Fifty Plus (50+) - There are some very smart people in the world...

...but not enough of them work for the government. Two illustrations:

It's downright hilarious that the 'anonymous' hacking group was able to publish a recording of conference call between the FBI and the UK police, with the topic of the cll being, you guessed it, how to track down said hacking group. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16875921)

After spending lots of time and lots of money investigating Lance Armstrong, a great athlete that everyone knows also doped, they have decided not to file charges. (http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/03/sport/lance-armstrong/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn)

I was proven wrong by the second item, as I felt sure they would eventually file charges. That probably means I'm wrong about Alberto, which is good, because if I am, he will be in this year's TdF.

In the case of the FBI, it's probably more a matter of arrogance than anything else. Or perhaps they forgot that hacking began with the phone preaks of the 70s.

Either way--and I say this as a government employee--the brightest bulbs in the pack generally aren't those who make the decisions. The stories I could tell…

Another example of the perpetual truth of the Peter Principle; I've managed to defeat it by rejecting 'upward mobility' with my employer. I personally can't stand not being productive on the job, so I stay where I know I'm 'overqualified'. (Wouldn't be enough extra pay to make up for the stress, either,....)

I think you could say the same thing about any industry/business/enterprise. But then again, if only I were king...

The only difference between "government work" and "private enterprise" is the first one does not go bankrupt but both enterprises are made of humans and we know too well how fallible they can be.

If I were to recommend one thing is that government employees should have a time limit in their position or working for the government!

News flash: after millennia of evolution, Man is still basically a dumb-ass, and always will be. If an institution involves human participation, it will be prone to error. The more powerful the institution it is, and the more clever the leaders imagine themselves to be, the more grievous their errors will be.

Why anyone would believe otherwise is way beyond me, yet they do.

News flash: after millennia of evolution, Man is still basically a dumb-ass, and always will be. If an institution involves human participation, it will be prone to error. The more powerful the institution it is, and the more clever the leaders imagine themselves to be, the more grievous their errors will be.

Why anyone would believe otherwise is way beyond me, yet they do.
Also...aren't we the only species that kill for pleasure?

Also...aren't we the only species that kill for pleasure?

No, there are some big cats that kill for pleasure.

No, there are some big cats that kill for pleasure.

Any hunter will hunt even without the immediate need of food. There's probably a biological imperative to stay in practice, and to get pleasure from the hunt itself. Even a standard house cat kills for pleasure.

I believe we could find some private sector snafus, and evil, if we looked around a little.

I believe we could find some private sector snafus, and evil, if we looked around a little.
:lol:

Let me be the first...:popcorn

:D

The ARE some very smart people in the world. There are also some very DUMB people. I encountered two of them today.

George Carlin said something like.. think about how dumb the average person is. Now think about the fact that half the people in the world are dumber than that.

No, there are some big cats that kill for pleasure.

Just big cats? Man, you should see the murderous joy that our local tabby cats experience whilst hunting birds, mice, voles, baby rabbits.....

Just big cats? Man, you should see the murderous joy that our local tabby cats experience whilst hunting birds, mice, voles, baby rabbits.....

and feet. My cat use to attack our feet when we walked by the bed.

There have been recorded cases of wild chimps attacking & killing other chimps.

The private sector is certainly also capable of some supremely embarrassing gaffs. You just wish the FBI could be a bit more 'with it' than they appear to be. They've spent billions of (our) dollars on failed or abandoned IT initiatives. But then, they can't issue "FBI Stock Options" to attract the best and brightest in computer science.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x40/TWLBA/f8c937b0.jpg

The only difference between "government work" and "private enterprise" is the first one does not go bankrupt ......................

Not precisely true. If you are Bank of America or Wall St. and own the government you won't go bankrupt either.

Washington has been declared an intelligence free zone for years!!!!!

The private sector is certainly also capable of some supremely embarrassing gaffs. You just wish the FBI could be a bit more 'with it' than they appear to be. They've spent billions of (our) dollars on failed or abandoned IT initiatives. But then, they can't issue "FBI Stock Options" to attract the best and brightest in computer science.

I think the "Anonymous" hackers are out of work and have time on their hands.

Has the Foo Forum been moved here?

Security is an illusion.

Also...aren't we the only species that kill for pleasure?
My cats will take an hour or two to kill a small critter unfortunate enough to draw their attention. It is hard to tell if killing the animal is their intent, but it usually winds up dead. And they aren't hungry, they won't eat their kill.

Did you ever see a killer whale with a seal? They may eventually eat the seal, but they will play with it quite a while before they do.

The only difference between "government work" and "private enterprise" is the first one does not go bankrupt but both enterprises are made of humans and we know too well how fallible they can be.

If I were to recommend one thing is that government employees should have a time limit in their position or working for the government!
I have worked in private industry, but I now work for the government under contract and IMO the main problem with government workers is a lack of incentive not that they are dumb or lazy. That said, it is easier for a dumb or lazy person to hide in a government position.

To get this on topic, if a bike rider doesn't pedal, he won't get far. A stoker who is not pedaling won't be riding much.

An employee in private industry who doesn't do his job, will likely be replaced.

If a government employee doesn't do his job, they will hire him some help or delay the schedule. Only a complete screw up will get him fired.

I have worked in private industry, but I now work for the government under contract and IMO the main problem with government workers is a lack of incentive not that they are dumb or lazy. That said, it is easier for a dumb or lazy person to hide in a government position.

To get this on topic, if a bike rider doesn't pedal, he won't get far. A stoker who is not pedaling won't be riding much.

An employee in private industry who doesn't do his job, will likely be replaced.

If a government employee doesn't do his job, they will hire him some help or delay the schedule. Only a complete screw up will get him fired.

In a way that really suits the role of the government. Since they will usually pay less than workers in private enterprise, I don't think government jobs attract motivated people. Yet all people are not motivated or confident enough to deal with the stress of a higher paying job. I guess it's better that they work for the government than be unemployed.

For equal work, the public sector is better paid than the private sector. I'd have to save my butt off to have the pension plan a retired teacher in Jefferson County has.

For equal work, the public sector is better paid than the private sector. I'd have to save my butt off to have the pension plan a retired teacher in Jefferson County has.

Depends on the sector and the job. I can assure you that managers of large labor forces make more in the private sector. At least that's true here in CT.

George Carlin said something like.. think about how dumb the average person is. Now think about the fact that half the people in the world are dumber than that.

Not only that but a big majority of people are convinced they're above average.

Not only that but a big majority of people are convinced they're above average.

I dunno. There have been times when public officials express concern that half of their districts fall below the 50th percentile. And these people are making the rules...

Also...aren't we the only species that kill for pleasure?

No, if we were, that wouldn't explain one wolf pack killing 100 sheep in one night or running a herd of elk up a box canyon and killing all of them.

It seems "Anonymous" only takes on groups they feel safe with. Some of the hackers were "taken out" after going after Mexican drug organizations. They've kind of backed off a bit on that now.

For equal work, the public sector is better paid than the private sector. I'd have to save my butt off to have the pension plan a retired teacher in Jefferson County has.

In New York State, if you factor in the superior benefits packages that most government jobs provide both pre and post retirement, the private secter then falls behind. First we need to remember that only about 21% of private sector employers even provide a Defined Pension Plan, and those pensions don't go far after Health Insurance payments are figured in for anyone who doesn't yet qualify for Medicare.

My wife worked for the County when we met. After a few years of her working straight days and my working rotating shifts I finally decided that I was far too lonely for a young married man and talked her into leaving that job for a position with a Temp. Service. Since I fall well below the average intelligence level I managed to get her to quit a few months before she was vested. We sure could use that great Health Insurance now. Consider me one of the STUPID ones!!!!

Geeses, you are surprised that the FBI got hacked and they dropped the LA case?

Didn't a retired Florida couple receive confidential congressional phone calls on their CB and record them without ever spending a day in jail?

I was with some FBI folks the weekend of the Atlanta Olympic bombing. The consensus by the feds was that a phone call came from the Attorney General or higher to "get somebody quick" for the crime. The same call was made this year about the LA case. You just can not be spending millions of taxpayer dollars in an election year to "Richard Jewel" Lance.

No, if we were, that wouldn't explain one wolf pack killing 100 sheep in one night or running a herd of elk up a box canyon and killing all of them.

Educate yourself: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2009/11/do_wolves_kill_for_sport.html

Then that can do.
Those that cant teach.
Those that cant teach teach teachers
Those that cant teach teachers administrate
Those that can administrate go into politics.
Now we are at the bottom of the barrel!!!!!

I worked in the federal government a long time starting out in an entry level position and moved up pretty near the top. I also work in the private sector and do a lot of consulting now with the government all over the place. The Congressional Budget Office just completed a study of federal verus private sector pay that's very interesting and pretty much contradicts the government's own pay data. It said overall the pay is very close. But employees with advanced degrees are paid much less in the federal sector while employees with just high school diplomas are paid 25% more.

I see about the same number of bright and not so bright on both sides. But the private sector has two differences. One, private sector employees are focused on much broader issues like the financial well being of their organization, how they can contribute to its success and growth, personal growth and advancement. Second, many government employees become complacent in their jobs. While they want and seek advancement, they don't take the steps to make it happen for themselves. Also they know the repercussions for either failing work assignments or just not performing up to par are little or nothing.

Educate yourself: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2009/11/do_wolves_kill_for_sport.html
Interesting!