Obama Slashes Budget

[Kimstu]

@IdahoMauleMan

The fact that Alan Greenspan, who managed the stock and flow of fiat money at artificially low interest rates for several years, is a fan of Ayn Rand means nothing.

The fact that a Federal Reserve exists at all, which is decoupled from a commodity standard, means that Alan Greenspan’s own job was about as far from a libertarian monetary system as one can get.

Very true. And his attempting to apply market-fundamentalist libertarian principles in that job was a catastrophic error in judgement that contributed largely to the current disaster.

So yes, the fact that Alan Greenspan was an Ayn Rand fan does mean something. It illustrates the fact that market-fundamentalist, anti-government-regulation Ayn-Rand-fan types are not suitable candidates for responsible positions in a government regulatory system.

[Merijeek]

@Grumman

Does anyone else think this is a wasted opportunity to kill the security theatre? You could make it cheaper and better, at the same time.

Sure, but it’s unlikely to ever happen under the current government - and I’m talking a “coup with guns” kind of revolution.

Realistically, it’s a lot of money pissed away for nothing. Federally, it’s a tiny drop in a huge bucket. No politician, not a one, is going to cut out Security Theater. If they do, and ANYTHING happens, they’re done. If they leave it in place and something happens? Well, “I was just continuing what my predecessor started. I wanted to increase security, but the [Opposition Party] wouldn’t let me because it would mean [Raising Taxes/Cutting Jobs]”.

-Joe

[Ravenman]

@Grumman

Does anyone else think this is a wasted opportunity to kill the security theatre? You could make it cheaper and better, at the same time.

By privatizing it? I have to admit, private airport screeners worked great until September 10.

[filling_pages]

@xtisme

You are right…federal and state employees can be fired. But it’s not an easy process unless fraud or some kind of illegal activity can be shown. If we are talking about simple incompetence…well, good luck. It requires an entire process of documentation and notification…and (at least years ago when I was a GS 9) you have to go through this process to identify several separate instances within a year period.

For a manage it’s a complete pain in the ass, especially since if you don’t dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s not only with the person you are trying to get rid of be staying on…but you, the manager might be fucked yourself.

Anyway, carry on…just wanted to put in my two cents worth on this distraction.

-XT

Check the current laws. Most of those protections have been stripped away. Government work, for the most part, is comparable to private in terms of job protection. Except that government workers can’t do much to help bring in more money, meaning that if the budget drops and they get cut, there’s nothing they can do to prevent it.

[DrCube]

@filling_pages

I don’t know where people get the idea that federal and state employees can’t be fired. What are these “civil service laws that essentially give them a lifetime tenure”?

The Army, for one. Unless you’re a felon or gay, your job is pretty much 100% stable.

[Mosier]

@Tim_R.Mortiss

Fine; you put your faith in civil service functionaries who can’t be fired. I’ll stick with my private sector experts who depend on results to keep their jobs…TRM

I actually snorted at the “depend on results to keep their jobs” part.