Well, now that we're well and good-ly off topic, I'll pitch in my $.02.
I agree w/ Tom to a point--As an government employee in the U.S. Army
infantry, I've never felt particularly underutilizied. I think this is
one of those things that most gov't employees let slide off their back,
always assuming that the comment is ref. those OTHER gov't employees
(many DA civilians, for instance) who really are getting over. Kind of
like officer jokes--I don't get real riled up about them. When the
enlisted guy doing the ribbing gets his own platoon/company he'll realize
that the responsibilities and tasks are bigger than he ever could've
imagined while humping his own ruck and watching his section of the
perimeter, imagining that the platoon leader is loafing in the middle.
However, the rest of his missive I find hard to agree with. I certainly
agree that watchdog/compassion organizations need to exist, but I
completely disagree that they should be gov't agencies. Though these
agencies do perform many desireable deeds, regulatory/bureaucratic costs
(EPA, OSHA, Workman's comp, Social Security, DOT) are an ever-growing
millstone around the necks of American business and, I believe, are
largely responsible for our transition from a manufacturing to a service
economy (which may seem dandy now, but doesn't hold up too well in tough
times).
I think that were government not forcing us all to be involved in
mandatory relief/regulation (via taxation), we would not have blue collar
workers dying on the streets. We would have a lot more community-based,
voluntary, EFFECTIVE intervention to help those in need. Before the FDR
and LBJ this happened a good bit, albeit after some industrial revolution
nastiness (which was FAR worse in GB where things weren't nearly as
lazziez faire).
There are almost always market-based reforms that will be more effective
and far cheaper than establishment of a regulatory leviathan to oversee
the crisis of the moment.
OK, now I'll shut up about this and go see if that nut on my pinion is
tight.
bill
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu May 31 2001 - 21:25:50 EDT