The Night Watchman

[TexasBred]

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 was to do the studies and one was to write the reports.

Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?"

So they created two 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 $918,000 over budget, we must cut back."

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 is, we've spent several hundred billion dollars in support of an agency, the reason for which very few people who read 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 2012 -- 35 YEARS LATER -- AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS "NECESSARY" DEPARTMENT IS AT $24.2 BILLION A YEAR. IT HAS 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND
APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES; AND LOOK AT THE JOB IT HAS DONE!

(THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD AND SAY, "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?")
34 years ago 30% of our oil consumption was foreign imports. Today almost 70% of our oil consumption is foreign imports.

Ah, yes -- good old Federal bureaucracy.

NOW, WE HAVE TURNED OVER THE BANKING SYSTEM, HEALTH CARE, AND THE AUTO
INDUSTRY TO THE SAME GOVERNMENT?

Hello!! Anybody Home?

Signed.... The Night Watchman

 

[inyati13]

I saw this kind of story unfold time after time. I always said, if you eliminated the waste, you could reduce the size of government at every level from local to national. Now, I don't think it matters. The GOVERNMENT is the economy so how do you choke it off without taking down the whole country. Every dollar flows throught the economy and begins or ends with GOVERNMENT.

 

[Chuckie]

This is the first ever that I learned Jimmy Carter did something worthwhile during his presidency. :clap: :clap:

 

[3waycross]

This is the first ever that I learned Jimmy Carter did something worthwhile during his presidency. :clap: :clap:

He also left after 4 years.............you may not see that this time!

 

[TexasBred]

I saw this kind of story unfold time after time. I always said, if you eliminated the waste, you could reduce the size of government at every level from local to national. Now, I don't think it matters. The GOVERNMENT is the economy so how do you choke it off without taking down the whole country. Every dollar flows throught the economy and begins or ends with GOVERNMENT.

Hardly. gov't produces nothing but more debt. We produce the money. They siphon it off in the forms of taxes and penalties and then give it most of it away to other countries or special interest groups. The never get a dollars worth of anything out of the gov't without first giving them several hundred if not more.

 

[Chuckie]

3Way, we are living the reality show, "Obamanation" as we speak.

The election process will be made into a movie sequel called,"Obamanate."

 

[Chuckie]

3Way, you are so right, he did leave after 4 years.

Ronnie, we need you now!

 

[inyati13]

I saw this kind of story unfold time after time. I always said, if you eliminated the waste, you could reduce the size of government at every level from local to national. Now, I don't think it matters. The GOVERNMENT is the economy so how do you choke it off without taking down the whole country. Every dollar flows throught the economy and begins or ends with GOVERNMENT.

Hardly. gov't produces nothing but more debt. We produce the money. They siphon it off in the forms of taxes and penalties and then give it most of it away to other countries or special interest groups. The never get a dollars worth of anything out of the gov't without first giving them several hundred if not more.

TB, I exaggerated saying the Government is the total economy but they are now a lion's share of it. The borrowed portion of US Government spending in US Fiscal 2013 was 4 Trillion Dollars. Put this in your economic forecast:

A. US Governement balances the budget
B. 4 Trillion Dollars is removed from the economy
C. Half the population of the US is on welfare
D. The other half is standing in the depression era bread line

Face it. We are as dependent on the 4 trillion dollar infusion as a day old calf is momma's milk. So maybe they are not the whole economy but they are the biggest player.

Guess why Republicans will never balance the budget even if they controlled all three branches of Government. They would be stupid to do it unless they want the US to commit economic suicide!!!! Personally, I think we are too far across the river to ever turn back. Hopefully, there is something good on the other side.

With regard to specifics, the US Government produces debt by borrowing against the strength of the US economy. That borrowed currency has value so regardless of whether the US creates that value, it is still injected into our economy. Money policy is controlled by government, we don't produce money (meaning you, me and american enterprise), we create products of higher value and services. Those goods and services foster strength to our currency and thus, they create wealth.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Texas Bred! Did you see the truly genius idea that congress has now come up with?

(Don't feel bad if you missed it. I must have missed it too)

 

[Deepsouth]

Texas Bred! Did you see the truly genius idea that congress has now come up with?

(Don't feel bad if you missed it. I must have missed it too)

I missed it too. If you get any details on it let us know.

 

[Chuckie]

Spill the beans boogie man!!!

 

[MO_cows]

Govt programs never die. The REA is still with us, for what, 75 years now? Think we still need a govt agency to help folks get electricity??? At least it's largely a loan program, so they get some of our money paid back and it's not all outflow. But in theory, it's like continuing to fund the Department of Blacksmithing or some such!

True that to balance the budget all at once could wreck the economy. But if it doesn't get done and soon, there might not BE an economy. I bet the bunch of us could go thru the federal expenditures with a highlighter and take out billions of dollars worth of carp that hardly anybody would ever miss. And find waste and fraud that the $200k per year beaurocrats are blind to. 40 cents out of every dollar spent is borrowed. It takes what, another 15 cents per dollar just to service the existing debt? Pretty scary if you think about it.

 

[TexasBred]

Texas Bred! Did you see the truly genius idea that congress has now come up with?

(Don't feel bad if you missed it. I must have missed it too)

:lol: :lol: I'm sure it's gone down by Hussein has been on vacation with only his bag on one arm, his golf bag on the other arm and no pen in hand.

 

[Ouachita]

Govt programs never die. The REA is still with us, for what, 75 years now? Think we still need a govt agency to help folks get electricity??? At least it's largely a loan program, so they get some of our money paid back and it's not all outflow. But in theory, it's like continuing to fund the Department of Blacksmithing or some such!

True that to balance the budget all at once could wreck the economy. But if it doesn't get done and soon, there might not BE an economy. I bet the bunch of us could go thru the federal expenditures with a highlighter and take out billions of dollars worth of carp that hardly anybody would ever miss. And find waste and fraud that the $200k per year beaurocrats are blind to. 40 cents out of every dollar spent is borrowed. It takes what, another 15 cents per dollar just to service the existing debt? Pretty scary if you think about it.

I would only like to substitute your word "carp", with the words "bottom feeders", then it all makes perfect sense ;-)

 

[inyati13]

Govt programs never die. The REA is still with us, for what, 75 years now? Think we still need a govt agency to help folks get electricity??? At least it's largely a loan program, so they get some of our money paid back and it's not all outflow. But in theory, it's like continuing to fund the Department of Blacksmithing or some such!

True that to balance the budget all at once could wreck the economy. But if it doesn't get done and soon, there might not BE an economy. I bet the bunch of us could go thru the federal expenditures with a highlighter and take out billions of dollars worth of carp that hardly anybody would ever miss. And find waste and fraud that the $200k per year beaurocrats are blind to. 40 cents out of every dollar spent is borrowed. It takes what, another 15 cents per dollar just to service the existing debt? Pretty scary if you think about it.

Yes sir. They never go away. You have no idea how extensive this issue is.

Example: The Bureau of Reclamation. A story to give you an idea about their involvement in irrigation:
http://www.uwyo.edu/robertshistory/new_ ... _water.htm

They have a mission and there is still a role but the projects are finished. Their mission could easily be rolled over to the Corps of Engineers. There are thousands of USBR employees waiting for retirement with nothing to do but watch the four walls they sit within. Anytime a bill has been introduced to downsize, the US Senators and Representatives where these offices are located, i.e. Billings, MT, have a duck fit. And trust me, Republicans defend those jobs with the same vigor that Democrats do. No one wants the jobs in their communities lost.

Here is what happens. Their mission becomes a find work exercise. The managers attand meetings to discuss "what can we do to justify our existence." Happens in all those old agencies. I will offer that with the water issues this country is facing, the USBR may become a key agency. The problem is that during long stretches in an agencies history, they carry an excess work force that has no where to be deployed.

I could list a 100 federal agencies that are obsolete.

http://www.usbr.gov/