not to share with you.

(Maybe I should have put it under the thread "Government insanity".):)

Gubmint and How Gubmint Works

Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night." So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job.

Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planning department and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one person to do time studies.

Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department and hired two people. One to do the studies and one to write the reports.

Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?" So They created the following positions, a time keeper, and a payroll officer, Then hired two people.

Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?"
So they created an administrative section and hired three people, an Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a Legal Secretary.

Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one Year and we are $18,000 over budget, we must cutback overall cost."

So they laid off the night watchman.

NOW slowly, let it sink in.

Quietly, we go like sheep to slaughter.

Does anybody remember the reason given for the establishment of the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY... during the Carter Administration?

Anybody?

Anything?

No?

Didn't think so!

Bottom line. We've spent several hundred billion dollars in support of an agency... the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember!

Ready?
It was very simple... and at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate.

The Department of Energy was instituted on 8-04-1977.
TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.

Hey, pretty efficient, huh??

AND NOW IT'S 2009 -- 32 YEARS LATER -- AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS "NECESSARY" DEPARTMENT IS AT $24.2 BILLION A YEAR. THEY HAVE 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES; AND LOOK AT THE JOB THEY HAVE DONE! THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD AND SAY, "WHAT WAS I THINKING?"

Ah, yes -- good ole bureaucracy.

AND, NOW, WE ARE GOING TO TURN THE BANKING SYSTEM, HEALTH CARE, AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY OVER TO THE SAME GOVERNMENT?
HELLOOO! Anybody Home?

[paraclete]

Bit of a tired argument don't you think, someone in government is inefficient therefore all government is inefficient. The reality is the only inefficient and ineffective people in government are the Administration. Yes that's right, the very people who are elected to provide objective oversight. Do you know why? Because these people, being politicians, are incapable of being objective.

The Romans had a very effective government, it didn't have elected politicians, but it did have one person charged with making decisions. These decisions weren't subject to debate. They were subject to advice, but when the decision was made it was implemented. Do you know why? Because if you didn't act, the Praetorian Guard would make visit in the dead of night and your suicide might be reported in the morning. Very effective government

Look at the debacle you had the other day, the leader of the government having to call bankers in to tell them to lend money, and after he had already bailed them out of the greatest mess in centuries. In any real society, it would only take a word in the ear for action to take place, not some glorified grandstanding meeting. Perhaps bringing back the Emperor's command would solve the GFC

[excon]

Hello gal:

Here's the thing. You don't believe that stuff yourself.. You're not a libertarian. You're a right winger.

Speaking as a libertarian, I agree with your post... But, I don't stop at the SOCIAL aspect of gubmint like you do. I include ALL gubmint - especially the parts you LOVE.

Those would be the COP and the MILITARY parts of government like the DEA, the NSA, the CIA and the part of gubmint that renders ( kidnaps) people and tortures them.

Nahhh... You love gubmint pretty good..

excon

PS> Please don't confuse my dislike for the military, for dislike of our troops. I love the troops. I don't like their orders.

[galveston]

Bit of a tired argument don't you think, someone in government is inefficient therefore all government is inefficient. The reality is the only inefficient and ineffective people in government are the Administration. Yes that's right, the very people who are elected to provide objective oversight. Do you know why? Because these people, being politicians, are incapable of being objective.

The Romans had a very effective government, it didn't have elected politicians, but it did have one person charged with making decisions. These decisions weren't subject to debate. They were subject to advice, but when the decision was made it was implemented. do you know why? Because if you didn't act, the Praetorian Guard would make visit in the dead of night and your suicide might be reported in the morning. Very effective government

Look at the debacle you had the other day, the leader of the government having to call bankers in to tell them to lend money, and after he had already bailed them out of the greatest mess in centuries. In any real society, it would only take a word in the ear for action to take place, not some glorified grandstanding meeting. Perhaps bringing back the Emperor's command would solve the GFC

So basically, you like a monarchy?

That might be OK if you had the right monarch, but you might get someone like Nero Caesear, Adolph Hitler, Joe Stalin, Pol Pot, etc.

The only king I am willing to accept is Jesus of Nazareth.

[galveston]

Hello gal:

Here's the thing. You don't believe that stuff yourself.. You're not a libertarian. You're a right winger.

Speaking as a libertarian, I agree with your post... But, I don't stop at the SOCIAL aspect of gubmint like you do. I include ALL gubmint - especially the parts you LOVE.

Those would be the COP and the MILITARY parts of government like the DEA, the NSA, the CIA and the part of gubmint that renders ( kidnaps) people and tortures them.

Nahhh... You love gubmint pretty good..

excon

PS> Please don't confuse my dislike for the military, for dislike of our troops. I love the troops. I don't like their orders.

I really don't understand.

What kind of culture would we have without any law enforcement?

Are you telling me that libertarians are anarchists? I can't hardly believe that.

[excon]

What kind of culture would we have without any law enforcement?

Hello again, gal:

I didn't say law enforcement, per se. I mentioned particularly the DEA which is social agency with guns. I mentioned the NSA who illegally SPY on us. And, I mentioned the stuff about torture, whoever does that... Probably the CIA.

But, that's not law enforcement.. As a libertarian, I want law enforcement to protect me from crimes like assault, rape, murder and robbery. As a libertarian, I DON'T want the cops to arrest people for MORAL crimes that support YOUR social and cultural agenda. You LOVE government support for YOUR cultural views.

excon

[paraclete]

So basically, you like a monarchy?

That might be OK if you had the right monarch, but you might get someone like Nero Caesear, Adolph Hitler, Joe Stalin, Pol Pot, etc.

The only king I am willing to accept is Jesus of Nazareth.

I agree Jesus will be the only completely fair king, No, what I like is organisation, not shamocracy.