[galveston]

I doubt that anybody will argue that the US government is not bloated. So what can be done?

What about this?

1. Authorize all department heads to look for ways to cut waste in his/her department.
2. Use up to 50% of the money saved to give bonuses to every employee in said department.

Good old human greed just might make this work.

[twinkiedooter]

Uh, don't they use that system now?

[excon]

I doubt that anybody will argue that the US government is not bloated. So what can be done?

Hello gal:

Term limits...

Your plan won't work because bureaucrats don't want to LOWER their budgets, because the next time around they won't get as much...

I know, that the idea, but it's lost on bureaucrats.

excon

[galveston]

Hello gal:

Term limits...

Your plan won't work because bureaucrats don't want to LOWER their budgets, because the next time around they won't get as much...

I know, that the idea, but it's lost on bureaucrats.

excon

The bureaucrat would get a bonus too.

[excon]

The bureaucrat would get a bonus too.

Hello again, gal:

It just makes TOO much sense for government.

excon

[paraclete]

I doubt that anybody will argue that the US government is not bloated. So what can be done?

What about this?

1. Authorize all department heads to look for ways to cut waste in his/her department.
2. Use up to 50% of the money saved to give bonuses to every employee in said department.

Good old human greed just might make this work.

You are almost there but it works better with a razor gang, that way the government can't be accused of giving bonuses to government and not to bankers. You just set a target, say 50% of this year's budget and bring in the toe cutters to reduce waste. Every department would have every thing they need on hand so no stationary, no vehicles, no computers, down size the office buildings and anyone without a chair is gone gone gone. Another way of doing it is to not allow bills to be stapled, that way no extra administration to administer waste

[tomder55]

Even in the business world when it comes to budgets there is a temptation to 'use it or lose it' and to pad budgetary requests. It requires executive actions to demand budget reductions.
How about this ."Trim your budget or find something else to do for a living. "

I think there are whole Federal Depts that are unnecessary and should be phased out and eliminated .

[galveston]

Are you missing the point of money in people's pockets?

For the first few years, probably a LOT of money for everyone involved.

[paraclete]

Even in the business world when it comes to budgets there is a temptation to 'use it or lose it' and to pad budgetary requests. It requires executive actions to demand budget reductions.
How about this ."Trim your budget or find something else to do for a living. "

I think there are whole Federal Depts that are unnecessary and should be phased out and eliminated .

Tom I preferred zero based budgeting and that starts at the top, you just keep asking why?

[paraclete]

Are you missing the point of money in people's pockets?

For the first few years, probably a LOT of money for everyone involved.

I understand your point I just don't like the ethics of it, this is the way you get substandard buildings and bridges

[tomder55]

I agree with Clete . This is public money and it should not be handled like Monopoly money. The budgetting discipline has to be from the top.

[galveston]

I understand your point I just don't like the ethics of it, this is the way you get substandard buildings and bridges

Substandard happens anyway if the inspectors are corrupt.