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Just the beginning of change
1.
What is everyone talking about? I'll admit I thought Golberg's book Liberal Fascists was horrible, but he is making some worthwhile points in this column. Almost across the board, you can count on government programs to be inefficient and wasteful. I agree that the government can be effective in a socialized country, but when you have such a big private sector, who in their right mine with any kind of talent would want to be a civil-servant or government employee? not many. The US government pays a bunch of morons to fill a bunch of pointless job-slots,
2. "Perhaps some of this dysfunctionality has been due to a Republican majority in Congress and a Republican White House that has made dismantling government oversight a primary tenet." Jim Batell.... Perhaps and ifs arent going to cut it on this issue. Its not a republican democrat thing, Its just an example of what governement does when it tries to manage / micro-manage ANYTHING. The point is the same thing will happen to ANYTHING the government DOES take control of.
3. And these are the people that want to manage: Health Care. The Oil Industry. Automobile Manufacturing. These people cant even manage a freakin restaurant for gods sake. We the people are in a lot of trouble..........
4. In the interest of honest reporting, I must take issue with the reference to "...a national health insurance plan overseen by the kith and kin who serve the Senate its Navy Bean soup." The administrative overhead of the Medicare program was about in the 4%-5% range the last time I checked, while the major commercial healthcare carriers run in the 20%-30% range. To fellow contributor Tupac I say "yes - these are indeed the people that should be managing healthcare - the private sector is doing a lousy job with their part."
5. Government workers are not inherently bad, private workers are not inherently good. It's a question of accountability. Private companies in a competitive market face stricter accountability than a government agency. Even a giant corporation can get in big trouble fast if it's out of touch wth its customers (think GM's glut of SUVs). The government is accountable through the political process, but no one department or agency is going to be a big political issue unless it's in crisis (FEMA); muddling through with a tolerable mediocrity is usually enough to stay off the radar.
6. Theoretically government should be efficient and capable. The key word is should. Unfortunately human nature, be it Democrat or Republican takes over, and what you get too often with government run entity is a King-Drew Medical Center or the DMV or the Senate Dining room. Don't confuse your pie in the sky theory with reality.
7. And THESE are the people who want to manage everyone's healthcare? They can't even manage a freakin' dining facility? Lord help us!
8. Perhaps some of this dysfunctionality has been due to a Republican majority in Congress and a Republican White House that has made dismantling government oversight a primary tenet. If an avowed principal is "government is bad", how can we expect anything from them but bad government? It is a self fulfilling prophecy. Perhaps Mr. Goldberg would prefer to turn control of the OTB to organized crime? Certainly, they know how to make a profit.
9. But then, back to the restaurant: All you need is a competent floor manager and a competent kitchen manager and few good chefs. Your floor manager retrains the floor staff to a new level of skill. He or she goes to the National Gallery and borrows some art for those drab walls. The current kitchen staff is relegated to prep cooks and support staff and the new, experienced chefs take the line during service. The menu is revamped. Shazam! Senators will be lining up out the door for their own restaurant, no privatization needed, only competent leadership.
10. Here's the issue: If your ideology states that government is inefficient and bad, then you are put in charge of that government, why would you put competent, capable people in leadership positions and prove your own ideology wrong? The terrific irony is when right-wingers claim that government it's self is the problem, when really, it's the LEADERSHIP of that government that determines its effectiveness.
Submitted by: Drew
2. "Perhaps some of this dysfunctionality has been due to a Republican majority in Congress and a Republican White House that has made dismantling government oversight a primary tenet." Jim Batell.... Perhaps and ifs arent going to cut it on this issue. Its not a republican democrat thing, Its just an example of what governement does when it tries to manage / micro-manage ANYTHING. The point is the same thing will happen to ANYTHING the government DOES take control of.
Submitted by: Kevoh
3. And these are the people that want to manage: Health Care. The Oil Industry. Automobile Manufacturing. These people cant even manage a freakin restaurant for gods sake. We the people are in a lot of trouble..........
Submitted by: Kevoh
4. In the interest of honest reporting, I must take issue with the reference to "...a national health insurance plan overseen by the kith and kin who serve the Senate its Navy Bean soup." The administrative overhead of the Medicare program was about in the 4%-5% range the last time I checked, while the major commercial healthcare carriers run in the 20%-30% range. To fellow contributor Tupac I say "yes - these are indeed the people that should be managing healthcare - the private sector is doing a lousy job with their part."
Submitted by: William David
5. Government workers are not inherently bad, private workers are not inherently good. It's a question of accountability. Private companies in a competitive market face stricter accountability than a government agency. Even a giant corporation can get in big trouble fast if it's out of touch wth its customers (think GM's glut of SUVs). The government is accountable through the political process, but no one department or agency is going to be a big political issue unless it's in crisis (FEMA); muddling through with a tolerable mediocrity is usually enough to stay off the radar.
Submitted by: HB Freddie
6. Theoretically government should be efficient and capable. The key word is should. Unfortunately human nature, be it Democrat or Republican takes over, and what you get too often with government run entity is a King-Drew Medical Center or the DMV or the Senate Dining room. Don't confuse your pie in the sky theory with reality.
Submitted by: buz
7. And THESE are the people who want to manage everyone's healthcare? They can't even manage a freakin' dining facility? Lord help us!
Submitted by: Tupac Goldstein
8. Perhaps some of this dysfunctionality has been due to a Republican majority in Congress and a Republican White House that has made dismantling government oversight a primary tenet. If an avowed principal is "government is bad", how can we expect anything from them but bad government? It is a self fulfilling prophecy. Perhaps Mr. Goldberg would prefer to turn control of the OTB to organized crime? Certainly, they know how to make a profit.
Submitted by: Jim Bartell
9. But then, back to the restaurant: All you need is a competent floor manager and a competent kitchen manager and few good chefs. Your floor manager retrains the floor staff to a new level of skill. He or she goes to the National Gallery and borrows some art for those drab walls. The current kitchen staff is relegated to prep cooks and support staff and the new, experienced chefs take the line during service. The menu is revamped. Shazam! Senators will be lining up out the door for their own restaurant, no privatization needed, only competent leadership.
Submitted by: Super90
10. Here's the issue: If your ideology states that government is inefficient and bad, then you are put in charge of that government, why would you put competent, capable people in leadership positions and prove your own ideology wrong? The terrific irony is when right-wingers claim that government it's self is the problem, when really, it's the LEADERSHIP of that government that determines its effectiveness.
Submitted by: Super90
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