The Week in Comments: The debt ceiling looms large
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 Hiring reform may not be enough to boost federal workforce
What a revelation! They could have asked a lot of fairly new feds who are educated and experienced in places other than the govt for the same feedback, a whole lot sooner. My agency treats people like a token to be placed where the agency sees is fit, and you have no say, and no discussion of your own career goals. It won't be changing soon either. And for those of us who are slightly over 40? Its time to look elsewhere for work, while these guys figure out what the private sector has known for years. You employ PEOPLE, not positions.
Sure you are going to get the best and brightest when you freeze employee pay, replace only one employee for every three that retires, increase our pension and health care cost, good luck with that!
Quality would improve if agencies would allow core work to be done outside the Beltway, using telework. Couldn't some jobs be done in other parts of the country? Not everyone wants to work or live in DC.
On OPM chief says employees need more frequent feedback
Too timid to discipline? You should come here to the military base where I work. Managers here harass and punish everyone they don't like....it has absolutely NOTHING to do with work, and I'm not exaggerating. In addition, you cannot imagine the money wasted here on satisfying inflated egos and chasing idiots' ideas. Get real, Berry. You get all your info from management, not employees - how accurate can it be?
I am sure that in between the worthless reports and statistical measurements we do that our management team really has time for this.
Mr. Berry has great ideas. It's a shame they require action by federal managers. There are some great managers and leaders, but the majority were promoted for the wrong reasons. How can we make progress when management cares more about themselves than their employees?
I prefer a pat on the head with my weekly praise. I find it much more sincere when delivered in that fashion.
On Administration sending federal officials to help struggling cities
FAR too much intrusion by the Federal Govt. This is a BIG mistake.
Great. They're sending Car 51 to help the Keystone Cops. I'm sure things will get much better.
I support sending the federal officials. Every little bit helps. I can only hope, however, that the cities will see actual, extra money for their already existing programs. Just because a city applies doesn't mean they get.
On Second living Medal of Honor recipient of Iraq and Afghanistan wars to be recognized
This story should be the lead on every major network for days.
And, to think that our nation gives more attention to the passing of Michael Jackson than to these brave events.
What an outstanding soldier among many brave men and women who serve our nation in uniform. As a nation we must show our appreciation and respect at every level. Thank you Sgt Petry, and thanks to your family for serving with you so faithfully!
On Debt ceiling debate: What happens to feds after Aug. 2 if there's no deal?
We have heard thundering silence...
Our agency and managers tell us nothing. We are mushrooms. They keep us in the dark and feed us you know what. But seriously, we are operating business as usual and it has not been discussed at all.
As of this morning, Department of the Army has not put out anything. I suspect that everyone feels that there will be an 11th hour deal like last time.
No, our agency (IRS) has not provided any information concerning the debt ceiling.
Not hearing a thing in Iowa as far as the Farm Service Agency
DOD, not a peep out of HHQ...why would the workers need to know? It's only our livelihood which is of no interest to our elected representatives/president who are too busy playing the blame game or trying the scare the bejesus out of folks dependent upon Social Security.
We're not hearing anything at all at EPA.
OMB has told leadership to be silent on the issue. Not many people talking about what happens. We all know that there will be furloughs if it happens. State unemployement offices will be swamped. We also do not think the politicians are dumb enough to let this happen. They just enjoy stressing out their workforce.
no, nothing, zero, zip, nada
Dead silence from CBP.
I have heard nothing except from GovExec.
Not a word from the Department of Labor. We'll hear something at the last possible second, just like with the budget shutdown.
On House urged to eliminate mail delivery day
Why not just raise the rate on junk mail. That will fund the mail and stop some of the junk mail.
Win Win situation. Look at the money they would save going to 5 days. Just think when you go away for the week end with no delivery on Sat and Sun, you don't have to call or visit the post office to stop your mail. Less work for the post office in which saves the tax payers money and peace of mind knowing no delivery on Sat and Sun for the end users.
I do believe postal employees should pay more for their health benefits. I don't agree with eliminating saturday delivery unless they keep the post office open for service. Many people cannot get to the post office during the work week and can only conduct business on saturday. Close monday instead.
On Lawmakers push back on Defense workforce cap
This is a pretty stupid argument in light of the budget cuts we at DoD are expecting over the next several years. If you don't have the money, how do you hire anyone, needed or not? These little grandstanding for headlines pranks by both parties serve no one but the egos of the perpetrators.
Arbitrary limits don't save money, they increase the game playing within the organization to shuffle staff, hide money, shove off workload, anything but actually getting the job done. Remember that as soon as any rule is passed, there are thousands of people trying to find a way around it if they can profit.
One things for sure, the big cuts to government won't happen until after the 2012 elections, Obama can't afford the leap in unemployment claims it will cause.
On GOP lawmakers tout Constitutional amendment to require balanced budget
Balanced budgeting cannot and should not be implemented unless they institute capital budgeting. There isn't a business on the planet who doesn't amortize capital expenditures. But again, this is more "symbolic" legislation that will never pass. Just waste more tax payer dollars thinking up imaginary legislation to nowhere, while we still don't have a REAL budget to work with.
I guess these bozos have not heard of the law of unintended consequences. I believe we should have a balanced budget and it should be derived in a spirit of cooperation, unseen in Washington D.C. since its namesake was president. If we have a balanced budget amendment, taxes would by the fact they are the income stream for the government would be required to be equal to the expenditures. No off-budget trickery we say during W. and Dick's reign of fiscal terror. So taxes could be rising to meet the expenditures and that won't make the teabaggers happy.
Yet another GOP pointless gimmick.
On Bill would pay military during a government default
So, we'll throw everyone else under the bus, but the military have guns and know how to use them, huh? That's what it sounds like. Yes, the military deserves to be paid, but so do the CS, the retirees (both military and civilian), and the SS recipients. What a shame they're not as concerned about how to fix the problem as they are at making a political statements.
I see no mention of cuts to Welfare and other "social" programs. Why is it the the elderly and the military would bare the brunt of this administrations tax and spend policy? Why are we forgiving foreign debts while cutting necessary programs? Why is the government even allowed to touch Social Security? Does anyone read this stuff?
Our active duty military deserve to be paid at all times! However, by removing them from the rest of Americans who could be experiencing extreme pain due to our government's inability to reach an agreement on the debt ceiling only enables Congress to dither even longer on an issue that needs immediate resolution. Keeping our military in the arena of potential non-payment will insure Congress does it job. Oh, and by the way, I hope the American public remembers this situation when election time rolls around.
Divide and conquer? I say we all swim or float together. Politicians need to stop playing games with the people of the US.