Video: If government doesn’t work, why expand it?
posted at 11:38 am on March 26, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Yesterday, Congress looked into reports that bureaucrats at the Department of Labor showed little enthusiasm for investigating complaints of “wage theft” and unfair labor practices. Independent investigators found that calling the complaint line usually resulted in no action at all, as workers at the agency openly complained about a lack of resources and advised callers to just find another job. The GAO issued a stern report about the failure of the DoL to act on behalf of workers, and Gregory Kutz, Managing Director of GAO’s special investigations unit, testified before Congress to the issue.
This gave Rep. Tom Price, the chair of the Republican Study Committee, an opportunity to point out the basic problems in expanding government power. Watch this colloquy and enjoy Kutz’ obvious discomfort:
Try to imagine, in a government-run health care system, calling to complain about a lack of treatment. What would be the answer — “find another country”? “You’ve lived long enough”? “I’ll bet you’re a hypochondriac”? “Can’t I just eat my waffle?”
The GAO should investigate when government agencies fail to do their jobs and when laws do not get enforced. But we should also remember that bureaucracies serve themselves first above all things, and that placing less power in their hands benefits us more in the long run. At the very least, maybe we should concentrate on fixing what isn’t working before expanding bureaucracies exponentially.
Blowback
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Cause Americans too often think bigger is better!
cars
burgers
boobs
buildings
Bigger ain’t always better
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Um, I was told that only government can solve our problems and there are a whole lot of problems. So government has to be bigger to solve those problems.
It makes perfect sense if you don’t think about it.
myrenovations on March 26, 2009 at 11:42 AM
We need to get away from the “government is too big” line. Most of the middle mushyheads don’t get it. They do understand the terms “bankruptcy” and “Socialism” however.
faraway on March 26, 2009 at 11:43 AM
SHHHH… the president is on tv AGAIN.
milwife88 on March 26, 2009 at 11:44 AM
What do they expect when government workers damn near have a job for life, protected by unions and the organization itself? When was the last time you heard of government laying off government employees in any real number (besides teachers)?
Bishop on March 26, 2009 at 11:44 AM
faraway, good points, but the middle mushyheads don’t understand socialism either. They are generally in the narcissistic view of “what about me? Enough about you, give me something so I can stay home and play more Guitar Hero on my shiny new XBox”.
kirkill on March 26, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Hey, hey, hey. I was with you up until that point. Let’s not go overboard, now. :-)
amerpundit on March 26, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Barry is such a tard…
“The VA doesnt work …blah blah blah”
“Oh by the way Universal Heath Care will be AWESOME”
alexraye on March 26, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Nothing wrong with big boobs.
todler on March 26, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Can anyone give me an example of any government employee or part of the government that doesn’t suck at what they do, except for our armed forces, and parts of the FBI, and CIA?
MDWNJ on March 26, 2009 at 11:46 AM
SHHHH… the president is on tv AGAIN.
milwife88 on March 26, 2009 at 11:44 AM
What the…? Seriously, what the…? We’re starting to see this fud more often than old ‘Cheers’ reruns.
Bishop on March 26, 2009 at 11:46 AM
the bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy.
ernesto on March 26, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Government is not the solution, its the problem.
Maxx on March 26, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Bishop on March 26, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Yep the online town hall meeting. Did you email your questions to dear leader? Is it too early to start the “Obama Uhhh Ummmm” drinking game?
milwife88 on March 26, 2009 at 11:48 AM
We need a good discussion on this topic. There is an ideal attractive size of boob that is neither too big nor too small, although I lean towards smaller is better, just like in government.
kirkill on March 26, 2009 at 11:48 AM
ernesto on March 26, 2009 at 11:48 AM
A voice crying in the wilderness…
PattyJ on March 26, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Thank you for calling the National Healthcare Association. Please press 1 for the Spanish line.
If you are experiencing a heart attack or chest pains, please 1. Your call will be answered in the order in which it was received. Your estimated waiting time is 7 minutes.
AubieJon on March 26, 2009 at 11:48 AM
although I lean towards smaller is better
kirkill on March 26, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Get out.
Bishop on March 26, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Obama just said he received scholarships for his education. Really? havent heard that. Who from?
faraway on March 26, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Least popular commenter of the day … at least among male Hot Air readers. ;-)
Ed Morrissey on March 26, 2009 at 11:50 AM
There is no such thing as a bad set, kinda of like there is no such thing as a bad day off fishing, as long as you have enough alcohol.
MDWNJ on March 26, 2009 at 11:51 AM
If any one entity dominates an agency, it results in a stifling of innovation and contentment with the status quo.
Because the attitude of those on the front lines becomes, “You have two choices. You can take it or leave it.”
That’s just human nature. Do we really want that kind of attitude in our health care system?
Dedicated providers will leave in droves. Young people will not enter the profession. Who wants to work their asses off to get an education, only to take on a huge patient load for low reimbursement?
No one except “Doctors” from third world nations, which is what the UK is up to their armpits in, as a result of nationalized health care.
Bammy can barely get out of his own way, this is the last guy we need “reforming” anything. To reform something, you must first as least get SOMETHING right.
NoDonkey on March 26, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Umm… Explain to me please which of the above things is NOT better when its bigger?
Which would you prefer?
Cars – Drive a Cooper Mini in a crash OR Hummer in a crash
Burger – One Burger OR Two burgers
Buildings – 2 bed one bath home OR 4 bed 3 bath home (residence with 4 kids)
The last one doesn’t even need mentioning.
bigskinny on March 26, 2009 at 11:53 AM
The vast majority of GS workers between GS-3 and GS-10 have no other purpose than to make sure their job is secure.
Have witnessed it across government for a few decades. An empty in-box means that the worker is not looking out for job security. An enthusiastic GS employee is often taken to task by co-workers, directly or through sabotage…because, one enthusiastic worker can make all the other workers look bad.
Stop in to just about any non-essential government Department…Labor, Commerce, HHS, Education, Interior…and watch the worker bees at work. It is as if someone smoked the hive most of the time. Lethargy writ large.
No amount of more money is going to change that basic GS work ethic. It is far worse in Washington than in any of the regional offices, and those regional offices are pretty dismal.
But, the SEIU, NFFE and AFGE make sure than no worker is required to meet or exceed suggested performance norms. And this is where they hold power, often unlimited power, over government. Lowering standards and lowering work expectencies over the years has made government far less efficient than ever.
And the battle cry? “Give them more money. That’ll fix the problem.”
Just wait till we get National Health Care run by government GS workers. Thought your HMO was non-responsive? Just wait another year or so when Obama-medicaid becomes mandatory.
coldwarrior on March 26, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Dear Leader is speaking, he’s saying words, but he’s not making any sense. He says that if you can’t afford your house, never fear! The stimulus is here! $50 Billion ought to do it. Just refinance your home, after all 40% should do it. So just throw out some numbers and hope for the best change.
kirkill on March 26, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Blatant Blue retracts his previous statement on large breasts.
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 11:54 AM
this may make me seem like a girl again, but I agree on all of those points.
angelwing34215 on March 26, 2009 at 11:55 AM
There is when they get elected to congress.
DamnCat on March 26, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Blatant blue did not mean big breasts, cars, homes, or burgers are bad, but perhaps people like big things so much that they think big government must be good too!
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Who are all those boobs sitting behind Obambi?
AubieJon on March 26, 2009 at 11:56 AM
thank you!!
right4life on March 26, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Blatant Blue retracts his previous statement on large breasts.
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Bishop calls off the contract against blatantblue.
Bishop on March 26, 2009 at 11:56 AM
you know i just went to a federal jobs workshop at my college…quite informative. GS pay really is determined solely by status upon entry and time served. If you had honors with your AA from the local community college you automatically make a little more. Once in a grade, you really do just sit there and wait for the automatic raises to kick in. While part of me is keen to the idea of getting a GS9+ position at state or defense, that kind of culture can only breed mediocrity.
ernesto on March 26, 2009 at 11:58 AM
However… When it comes to the gobmint, Its slightly different.
Which would you prefer?
IRS – lower taxes OR higher taxes
US President on TV – Once a quarter OR jeez how many times has he been on TV already this year?
I think you are getting the picture.
bigskinny on March 26, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Hope and Change!
strosfan on March 26, 2009 at 11:58 AM
I thank you all for keeping us a breast of the current situation.
Can we get someone to pass a law limiting Barry’s appearances on TV? Please.
kingsjester on March 26, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Dear Leader, “Green energy will put our economy on a more firm footing”…to paraphrase…egad.
At least he’s honest to the lady asking for outsourced jobs to come back…”they ain’t comin’ back”! Because we need a one world, one government, one economy. And Dear Leader is the ruler of the world!
kirkill on March 26, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Except when they’re running the country.
Patrick S on March 26, 2009 at 11:59 AM
strosfan on March 26, 2009 at 11:59 AM
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1245660.ece
Blatantblue might have a point.
MDWNJ on March 26, 2009 at 12:00 PM
The Biggest Boob in the country is speaking online from the White house right now.
kirkill on March 26, 2009 at 12:01 PM
You caved just when I was about to get your back!
pugwriter on March 26, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Does this mean we get a reprieve from a getalife for a while?
Knucklehead on March 26, 2009 at 12:03 PM
I give the average voter a lot more credit than the Left, or apparently some commenters here, do. I think that, given accurate information in advance – something that was clearly lacking this past decade and more from the usual suspects – they come to much the same conclusions the rest of us do. The main difference between them and us is that they simply do not actively seek the news quite to the level we here in the HA comments do (which sometimes does seem to look like an “info junkie” seeking a repeated “fix”).
You know what I’m looking for in a candidate? Someone who is willing to go in and absolutely demolish the existing bureaucracy. “I come not to praise Big Brother, but to bury him.” I’m looking for Representatives and Senators that will not merely seek to find a stasis with the Government, but to actively roll back most of the overreaching programs that have been tacked onto it over the last century and more – and are willing to put into place legislation for term limits, to eliminate the sloth and tendency toward royalism (in fact if not in name) in American politics. I’m looking for a candidate for POTUS who will nominate to the judiciary strict-constructionalists who kick “social-justice” decisions back to the legislative branch where they belong; one who will forswear the use of the “Executive Order;” and one who is willing to summarily fire pretty much every civil servant whose job amounts to social “engineering” – especially those ones who are so inept that they ignore the basic numbers involved. You bring me a slate of candidates like that, from either party, and they’ll get my vote ten times in ten.
In short, I’m looking for candidates who trust not only active participants like us in the HA comments, but also those “average voters,” etc, to each be able to look after our own affairs without interference from Washington. And I think that most people in the US, even among those who voted for Obama this last go-around, are looking for much the same thing.
Blacksmith on March 26, 2009 at 12:04 PM
And our large chested ladies
:[
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Some moron from California emailed Ogabe a question asking why we can’t have a nationalized healthcare system like in Europe.
Amazing how these boobs are so willing to throw away a system that works and is efficient.
AubieJon on March 26, 2009 at 12:06 PM
I love em all
big small
and in between
just love em
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Ernesto…I’d look at DoD long before I’d look at State. DoD does do a lot of good work, and most of the employees (not those sitting at desks in the Pentagon) actually perform some heroic work, some very vital work.
As for State…remember this…if you are NOT an FSO, at State you are nothing. Period. The Foreign Service needs good people, and the culture within the FSO ranks is changing..for the better compared to what it was and has been for decades. Check out the Foreign Service exam schedule, get on the list. Pursue it. Avoid going to State as a staff or admin employee.
It is those non-essential government Departments that harbor the most lethargic and least productive members of government. Avoid these at all costs if you have a soul.
coldwarrior on March 26, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Thats actually quite comforting. i was thinking FSO maybe one day, but heard it was a bad culture there
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Hey, more HotAir & Ed shout outs from Rush.
rbj on March 26, 2009 at 12:09 PM
The government couldn’t even catch Madoff when the case was repeatedly handed to them on a silver platter. They were given a step-by-step map to the fraud that could have been verified with even a little bit of effort. If they can’t get a $50B Ponzy Scheme when it is handed to them, they can’t do anything (Military exclude). All large Government bureaucracies are inherently incompetent and inept.It is the nature of the beast. They hire the wrong people, for the wrong reasons to do the wrong jobs. Those people only care about making it through each day and making it to their pension.
TheBigOldDog on March 26, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Knucklehead on March 26, 2009 at 12:03 PM
One can only hope. However, I am sure that he/she is taking notes and will spew them over and over later today on another thread.
milwife88 on March 26, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Libs would argue that government doesn’t work only when conservatives/repubs are in control cause they don’t want gov’t to work. I say government can’t handle most jobs put to them because they are way outside the narrow competencies of government, which our Founders in their wisdom recognized but libtards in their delusions fail to discern.
eaglewingz08 on March 26, 2009 at 12:14 PM
The first rule of any bureaucracy is to protect and expand itself. Same as with any animal.
rbj on March 26, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Oh lordy, now we’re gonna have to call the carpenters’ union in order to get Cap’n Ed’s head through the door.
Kidding,! What was the mention referencing? Ed’s scoop on that shoplifting thing?
hillbillyjim on March 26, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Tom Price makes me proud. To bad we don’t have more like him in DC
gatorboy on March 26, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Ogabe just said he plans to have a “National Service” plan in the next few weeks which will in turn pay for youngster’s college.
Invest in rosy cheeks, vacuous smiles and pamphlet-making machines, the “Ogabe Happy Awareness Squad” is coming to a neighborhood near you.
Bishop on March 26, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Think it had something to do with blatantblue and big boobs. :-)
coldwarrior on March 26, 2009 at 12:18 PM
AIG departures.
rbj on March 26, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Obama = Marxist
Democrat = Statist
Their vision for America = Socialism
No more code words, no more dancing around the subject. Actions speak louder than words and the actions of the president and Deomcratic congress make this FACT. Let’s call a spade a spade and if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck then it’s a DUCK. They talk like statists and they certainly walk like statists.
timajin on March 26, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Not in my neighborhood. They will get laughed at, at best, or their collective asses kicked.
MDWNJ on March 26, 2009 at 12:20 PM
The leader of our party says it best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0NWqvRidlk
Zetterson on March 26, 2009 at 12:21 PM
You ain’t right!
Thanks.
hillbillyjim on March 26, 2009 at 12:21 PM
I’d start weeping joyfully if Rush mentioned that!
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 12:21 PM
When the postal service can operate not at a lost call me.
When the DMV’s customer service is half as good as the phone company (yeah, can you believe they actually make phone companies look good) and the wait times only twice that of a doctor’s office call me.
Scary ain’t it.
- The Cat
P.S. Don’t worry though. You can make it better when it’s your turn to ‘volunteer.’
P.P.S. But we know it won’t really be for the DMV and such, it’ll be for the Kennedy Memorial Soup Kitchens.
MirCat on March 26, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Why in the Sam Hell isn’t HE WORKING????
Doesn’t being President require at least a few hours’ work per day, especially during a crisis crisis crisis?
He’s becoming the biggest public stooge and I am sure the world is watching and sniggering.
Sickening.
I guess this rant is in line with the topic about government work ethic. {{{phhht}}}
tru2tx on March 26, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Nope. :-)
coldwarrior on March 26, 2009 at 12:24 PM
my lady would surely object to the foreign service…but after looking at some sample questions and the outline…it looks like a dream job.
ernesto on March 26, 2009 at 12:27 PM
That’s my congressman. He’s been doing a great job and has been casting the right votes. I, too, wish there were more like him.
TedInATL on March 26, 2009 at 12:28 PM
I hate big boobs like Dodd and Frank. Not only are they big boobs, but they suck the the goverment huge boob for their incomes.
saiga on March 26, 2009 at 12:30 PM
The FSO exam was the toughest exam I’ve ever taken…and that is just the written test. The oral assessment/exam is similar to the Star Chamber or facing Tomas de Torquemada back during the Spanish Inquisition.
About ten percent pass the written, of these about 30-40% get past the orals, depending on the needs of the service.
Foreign service is actually a pretty good gig. Head for the armpit nations instead of the modern capitals and you’ll get a lot more enjoyment and job satisfaction along the way.
coldwarrior on March 26, 2009 at 12:34 PM
I’m enjoying this thread and the male species’ utter fascination with boobs. However, my twins are being coy.
RepubChica on March 26, 2009 at 12:36 PM
You gotta be $#!++ing me! Not making sense?!?! Really!?!?!
/sarc
What do you expect from a coke-head whose campaign speeches were paens to the non sequitur? The complete nonsense that this moron spouts on a regular basis is breathtakingly comprehensive, yet we see no questioning by the mid-stream media.
I’ve worked with government departments (as a vendor, getting some of my tax money back) on and off for years, and have never failed to be completely underwhelmed with their collective competence or individual initiative. If you think the schools are bad, just wait until we have government-run health care!
mr.blacksheep on March 26, 2009 at 12:37 PM
sounds pretty tough…but im a poli sci major. my options are busting my @ss getting a law degree or busting my @ss doing something like this. this seems much more fulfilling. and if i get to choose my first assignment, it’ll be a tossup between japan and brazil :-).
ernesto on March 26, 2009 at 12:37 PM
I’m sure those questions have been submitted by campaign workers, or perhaps TOTUS himself. Please, I wasn’t born yesterday!!
The people sitting there look like they’re thinking, jeez, this is not as cool as I thought it would be. How much longer is he gonna go?
PattyJ on March 26, 2009 at 12:40 PM
somehow i get the impression you werent referring to our previous president as a cokehead…
ernesto on March 26, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Boobs, butts and lips.
The bigger the better.
getalife on March 26, 2009 at 12:49 PM
This deserves the photoshopping of a nipple on the foreheads.
- The Cat
MirCat on March 26, 2009 at 12:49 PM
You a brotha, G?
RepubChica on March 26, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Does it matter?
getalife on March 26, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I’ll point out that I agree with blatantblue’s original comment.
As for the rest, my mom is a good government engineer with DoD. So is my twin brother. It’s a constant uphill battle against the unfortunately-ubiquitous ‘career men’.
Good government employees do exist. They’re just rare.
I’ll take a look at State. ;)
Scott H on March 26, 2009 at 12:52 PM
one need not be a brotha to appreciate the finer things in life…
ernesto on March 26, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I would gladly pay the taxes to fund paying these people their current salaries for life, in exchange for them no longer having the power to destroy my country.
The Monster on March 26, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Ugg… Please do NOT photoshop any wardrobe failures onto our politicians. Nothing else could turn me off faster than to potentially imagine… oh NO there I go… ewwwww!
bigskinny on March 26, 2009 at 12:53 PM
It would make u tinge more fascinating from a social standpoint….and explain a lot of things. I’m not being malicious in any way, just sincere curiosity…but I know the drill–Nunya!
RepubChica on March 26, 2009 at 12:55 PM
True that.
RepubChica on March 26, 2009 at 12:55 PM
I try not divulge any personal information so the kids will not use it in their attacks.
getalife on March 26, 2009 at 12:56 PM
But he is not nearly as entertaining as Maxine Waters.
myrenovations on March 26, 2009 at 12:57 PM
If you think I’m a fan of GWB, you’re mistaken.
I do find it interesting, however, that, tacitly, you’re saying that if GWB did it, it must be OK. And here I was thinking that you would have viewed him poorly. Little did I know you admired him so much you would use him as a standard.
Such arguments are the most bizarre of the liberal savaging of well-accepted logical tenets (see here for a little instruction on logical fallacies if you want to have your world shattered): “GWB is bad. Obama does something bad. But GWB did it, so therefore it isn’t bad.”
mr.blacksheep on March 26, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Repub chicka, do they make your back hurt?
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Smart move…especially considering you’re in enemy territory! :-0 Okay then, proceed taking it to the “kids” then and let me stop hindering you from your work!
RepubChica on March 26, 2009 at 1:04 PM
LoL! No. C cup is hardly backbreaking, BB.
RepubChica on March 26, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Good to see another legislator demonstrate an understanding that government is bad. Can we put Price on the “keeper” list?
hawksruleva on March 26, 2009 at 1:06 PM
you’re assuming i made a value judgment…that somehow i implied it was ok. i did nothing of the sort. i just find that 9 times out of 10 when someone brings up the coke thing they do so knowing full well it didnt bother them that Bush did it.
ernesto on March 26, 2009 at 1:09 PM
As Borat would say
“veyy niiiice”
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 1:10 PM
So what was your point then?
mr.blacksheep on March 26, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Hope your twins are old enough for the saucy dialogue in this thread. And why aren’t they in school today?
whitetop on March 26, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Like women aren’t fascinated (to use the vernacular)? How much money would you say is spent on breast ostentation? Enhancements, bras, show-off clothing, the list goes on.
It works like this: when you’re a baby, you are classically conditioned to react favorably to breasts: breast = food. More breast must therefore equal more food. Consequently, bigger is better.
(Do I need a disclaimer stating that this is a weak attempt at satire?)
mr.blacksheep on March 26, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Sooooooooooo………..
………….. are they hiring? I would love to be in a position to tell someone who voted for Mr. Teleprompter who called the government for assistance to go pound sand.
Seven Percent Solution on March 26, 2009 at 1:24 PM
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