The Week in Comments: Vandalism, a disputed date in April and the $66 breakfast
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 Bill would extend TRICARE coverage to adult children
Mike I agree as a matter of fact why do we cover CS children or spouses?? They don't stand and make copies sharpen pencils or sit in the break room all day. Let all CS pay the entire premium for their families why should the taxpayers be responsible??
Who is next; the children of the adult children? The spouses of the adult children? At what point do we say it's time to cut the apron strings and let young adults learn to take responsibility for themselves? If the administration and Congress would spend more time listening to the major macro economists and do something to get the federal government out of the way of businesses and industry so jobs can be created then these young adults could go to work and buy their own medical care insurance.
On Burning Question: Should generals speak out on 'don't ask, don't tell' policy?
If SECDEF and CJCS are going to allow openly homosexual members to serve then I would suggest that all gender-based distinctions in the military be eliminated. Should prove interesting in that first unisex barracks or berthing compartment.
Yes, vote with your feet, form a militia or guerilla force and get ready for the coming civil war provoked of course by the communist fascist progressives. Live free or die!
On FBI probing death threats, vandalism against lawmakers
I cannot believe the callous, "what do they expect" attitude expressed in many of these comments. Let's be absolutely clear here:
It is not OK to threaten people with violence just because you don't like the way they voted. It is not OK to cut gas lines.
It's wrong.
I don't care what party you belong to or what viewpoints you favor: It's wrong. Protest if you must, shout from the rooftops, vote any way you want. But physically harming people, or trying to, or threatening to, is crossing a line. And I'm absolutely sick that so few people even seem to notice the line nowadays.
Most likely all the threats to conservatives and the Dems come from the wacky left. THEY are the ones who make movies on the assassination of President Bush; THEY are the ones who set fire to cars during demonstrations; THEY are the ones who attack and spit on military personnel. The conservatives don't know how to fight.
This is getting scary. People seem to be confusing the Civil War with the War for Independence. Warnings about the coming violent reaction of the true believers (e.g. ammo sales and rifle cross hairs)apparently said in all sincerity demonstrate this point. I would just like to say be careful what you wish for "America" as you just might get it and it will not be good for any of us. When people pander and polarize every issue, is it any wonder we are seeing what we are now? The constant drumbeat of partisanship and negativism is having a debilitating effect on the country and we don't ackniowledge it as such because we are all too busy being righteously indignant - at everyone that doesn't agree with us. When members of Congress call people who disagree with them "liars" and "baby killers" and get applauded in some circles for it, what can we expect of the "followers"? There is a lot to be upset about and plenty of blame to go around if we are being honest with ourselves about things, but I guess I must have missed the civics lesson that said democracy and being a "real" American means if things don't go 100% my way I should resort to violence and obstruction. What would our country look like today if the 50% who believed President George W. Bush wasn't really elected had acted like the so called patriots who are "angry" because they wish President Obama had not been elected are behaving?
This is just nonsense. Wasting the FBI's time when they could be doing better things like catching lawmakers taking bribes, putting cold hard cash in the freezer or some other such thing. Sure people are upset, and yes, there are people who take things too far. But I dare say that forcing folks to buy insurance is also somewhat problematic considering the way our initial documents in the formation of this great nation were formed.
I can say that if we are to divide in this way, it's very unfortunate, and let's not forget how many eco-terrorists, and nut cases have taken action into their own hands on the Democrat-socialist side of things. Too numerous to mention here, but we are all aware.
Why is everyone so touchy, it's just the rogue in them.
On Burning Question: Is $66 too much for bagels and juice?
The problem is not the refreshments, but why is NASA or any government agency having out of town training. The training should be done at their desk, using their computer. The government is out of control and no one in the government cares. This includes GAO and the Insapector General Offices. Why they don't care is because they are doing the same thing. The Inspector Generals are the biggest waste in government. The IGs submits over inflated cost saviangs to Congress to receive larger budgets. So does GAO. Very little of those cost savings ever materialize. If they did there would never be a need for government spending to increase because all these propose cost savings would off set any increases. It is time the american people stand up to congress and take their country back.
I think the HOTTER burning question should be "When are we going to stop all these boondoggles, anyway?" I have personally written contracts for several agencies seminars and conferences in amounts that would blow one's mind (not to mention the travel and per diem costs for each participant)! And for what? So that a couple hundred people of similar ilk can get together in a nice big city to listen to someone else of their ilk spout about a brave new world? C'mon now...we all know that information can be received in a much less expensive manner. Like the video teleconference for one. Gimmie a break, I'm a taxpayer too.
The Burning Question should be: Why did NASA hold the conference at a commercial hotel to begin with? Like other comments, not enough facts, but sure sounds like $66 per day for light snacks is within the commercial practice. We all know that about hotel practices. So, why not hold at a government site? May not be practical for all conference, but should be the first consideration. What about VTC? Was that option considered? If practical, use it. Private sector uses VTC routinely and seems to work ...
Washington Post story planted by Obama administration. Obama is killing NASA and he knows congressional supporters are trying to circle the wagons and fight this. Watch for more stories like this as Obama discredits the agency.
Snacks should be brought along by the attendees. I guess I have never been honored to attend a conference, but at training sessions, if we want something to snack on, there is usually things available to BUY. Also I am sure they needed to pay for use of the conference facility, why didn't the price of that include "light" snacks? What an outrage!! People attending these things already get a per diem allowance, then we provide them "free" food besides. I would say the taxpayers are paying to feed these bozos twice.
On Five-day mail delivery plan would cut tens of thousands of jobs
Postal Service; key word is service. Yet this is the lacking ingredient. How will they fix it-----less service. It's hard to walk when you kick you own legs from under yourself....Fedx and UPS are licking their chops.......
When I was hired at USPS, I had a very old and slow PC but was still communicating instantaneously with people all over the globe. So when my hire group was given a lecture by a marketing rep who afterward called for questions, I asked, "Has the Postal Service considered getting into the electronic mail business?" He belly-laughed and replied, quote, "We don't see a future in it."
The Postal Service has shown complete lack of foresight in the past. And as a consequence, everyone will suffer in the future. And, it comes as no surprise to me.
Second Bite.
I have read a lot of good comments. The USPS must remake itself into a customer friendly place. Most old PO's should shut and move to Malls. Be open to 10Pm so the people can get to them to do business. I.E. rebuild yourselves to the 21st century.
Retrain the workforce to appreciate the customers. Fire anyone who can not move beyond 1940.
I work for the government. Why are we using Fed Ex and UPS for our mail, for overnight mail and for all packages? I do not understand this, except to think that the government wants the postal service to fail, so that our system is privatized to UPS and Fed Ex. Fed Ex is non-union. My dad was a parcel post carrier, and we certainly were not rich. He worked hard! I actually find I get the best service from the USPS. Who does the polls of public opinion for no mail delivery on Saturdays? Everyone I know is against stopping Saturday delivery.
OK, so if cutting back one day of delivery will save $5.6 billion a year, why not go to three days a week delivery - say Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays? Then I'll only have to dump the junk mail three times a week. If the USPS is too inefficient to survive, let it die.
On Even in face of public opposition, lawmakers defend earmarks
I'd like to hear more about the $1.7M earmark that Oregon State University received just as First Lady Obama's brother (Oregon State Beavers Basketball Coach Craig Robinson) was about to get AXED. Guess his job is pretty secure for another year now, thanks to Sis, huh?
No no, Eliza, you don't understand. There's only "voter disgust" from the Republican voters against Democratic legislators.
To the former, it's okay if and when the majority in Congress is Republican and they run the Federal deficit and debt sky high, are disingenuous hypocrites when it comes to family values (such as regularly using prostitutes, using taxpayer dollars to visit mistresses, etc.), try to vote in legislation that prohibits the fundamental right of a husband from determining a humane course of action for his medically proven brain-dead wife, vote in intrusive "security" legislation that effectively overrides personal rights guaranteed in the Constitution, condone torture prohibited by the Geneva Conventions, deliberately expose the secret identity of CIA agent, and on and on and on.
Repeat after me: Republicans, good. Democrats, evil socialist baby killers who should be stopped at all costs!
See how easy that was?
I would like to publicly thank our elected officials for continuing to provide me with job security.
On Unions seek bargaining over electronic pay stubs
I like getting mine in the mail. It's a refreshing change from the usual bills and junk mail!
I've used E Pay Stubs for 25 years, direct deposit for 24 years and haven't missed a payday yet. Time to push the dinosaurs off the reserve if there really is someone out there with issues. The Unions have to create problems that really don't affect anyone so they can get their "good deads" in the papers to show what a valuable service they are providing beyond funding crooked politicians.
On Burning Question: What's the significance of April 19?
Actually, Hitler's birthday was April 20
April 19th is Hitler's Birthday. It is one of the "among us" codes for neo-Nazis and anti-Semites who are full of hate, not least for federal employees. It was chosen for that reason by McVeigh and by the Columbine killers and several others, many of whom are actually not "lone wolves". We have had all too many incidents of gun assaults on federal employees doing their jobs, including the murders of meat inspectors, and assaults on BLM agents and many others. If the sponsors of this rally do not want to be associated with insane fascist thugs, they should cancel the rally called for this infamous date. A call to protect 2nd Amendment rights that provides cover for those who celebrate violence and hate in political discourse is un-American and dangerous.
Dear Cindy: The fact that a gun "looks" scary is actually a good thing. If someone breaks into my house, or if I am confronting a criminal element, I want them to visualize my gun as if it was a 150mm howitzer. By the way, you would be perfectly safe from any dangerous person or animal if you were next to a private law abiding citizen carrying an "assult rifle" or probably any other type of gun. And, to Mr. "Guns don't kill, huh?" You unpatriotic facist coward! Just try walking down a dark alley in Detroit or some other crime ridden big city without a gun for protection. You might change your mind...assuming you survived the human animals that live there.
The comment about it being "atrocious that anyone would not consider the Oklahoma City bombing when scheduling the date [to support 2d Amendment rights]" seems a non-sequitor. What has one to do with the other? The anti-gun tilt also seems out of place. Why would we disarm ourselves when there are people who want to attack and kill us?
I find it atrocious that anyone could compare lawful gun ownership with the OKC bombing, April 19 is also my birthday so put a lid on your anti gun liberal opinion.
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