simple explanation

[GRIMJIM]

Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a
> desert. Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night."
> So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job.
>
> Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?"
> So they created a planning department and hired two people, one person to
> write the instructions, and one person to do time studies.
>
> Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the
> tasks correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department and hired two
> people. One to do the studies and one to write the reports.
>
> Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?" So They
> created two positions: a time keeper and a payroll officer, then hired two
> people.
>
> Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So
> they created an administrative section and hired three people, an
> Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a Legal
> Secretary.
>
> Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one Year and
> we are $918,000 over budget, we must cutback." So they laid off the night
> watchman.
>
> NOW slowly, let it sink in.

[steg]

Sounds like the way it works, Government style, I used to work as a Government Employee, actually one of the few that earned his pay, The old joke about the place was how many people worked their, the answer was "about one in ten", Oh the stories that could be told...............................steg

[wncchester]

I spent virtually all my working life as a contract employee to gov. agencies; USAF, DOD, NASA.  Ask any govie if he works hard and you will get an emphatic "YES!"  Then ask him what he accomplishes...you will get a stunnned expression without a rational word said. 

[swiftman]

I work for people just like that. ((

[Land_Owner]

I personally know a respected design manager for a diverse International Corporation not to be named here.  He works in their "Advanced Programs" Division.  For his entire 35-plus year career, he has not seen a single one of his "advanced programs" leave the conference room and go to construction.  He is WELL PAID (6 figures) and very well benefited.  His Department is energetic and highly funded, not in single or double persons (as in Chief and Secretary), but in entire payrolls.  Now THAT is how progress is laid down in the Aerospace (Rocket Science) World.  It is a "necessary evil" for someone to create THE ALTERNATIVE against which darts and arrows are directed so the "Favored Son" can advance to fruition.  When you are "good" at creating the alternative, the Dark Horse, the Also Ran, you can make a living DOING NOTHING and getting paid (well) for it.

And DO NOT think that this "double dealing / twice the stealing" stops at the gates of Rocket Science. Oh no!   The ENTIRE Environmental Movement is RIFE with it.  Regulators mandate that they be shown "the alternatives" against which the "preferred program" is compared before it is allowed to advance - and there are an unholy number of "preferred programs". 

So WE, YOU AND ME, the TAXPAYER are always paying for something AT LEAST TWICE (if not thrice) before it hits the street.