This is such a good topic. I am certainly not an arbiter of anything but I think much of what is shared in this back and forth is true - I think, in many ways, we are saying the same thing. While I think there have been improvements in government service over the years, there are still areas that wasteful - echoed by most of the commentary. There is also alignment in the nature of the cuts - they are not strategic or surgical - instead they appear to be cuts to make cuts. This is unlike the efforts undertaken by Gore at the start of the Clinton administration - irrespective of the Tesla fella saying that this is similar. I am mostly concerned about the arbitrary nature of these reductions and the consequences that will likely ensue. And, it is hard not to ignore the impact that this approach is having on so many families - many who probably do very good and others who have had a nice ride. Though, my naive self believes that there are fewer of those folks these days.
There is bloat everywhere. But you don’t eliminate haphazardly without a plan or understanding what is going on, who is helped, research conducted. We are rudderless and heading toward a break wall.
Man, maybe I've been working the wrong jobs my whole life. Maybe we have different definitions of bloat? I don't think everything has to run at 100% efficiency like Amazon on acid, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. But I've worked over two dozen jobs in the past 25 years and I can say there's no bloat like government bloat and if it was a private business it would fail miserably. I believe I said that what's happening is not good and there should be careful considerations in cutting, but if someone wants to make $100k and a full pension for 4 hours of work a week, let me ask: would you hire them as an employee?
What's happening the USA these days is not the way. I work in big tech, and the last few years have not been kind to employees. Much of this imo was driven by how Elon Musk acquired Twitter and unceremoniously and cruelly cut it up. Fired employees indiscriminately. Treated them like disposable resources. It gave other companies and leaders cover to do the same at their companies. The shareholders have loved it.
To be fair, we (those of us that work in software development) mostly still get paid very well. And we have a lot freedom and amenities in our day-to-day.
But the vibes are different. It's unnecessarily cruel. Do companies really have to run at maximum efficiency? Does the government? It's like asking runners to run at race pace for all their runs. Too slow? You're fired. Injured? You're fired. You have other things going on in your life that are preventing you from training hard this month? Too bad, you're fired. You just want to coast for a bit? Nope, you're fired too.
I agree with you, it's not a good precedent. I think work should be rewarding and part of that is offering incentives that help workers: good vacation, better parental leave, obviously paid sick time and holidays. I don't think the govt has to run at maximum efficiency, but if you contribute nothing and do less than the bare minimum, don't be surprised or complain when your position gets cut.
Fair! The problem is that the cuts are indiscriminate. Bad employees are getting fire, but so are good and essential ones. This creates a culture of fear and uncertainty for the remaining employees: "am I next?", "why does anything even matter if ___ who was a superstar got fired?"
This indiscriminate firing is being framed as a one-time necessary emergency action to cut decades of built up fat, but it's not. It's a deliberate culture change. A way to signal to both remaining employees and the public that all government workers are not worthy.
Yeah, I definitely don't agree with the way things are being carried out. At all. But conversely, if any one of the last eight administrations fulfilled their promises to trim waste and cut back on spending, well... maybe we wouldn't be here right now.
I spent most of my early career in government and your assessment is fair. There are opportunities to reduce waste and be more efficient in government. And, I am sure we also know a great many people who work really hard and are very mission-focused in our government agencies. Some of the brightest people I ever worked with were in government but they were in an agency headquarters vs an outpost or regional office and I think there is a difference when it comes to environment you work in. And, your main point is spot on - just cutting things, including people, to cut things is not the answer and it may result in some very challenging unintended consequences.
Best one yet Robbe, I have seen DOD civilians and contractors throughout my military career that made my existence felt like a burden to them. Whenever you go into the office to ask for something or for them just to do their job they’d find every way to not. Then some of the most talented impressive people I’ve ever met. I’ve also been DOD civilians, helping us with doctrine reform at the infantry and armor school. But I have seen a lot more bad than good. I also know the feeling of wanting a purpose driven life outside of just a paycheck. When you just need money for security it’s the most important thing what I can’t understand is when you give it to people they turn around and lay down and do the bare minimum (if that).
This is such a good topic. I am certainly not an arbiter of anything but I think much of what is shared in this back and forth is true - I think, in many ways, we are saying the same thing. While I think there have been improvements in government service over the years, there are still areas that wasteful - echoed by most of the commentary. There is also alignment in the nature of the cuts - they are not strategic or surgical - instead they appear to be cuts to make cuts. This is unlike the efforts undertaken by Gore at the start of the Clinton administration - irrespective of the Tesla fella saying that this is similar. I am mostly concerned about the arbitrary nature of these reductions and the consequences that will likely ensue. And, it is hard not to ignore the impact that this approach is having on so many families - many who probably do very good and others who have had a nice ride. Though, my naive self believes that there are fewer of those folks these days.
Aren’t most jobs pointless? I mean seriously.
There is bloat everywhere. But you don’t eliminate haphazardly without a plan or understanding what is going on, who is helped, research conducted. We are rudderless and heading toward a break wall.
Man, maybe I've been working the wrong jobs my whole life. Maybe we have different definitions of bloat? I don't think everything has to run at 100% efficiency like Amazon on acid, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. But I've worked over two dozen jobs in the past 25 years and I can say there's no bloat like government bloat and if it was a private business it would fail miserably. I believe I said that what's happening is not good and there should be careful considerations in cutting, but if someone wants to make $100k and a full pension for 4 hours of work a week, let me ask: would you hire them as an employee?
What's happening the USA these days is not the way. I work in big tech, and the last few years have not been kind to employees. Much of this imo was driven by how Elon Musk acquired Twitter and unceremoniously and cruelly cut it up. Fired employees indiscriminately. Treated them like disposable resources. It gave other companies and leaders cover to do the same at their companies. The shareholders have loved it.
To be fair, we (those of us that work in software development) mostly still get paid very well. And we have a lot freedom and amenities in our day-to-day.
But the vibes are different. It's unnecessarily cruel. Do companies really have to run at maximum efficiency? Does the government? It's like asking runners to run at race pace for all their runs. Too slow? You're fired. Injured? You're fired. You have other things going on in your life that are preventing you from training hard this month? Too bad, you're fired. You just want to coast for a bit? Nope, you're fired too.
This is the culture that Elon created at Twitter/X (which has gone to 💩 and contributes nothing positive to the world btw) and it's the culture he's creating in the United States government.
It's not good. I feel bad for Americans who are not only letting this happen, but (for many) cheering it on.
I agree with you, it's not a good precedent. I think work should be rewarding and part of that is offering incentives that help workers: good vacation, better parental leave, obviously paid sick time and holidays. I don't think the govt has to run at maximum efficiency, but if you contribute nothing and do less than the bare minimum, don't be surprised or complain when your position gets cut.
Fair! The problem is that the cuts are indiscriminate. Bad employees are getting fire, but so are good and essential ones. This creates a culture of fear and uncertainty for the remaining employees: "am I next?", "why does anything even matter if ___ who was a superstar got fired?"
This indiscriminate firing is being framed as a one-time necessary emergency action to cut decades of built up fat, but it's not. It's a deliberate culture change. A way to signal to both remaining employees and the public that all government workers are not worthy.
Yeah, I definitely don't agree with the way things are being carried out. At all. But conversely, if any one of the last eight administrations fulfilled their promises to trim waste and cut back on spending, well... maybe we wouldn't be here right now.
Paragraph one was a ride. Great work, as always.
I spent most of my early career in government and your assessment is fair. There are opportunities to reduce waste and be more efficient in government. And, I am sure we also know a great many people who work really hard and are very mission-focused in our government agencies. Some of the brightest people I ever worked with were in government but they were in an agency headquarters vs an outpost or regional office and I think there is a difference when it comes to environment you work in. And, your main point is spot on - just cutting things, including people, to cut things is not the answer and it may result in some very challenging unintended consequences.
Best one yet Robbe, I have seen DOD civilians and contractors throughout my military career that made my existence felt like a burden to them. Whenever you go into the office to ask for something or for them just to do their job they’d find every way to not. Then some of the most talented impressive people I’ve ever met. I’ve also been DOD civilians, helping us with doctrine reform at the infantry and armor school. But I have seen a lot more bad than good. I also know the feeling of wanting a purpose driven life outside of just a paycheck. When you just need money for security it’s the most important thing what I can’t understand is when you give it to people they turn around and lay down and do the bare minimum (if that).