paulitician
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- Oct 7, 2011
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Good article from Melanie Sturm
Why the Public Sector is more likely to waste money than the private sector.
What do you get when you cross George Orwells Animal Farm with John Belushis Animal House? Government Gone Wild!
No, thats not the title of a porn movie about U.S. Secret Service agents cavorting with prostitutes in foreign countries or employees of the U.S. General Services Administration whooping it up in Las Vegas at taxpayers expense.
The hard truth is that the larger government grows, the more Orwellian and Animal House its conduct becomes. Belushis character, Bluto, exercised no greater restraint around free beer than did GSA Regional Director Jeff Neely and his employees, whose exploits at their $823,000 Las Vegas team-building soirée were videotaped, only to dominate newscasts this month. Bluto couldnt have carpe diem-ed on his parents allowance better than Neely, who wrote in an invitation to friends, Well pick up the room tab. I know Im bad, but why not enjoy it while we have it? Aint gonna last forever.
Since government depends on resources drawn from the real economy, consider these facts: After the GSAs inspector general reported Neelys misconduct, Neely still received a 2011 bonus; the average GSA salary is nearly $92,000, about $40,000 more than the median household income; and the GSAs budget rose 119 percent in 2011. Furthermore, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported in January that federal employees enjoy greater job security and earn significantly higher compensation than comparable private-sector workers.
Having worked in a large bureaucracy (the World Bank), I believe most public servants are decent, skilled and dedicated, though rarely are per-diem allowances unspent or self-justifications un-uttered. Its a truism that people wont spend other peoples money as carefully as they spend their own. Unlike households, which strive to boost savings by minimizing expenses, government bureaucracies spend what theyre given while justifying more for next year. They also lack the expertise and market discipline to invest wisely, as evidenced by the green investments in now-bankrupt companies such as Solyndra.
Heres the ultimate question: Why transfer more money from the real economy to those who are intrinsically more wasteful, negligent and indifferent to its ultimate good?...
Read more: GSA | Secret Service | Sex, lies and videotaped government scandals | The Daily Caller
Why the Public Sector is more likely to waste money than the private sector.
What do you get when you cross George Orwells Animal Farm with John Belushis Animal House? Government Gone Wild!
No, thats not the title of a porn movie about U.S. Secret Service agents cavorting with prostitutes in foreign countries or employees of the U.S. General Services Administration whooping it up in Las Vegas at taxpayers expense.
The hard truth is that the larger government grows, the more Orwellian and Animal House its conduct becomes. Belushis character, Bluto, exercised no greater restraint around free beer than did GSA Regional Director Jeff Neely and his employees, whose exploits at their $823,000 Las Vegas team-building soirée were videotaped, only to dominate newscasts this month. Bluto couldnt have carpe diem-ed on his parents allowance better than Neely, who wrote in an invitation to friends, Well pick up the room tab. I know Im bad, but why not enjoy it while we have it? Aint gonna last forever.
Since government depends on resources drawn from the real economy, consider these facts: After the GSAs inspector general reported Neelys misconduct, Neely still received a 2011 bonus; the average GSA salary is nearly $92,000, about $40,000 more than the median household income; and the GSAs budget rose 119 percent in 2011. Furthermore, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported in January that federal employees enjoy greater job security and earn significantly higher compensation than comparable private-sector workers.
Having worked in a large bureaucracy (the World Bank), I believe most public servants are decent, skilled and dedicated, though rarely are per-diem allowances unspent or self-justifications un-uttered. Its a truism that people wont spend other peoples money as carefully as they spend their own. Unlike households, which strive to boost savings by minimizing expenses, government bureaucracies spend what theyre given while justifying more for next year. They also lack the expertise and market discipline to invest wisely, as evidenced by the green investments in now-bankrupt companies such as Solyndra.
Heres the ultimate question: Why transfer more money from the real economy to those who are intrinsically more wasteful, negligent and indifferent to its ultimate good?...
Read more: GSA | Secret Service | Sex, lies and videotaped government scandals | The Daily Caller