Name:   copperline - Subject:   On government excess & inefficiency Date:   2/23/2016 9:12:52 AM

Thanks for the reply and i hope i didn't offend.   Frankly, my reaction to your description of your job(s) was to be a bit overwhelmed and i think you've underscored my point.    There is no place in the world were you could have gotten such varied & diverse job experience as you did in the government  because there is nothing like it in the non-government work world.   For us confirmed civilians, what you just described can be a bit hard to relate to.

Honestly, a lot of my concern comes from worrying that the unceasing calls to reduce taxes & "eliminate big government" could undermine the necessary social safety nets in this country, and that same political sentiment creates a campaign to characterize all things government as bad, corrupt, overpriced and suspect.   When our national narrative demonizes all government spending (Progressives have focused on defense spending, Conservatives on foreign aid policy & domestic programs), it becomes easier to get those cuts through Legislatures & Congress.   

The other two replies to this thread described opinions that the iRS is being used as a flagrant political weapon and that the VA is staffed by people who are asleep or busy playing video games.   Unfortunately, those sentiments are pretty prevalent and discouraging.   How will we convince the next generation that working in government service is an honorable, admirable thing to do if we think the entire institution is so pitiful?

Thanks for the time you put in.