The Week in Comments: Hiring freezes, postal perks and working on Columbus Day
The best in reader reaction to recent articles.
A roundup of some of the comments received this week in the GovExec.com Mailbag. All comments are presented in their original, unedited form.
On GOP calls for federal hiring freeze, spending cuts
Let me see if I understand the logic... Since they have no constructive ideas on how to produce jobs and employment they will, instead, attack those who do have jobs. Brilliant. Instead of "a rising tide lifts all boats," they prefer, "the titanic hit an iceberg, therefore all boats must ram an iceberg...to be fair."
Although I think that public service is a good thing, right now I just don't think it is a good idea to continue Federal hiring. It's a wise move until things can get back to normal. The Federal contracting of the private sector is also cutting back because many agencies are trying rein in spending. So, everyone is doing what they can to be more cost effective. When things get better, then I see government resuming hiring to cover its need. Again, government jobs must be paid for through tax revenue (or borrowed money) and we don't have either.
This represents a drop in the ocean, while the REAL budget-busters of the Entitlements and Earmarks are ignored by these hypocrites. They have NO idea how to solve the existing economic problems and this is purely a political document that further cripples any attempts to truly solve our problems.
On Injuries climb with more Army recruits unfit for duty
Think a better question might be, is the Army standard to high. And second question one has to wonder how our well fed troops will fare against the grass fed enemies.
Is this what you would call an army of 1.5?
On Postal Service executives get extra perks
This is what unions bring to the table-corruption, dishonesty, wastefullness, greed,selfservice...we must disband all unions or be a victim of anarchy!
USPS needs to fire the pampered 800. Then rebuild the service from the ground up.
Yeah, that is a little rediculous, but pales in comparison to the insane compensation packages offered by their counterparts in the private sector. Why have we lost sight of that?
Fire the all USPS executives and let Chuck Norris take command - he requires no health care.
On Senators unveil bill to shape up agency performance
Every congress and administration has been doing this useless exercise for decades, yet nothing seems to get cut or improved. In fact, the govt (inc contractors) has grown susbtantially over the last decade with not much to show for it.
Our government just keeps creating more COO, CEO, and ...on..and..on executive jobs to make decisions that in truth only slows the process and takes care of nothing. We already have performance plans and groups in place. Why another?
On Lawmakers' message loud and clear on jargon
Another waste of time. Much more simple is to not allow any briefing of any senior official to include jargon/acronyms. If the boss won't tolerate it, the intolerance will flow down the organization. Much more important is elimination of passive voice. Passive voice sounds so much more officious that people tend to write terribly.
If you want to make something more readable, let's start with the United State Code and the Code of Federal Regulations.
Given the poor quality of legislative text I don't think Congress is in any position to throw stones.
On Senator calls for permanent wartime contracting watchdog
Well, McCaskill's suggestion kinda makes sense when we're permanently at war and permanently feeding tax payers' dollars to war contractors. I'd like accountability.
First, look at the contracting offices (pre-and post award) that are currently responsible for oversight and enforcement and see where there are inefficiencies. The IG is already in place, why 'another' office???? Utilize or reorganize what exists!!!
On Burning Question: Should feds work on Columbus Day?
I work for USDA, the lowest paid agency for technicians salaries. I have worked 40 years and still at a grade 7 pay. Many promises to get me on attempting go get me a higher grade over the years but soon goes by the road side as they, higher officials, put money in their pockets. To me, my salary,is not a lot of reward for the work and dedication I have provided this agency through the years. So NO I don't believe ALL federal employees should give up the small benefit of Columbus Day Holiday.
heck yeah , they should. why not everybody else does, Feds do whine about everylittle thing.
We already work on Columbus Day and serveal other Federal Holidays. Mr Whitehead should research his information before making genric statements
If working on Columbus Day would keep us from being furloughed than I am all for it.
Columbus Day became a Federal Holiday in 1934. My opinion, it represents many different things to many different cultures in the USA and throughout the Americas just as Christmas and Easter Sunday. If this day would be so easily sacrificed, why not continue on and work on Martin Luther King Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any other current Federal Holiday? They all have different meanings to different religious faiths, cultures, and nationalities.
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