Dear Elon My accomplishments

[Ed P]

Dear Elon,
Below are the 5 bullet points you requested for what I accomplished last
week.
1. I made breakfast every day 2. I put in a load of laundry on
Tuesday.
3. Also on Tuesday, the cleaning lady took them out of the dryer and
folded them. I paid her 4. I made dinner a few nights.
5. I put gas in my car. While at it, I checked tire pressures
Now that I submitted them, can I watch TV tonight? I'm glad you asked
for this. Takes me back to third grade when I had to have my homework
done to be able to watch TV. My mother would be proud of you for
keeping up the tradition.

Obviously you didn't work in an industry with daily or weekly standups.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-up_meeting
"The older Scrum Guide (2017) suggested team members briefly (a

maximum of

one minute per team member) address three questions as input to this
What did I do yesterday that helped the development team meet the sprint
goal?
What will I do today to help the development team meet the sprint goal?
Do I see any impediment that prevents me or the development team from
meeting the sprint goal?"
Okay, I get it. Government employees, whom we are paying for, shouldn't
have to answer embarrassing questions about what they've accomplished
lately.

The workers have a supervisor or manager to answer to. As a manager is
was my job to be sure they were performing on an acceptable level and
the job was getting done.

At various times in my working career, I was just a worker to a manger
responsible for the entire company.

This weekly email thing is a waste of productive time both by the people
sending them and the person reading them In a well run, well structured
organization it is not needed. No need for 3 million employees to send
an email or for anyone to take the time to read them. What is the
budget for that?

If you finished your dinner, you can have a snack tonight. Just email
Elon and let him know you ate it all.

[rbowman]

Post by Ed P
This weekly email thing is a waste of productive time both by the people
sending them and the person reading them In a well run, well structured
organization it is not needed. No need for 3 million employees to send
an email or for anyone to take the time to read them. What is the
budget for that?

We are talking about the US government, aren't we? I don't think it has
ever been known as a well run, well structured organization. How would you
suggest going from what it is to any semblance of a well run
organization?

Yes, it should be hierarchical but where do you start? Should middle
managers be examined to see if they even know what their people are
doing?

https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/12/ibm_return_to_office_mandate/

I'm not saying IBM is particularly well run but they fired 9000 people
last year who presumably weren't necessary.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/24/tech-layoffs-2024-list/


Businesses can't afford dead wood. Why should 'civil servants' be a
protected species?

[Ed P]

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
This weekly email thing is a waste of productive time both by the people
sending them and the person reading them In a well run, well structured
organization it is not needed. No need for 3 million employees to send
an email or for anyone to take the time to read them. What is the
budget for that?

We are talking about the US government, aren't we? I don't think it has
ever been known as a well run, well structured organization. How would you
suggest going from what it is to any semblance of a well run
organization?
Yes, it should be hierarchical but where do you start? Should middle
managers be examined to see if they even know what their people are
doing?
https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/12/ibm_return_to_office_mandate/
I'm not saying IBM is particularly well run but they fired 9000 people
last year who presumably weren't necessary.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/24/tech-layoffs-2024-list/
Businesses can't afford dead wood. Why should 'civil servants' be a
protected species?

I did not say they should be protected. I'm sure there is a lot of room
for efficiency but just cutting X number of people is not the way to do
it. Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest
things I ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It
fosters inefficiency and waste.

They already called back a lot of workers when they found they were
really needed. To do things like take care of our nukes, control a
critical dam and a few other stupid things.

A little evaluation and sensible decisions will work out a lot better
than just hacking away with no plan.

Look at the stupid comments Musk made about the 150 year old people
getting SS payments. A smart manager would have found out the real
cause of what they found first so you don't look the fool.

[rbowman]

Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest things I
ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It fosters
inefficiency and waste.

Until it went to an online report I filed out a paper form every week for
20 years with my hours and which projects I worked on. How else are you
going to keep track of development costs? Guess?

It got even worse for the hourly people during Obama's administration. The
road to hell is paved with good intentions but they had to do even more
detailed reporting of time working on DOI projects.

If Clinton or Obama had done they same thing when they promised to make
government more efficient you would have lapped it up. Of course, they
never did keep promises.

[T]

Post by rbowman

Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest things I
ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It fosters
inefficiency and waste.

Until it went to an online report I filed out a paper form every week for
20 years with my hours and which projects I worked on. How else are you
going to keep track of development costs? Guess?
It got even worse for the hourly people during Obama's administration. The
road to hell is paved with good intentions but they had to do even more
detailed reporting of time working on DOI projects.
If Clinton or Obama had done they same thing when they promised to make
government more efficient you would have lapped it up. Of course, they
never did keep promises.

Loading Image...

Loading Image...

[Ed P]

Post by rbowman

Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest things I
ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It fosters
inefficiency and waste.

Until it went to an online report I filed out a paper form every week for
20 years with my hours and which projects I worked on. How else are you
going to keep track of development costs? Guess?

They probably went to your supervisor or a project leader of some sort.

Musk wants 3 million people to report to the same place every week. See
the difference?

Post by rbowman
If Clinton or Obama had done they same thing when they promised to make
government more efficient you would have lapped it up. Of course, they
never did keep promises.

The would not have 3 million people sending an email to the same place.
They had some sensibility. To be efficient, you have to be organized.
This is not.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by Ed P

Post by rbowman

Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest things I
ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It fosters
inefficiency and waste.

Until it went to an online report I filed out a paper form every week for
20 years with my hours and which projects I worked on. How else are you
going to keep track of development costs? Guess?

They probably went to your supervisor or a project leader of some sort.
Musk wants 3 million people to report to the same place every week. See
the difference?

When I had to report my hours for cost-accounting purposes, each
project had an account number. My reported hours went directly
(or semi-directly at first) into a database.

How useful is a free-form e-mail for this purpose?

[Ed P]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by Ed P

Post by rbowman

Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest things I
ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It fosters
inefficiency and waste.

Until it went to an online report I filed out a paper form every week for
20 years with my hours and which projects I worked on. How else are you
going to keep track of development costs? Guess?

They probably went to your supervisor or a project leader of some sort.
Musk wants 3 million people to report to the same place every week. See
the difference?

When I had to report my hours for cost-accounting purposes, each
project had an account number. My reported hours went directly
(or semi-directly at first) into a database.
How useful is a free-form e-mail for this purpose?

Sure, that makes sense as you can be working on different projects
during the day and you want to track time.

We were a small manufacturing company. The shift supervisor filled out
a production form at the end of his shift. Simple note would explain
any reason it was off, such as a machine breakdown or material problem.

No matter what government department, there should be a supervisor that
is aware of issues when they happen, not a not to an entity far away a
week later.

It will take each respondent from 15 to 45 minutes to compose the email
every Monday. That is a lot of wage theft and wasted productivity time.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by Ed P

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by Ed P

Post by rbowman

Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest things I
ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It fosters
inefficiency and waste.

Until it went to an online report I filed out a paper form every week for
20 years with my hours and which projects I worked on. How else are you
going to keep track of development costs? Guess?

They probably went to your supervisor or a project leader of some sort.
Musk wants 3 million people to report to the same place every week. See
the difference?

When I had to report my hours for cost-accounting purposes, each
project had an account number. My reported hours went directly
(or semi-directly at first) into a database.
How useful is a free-form e-mail for this purpose?

Sure, that makes sense as you can be working on different projects
during the day and you want to track time.
We were a small manufacturing company. The shift supervisor filled out
a production form at the end of his shift. Simple note would explain
any reason it was off, such as a machine breakdown or material problem.

For cost-accounting, a small company that only makes widgets and
doesn't do any R&D can get by with cost of materials, cost of
labor derived from payroll records, and probably amortization
of capital equipment. (I'm not an accountant, but I implemented
the second system we used for capturing engineers' time on R&D and
direct labor, so I'm not completely clueless.)

Post by Ed P
No matter what government department, there should be a supervisor that
is aware of issues when they happen, not a not to an entity far away a
week later.
It will take each respondent from 15 to 45 minutes to compose the email
every Monday. That is a lot of wage theft and wasted productivity time.

Elon is just performing for his audience of one. Trump told him
"I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE." Then came the
e-mail "requesting" a productivity report on pain of dismissal.

[Ed P]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by Ed P

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by Ed P

Post by rbowman

Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest things I
ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It fosters
inefficiency and waste.

Until it went to an online report I filed out a paper form every week for
20 years with my hours and which projects I worked on. How else are you
going to keep track of development costs? Guess?

They probably went to your supervisor or a project leader of some sort.
Musk wants 3 million people to report to the same place every week. See
the difference?

When I had to report my hours for cost-accounting purposes, each
project had an account number. My reported hours went directly
(or semi-directly at first) into a database.
How useful is a free-form e-mail for this purpose?

Sure, that makes sense as you can be working on different projects
during the day and you want to track time.
We were a small manufacturing company. The shift supervisor filled out
a production form at the end of his shift. Simple note would explain
any reason it was off, such as a machine breakdown or material problem.

For cost-accounting, a small company that only makes widgets and
doesn't do any R&D can get by with cost of materials, cost of
labor derived from payroll records, and probably amortization
of capital equipment. (I'm not an accountant, but I implemented
the second system we used for capturing engineers' time on R&D and
direct labor, so I'm not completely clueless.)

Post by Ed P
No matter what government department, there should be a supervisor that
is aware of issues when they happen, not a not to an entity far away a
week later.
It will take each respondent from 15 to 45 minutes to compose the email
every Monday. That is a lot of wage theft and wasted productivity time.

Elon is just performing for his audience of one. Trump told him
"I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE." Then came the
e-mail "requesting" a productivity report on pain of dismissal.

They are making a musical about it.

https://www.ndtv.com/shorts/watch-us-president-donald-trump-s-iconic-dance-at-cpac-2025-906501

[rbowman]

Post by Ed P
It will take each respondent from 15 to 45 minutes to compose the email
every Monday. That is a lot of wage theft and wasted productivity time.

Are they retarded? If it takes 15 minutes to describe what you did last
week you should be packing your personal belongings.

[Ed P]

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
It will take each respondent from 15 to 45 minutes to compose the email
every Monday. That is a lot of wage theft and wasted productivity time.

Are they retarded? If it takes 15 minutes to describe what you did last
week you should be packing your personal belongings.

Depends on how pissed off you are that you have to do silly thing. Want
the two minute or the two hour version? I could easily do either. My
boss was the owner. He would never ask and did not care as long as the
work was done properly. He knew if things were going properly.

[rbowman]

Post by Ed P

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
It will take each respondent from 15 to 45 minutes to compose the
email every Monday. That is a lot of wage theft and wasted
productivity time.

Are they retarded? If it takes 15 minutes to describe what you did last
week you should be packing your personal belongings.

Depends on how pissed off you are that you have to do silly thing. Want
the two minute or the two hour version? I could easily do either. My
boss was the owner. He would never ask and did not care as long as the
work was done properly. He knew if things were going properly.

That might work for a small business. Putting aside your TDS, do you think
the Federal bureaucracy is efficient and meeting all its goals in the most
cost effective manner? If you were king, how would you improve it?

[Ed P]

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
It will take each respondent from 15 to 45 minutes to compose the
email every Monday. That is a lot of wage theft and wasted
productivity time.

Are they retarded? If it takes 15 minutes to describe what you did last
week you should be packing your personal belongings.

Depends on how pissed off you are that you have to do silly thing. Want
the two minute or the two hour version? I could easily do either. My
boss was the owner. He would never ask and did not care as long as the
work was done properly. He knew if things were going properly.

That might work for a small business. Putting aside your TDS, do you think
the Federal bureaucracy is efficient and meeting all its goals in the most
cost effective manner? If you were king, how would you improve it?

I'm sure it can be made more efficient and probably update technology.
Never said it should not be considered, I'm all for it, done right.

Each department has to be evaluated on its own. What is the goal and
how is be being achieved? Musk has already proved his slash and burn is
wrong because they had to call back needed people.

Perhaps some departments need people added while other can be
drastically cut. Each has to be evaluated on its own. Millions of
people sending an email is just a total waste of time and a big show
that you and I are going to pay for. That would be my first cut.

I may cut 7500 from the IRS but I'd certainly wait until April 16th to
do it. Or, I may hire more to get more audits and collections. It has
to be properly evaluated. Is that too much to ask?

[rbowman]

Post by Ed P
I'm sure it can be made more efficient and probably update technology.
Never said it should not be considered, I'm all for it, done right.
Each department has to be evaluated on its own. What is the goal and
how is be being achieved? Musk has already proved his slash and burn is
wrong because they had to call back needed people.

'Done right' is the problem. Politicians have mumbled about making
government more efficient for decades and have done squat so this is
virgin territory. Try something,refine the process, rinse and repeat.
Another problem is the clock is ticking.

[Ed P]

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
I'm sure it can be made more efficient and probably update technology.
Never said it should not be considered, I'm all for it, done right.
Each department has to be evaluated on its own. What is the goal and
how is be being achieved? Musk has already proved his slash and burn is
wrong because they had to call back needed people.

'Done right' is the problem. Politicians have mumbled about making
government more efficient for decades and have done squat so this is
virgin territory. Try something,refine the process, rinse and repeat.
Another problem is the clock is ticking.

I just saw Congress is ready with the Big Beautiful budget. Spending
decrease of $2 trillion and tax breaks for $4.5 trillion.
I guess it is a good time to be a billionaire.

[Lizard Cheney]

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
I'm sure it can be made more efficient and probably update technology.
Never said it should not be considered, I'm all for it, done right.
Each department has to be evaluated on its own.  What is the goal and
how is be being achieved?  Musk has already proved his slash and burn is
wrong because they had to call back needed people.

'Done right' is the problem. Politicians have mumbled about making
government more efficient for decades and have done squat so this is
virgin territory. Try something,refine the process, rinse and repeat.
Another problem is the clock is ticking.

I just saw Congress is ready with the Big Beautiful budget. Spending decrease of $2 trillion

Did you want the government to increase spending?

and tax breaks for $4.5 trillion.
I guess it is a good time to be a billionaire.

Billionaires don't have W-2s. It's almost impossible to tax them.
Does the Biden Crime Family pay their fair share of income taxes on the "loans" they give each other?

[Ed P]

Post by Lizard Cheney

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
I'm sure it can be made more efficient and probably update technology.
Never said it should not be considered, I'm all for it, done right.
Each department has to be evaluated on its own.  What is the goal and
how is be being achieved?  Musk has already proved his slash and burn is
wrong because they had to call back needed people.

'Done right' is the problem. Politicians have mumbled about making
government more efficient for decades and have done squat so this is
virgin territory. Try something,refine the process, rinse and repeat.
Another problem is the clock is ticking.

I just saw Congress is ready with the Big Beautiful budget. Spending
decrease of $2 trillion

Did you want the government to increase spending?

I want them to decrease the deficit. The math on this does not meet
that goal. Once the deficit is gone, then reduce the taxes.

If you had a lot of debt on a CC, would you decrease your income to help?

Post by Lizard Cheney

and tax breaks for $4.5 trillion.
I guess it is a good time to be a billionaire.

Billionaires don't have W-2s. It's almost impossible to tax them.
Does the Biden Crime Family pay their fair share of income taxes on the
"loans" they give each other?

I'm sure they follow the same accounting as Trump and Musk. t least
Biden has not had a bunch of bankruptcies that screwed contractors.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by Ed P
I want them to decrease the deficit. The math on this does not meet
that goal. Once the deficit is gone, then reduce the taxes.
If you had a lot of debt on a CC, would you decrease your income to help?

It's funny. When people are in debt over their head, financial
advisors invariably say, "In addition to decreasing your spending,
you should get a second job."

Nobody ever seems to think the government should increase its
revenue by, say, increasing the capital gains tax, raising the
Social Security tax limit, or increasing collections of taxes owed.

[rbowman]

Post by Ed P
I want them to decrease the deficit. The math on this does not meet
that goal. Once the deficit is gone, then reduce the taxes.
If you had a lot of debt on a CC, would you decrease your income to help?

It's funny. When people are in debt over their head, financial advisors
invariably say, "In addition to decreasing your spending, you should get
a second job."
Nobody ever seems to think the government should increase its revenue
by, say, increasing the capital gains tax, raising the Social Security
tax limit, or increasing collections of taxes owed.

Doing radical stuff like that might result in some politicians having to
get a real job let alone a second one. I'm not a fan of the Republican
budget scheme but it's probably better than what the Democrats would come
up with. Both parties are remarkably short of balls.

[Bob F]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by Ed P
I want them to decrease the deficit. The math on this does not meet
that goal. Once the deficit is gone, then reduce the taxes.
If you had a lot of debt on a CC, would you decrease your income to help?

It's funny. When people are in debt over their head, financial
advisors invariably say, "In addition to decreasing your spending,
you should get a second job."
Nobody ever seems to think the government should increase its
revenue by, say, increasing the capital gains tax, raising the
Social Security tax limit, or increasing collections of taxes owed.

Nobody?????
Plenty of Democrats think exactly that.

[rbowman]

Post by Ed P
I'm sure they follow the same accounting as Trump and Musk. t least
Biden has not had a bunch of bankruptcies that screwed contractors.

Joe Biden worked for the government his entire life. Most governments
don't go bankrupt although this one certainly is working on it.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
I'm sure it can be made more efficient and probably update technology.
Never said it should not be considered, I'm all for it, done right.
Each department has to be evaluated on its own. What is the goal and
how is be being achieved? Musk has already proved his slash and burn is
wrong because they had to call back needed people.

'Done right' is the problem. Politicians have mumbled about making
government more efficient for decades and have done squat so this is
virgin territory. Try something,refine the process, rinse and repeat.
Another problem is the clock is ticking.

The clock is ticking? It's been ticking for decades.

An organization with millions of employees can't be streamlined in
a week. There are turnaround specialists and efficiency experts;
that's who should be making the decisions. Not a goofball with
a chainsaw.

Are you comfortable that Elon and his infant cadre has access
to your personal data?

[Mark Zuckerfucker]

Post by Cindy Hamilton
Are you comfortable that Elon and his infant cadre has access
to your personal data?

Have you been living under a rock for the last three decades?
The libturds at Screwgle and Shitfacebook already sell your personal data to anyone with a pile of cash.
In fact, just clicking a link feeds the fuckers.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by Mark Zuckerfucker

Post by Cindy Hamilton
Are you comfortable that Elon and his infant cadre has access
to your personal data?

Have you been living under a rock for the last three decades?

No, I've been working as a computer programmer.

Post by Mark Zuckerfucker
The libturds at Screwgle and Shitfacebook already sell your personal data to anyone with a pile of cash.
In fact, just clicking a link feeds the fuckers.

I don't use Facebook, X, or any of those other social media.

I've never given Google my Social Security number, annual income,
or any of a host of other information that the federal government
has (especially considering my husband used to have a security
clearance). They're going to have to buy it like everyone else.

There's always duckduckgo.

[rbowman]

Post by Cindy Hamilton
I've never given Google my Social Security number, annual income,
or any of a host of other information that the federal government has
(especially considering my husband used to have a security clearance).
They're going to have to buy it like everyone else.

If Google does it, it's bad. If the Federal government does it, it's
good. If Solly the loanshark puts you up against the wall, it's bad. If
the Federal government grabs a chunk of your income before you even see
it, it's good. If some gomer shoots his neighbor it's bad. If the Federal
government sends the gomer to some third world country, gives him a gun,
and tells him to kill everything in sight it's good.

Gotcha.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton
I've never given Google my Social Security number, annual income,
or any of a host of other information that the federal government has
(especially considering my husband used to have a security clearance).
They're going to have to buy it like everyone else.

If Google does it, it's bad. If the Federal government does it, it's
good. If Solly the loanshark puts you up against the wall, it's bad. If
the Federal government grabs a chunk of your income before you even see
it, it's good.

Sure, it's good. They do a lot of stuff with tax money that I
approve of. For example, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act funded some excellent road improvements near me.

[rbowman]

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton
I've never given Google my Social Security number, annual income,
or any of a host of other information that the federal government has
(especially considering my husband used to have a security clearance).
They're going to have to buy it like everyone else.

If Google does it, it's bad. If the Federal government does it, it's
good. If Solly the loanshark puts you up against the wall, it's bad.
If the Federal government grabs a chunk of your income before you even
see it, it's good.

Sure, it's good. They do a lot of stuff with tax money that I approve
of. For example, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funded some
excellent road improvements near me.

We can agree that's how US taxpayer money should be spent, not propping up
Zelensky and Netanyahu. I think Zelensky might consider retiring to the
Turks & Caicos in the near future but that other guy has his hooks in
deep. I won't mention having military bases in most of the major
shitholes of the world.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by rbowman

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton
I've never given Google my Social Security number, annual income,
or any of a host of other information that the federal government has
(especially considering my husband used to have a security clearance).
They're going to have to buy it like everyone else.

If Google does it, it's bad. If the Federal government does it, it's
good. If Solly the loanshark puts you up against the wall, it's bad.
If the Federal government grabs a chunk of your income before you even
see it, it's good.

Sure, it's good. They do a lot of stuff with tax money that I approve
of. For example, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funded some
excellent road improvements near me.

We can agree that's how US taxpayer money should be spent, not propping up
Zelensky and Netanyahu.

No, we can't. I agree on Netanyahu, but not on Zelensky. If I could
wave a magic wand, we'd stop all military aid to Israel and push
Russia out of Ukraine, good and hard.

Post by rbowman
I think Zelensky might consider retiring to the
Turks & Caicos in the near future but that other guy has his hooks in
deep. I won't mention having military bases in most of the major
shitholes of the world.

I support a somewhat more vigorous Pax Americana than you do.

[Alejandro Rashida Ocasio-Mayorkas-Omar]

Post by Cindy Hamilton
No, we can't. I agree on Netanyahu, but not on Zelensky. If I could
wave a magic wand, we'd stop all military aid to Israel and push
Russia out of Ukraine, good and hard.

Ah ha! So you do support borders to keep illegal invaders out?

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by Alejandro Rashida Ocasio-Mayorkas-Omar

Post by Cindy Hamilton
No, we can't. I agree on Netanyahu, but not on Zelensky. If I could
wave a magic wand, we'd stop all military aid to Israel and push
Russia out of Ukraine, good and hard.

Ah ha! So you do support borders to keep illegal invaders out?

Yes, I do. It's not right at the top of my list of federal
government priorities, though.

If the government really wanted to curtail illegal immigration,
they'd go for the demand side rather than the supply side.
Slaughterhouse and agribusiness CEOs are a lot easier to find.

[rbowman]

Post by Cindy Hamilton
If the government really wanted to curtail illegal immigration,
they'd go for the demand side rather than the supply side.
Slaughterhouse and agribusiness CEOs are a lot easier to find.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sholom_Rubashkin

I consider Trump marginally better than other alternatives but commuting
that rat bastard's sentence was appalling and that goes for the
'bipartisan leaders'.

Somehow all the charges related to hiring illegals, identity theft, and
child labor went away in the process when they pursued the bank fraud. He
should have been repatriated to Israel by a passing C-146. No need to
land.

The Republicans love cheap labor; the Democrats apparently love avocado
toast. We're screwed.

[Alejandro Rashida Ocasio-Mayorkas-Omar]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by Alejandro Rashida Ocasio-Mayorkas-Omar

Post by Cindy Hamilton
No, we can't. I agree on Netanyahu, but not on Zelensky. If I could
wave a magic wand, we'd stop all military aid to Israel and push
Russia out of Ukraine, good and hard.

Ah ha! So you do support borders to keep illegal invaders out?

Yes, I do. It's not right at the top of my list of federal
government priorities, though.
If the government really wanted to curtail illegal immigration,
they'd go for the demand side rather than the supply side.
Slaughterhouse and agribusiness CEOs are a lot easier to find.

Yabbut the anti-MAGA Democrats sold BigAg to China years ago.

[rbowman]

Post by Cindy Hamilton
No, we can't. I agree on Netanyahu, but not on Zelensky. If I could
wave a magic wand, we'd stop all military aid to Israel and push Russia
out of Ukraine, good and hard.

I'm not a fan of Russia but I believe Power, Nuland, and the Obama
administration sold the Ukraine a bill of goods about becoming a NATO
member and stage managed the Maidan. They knew a NATO member on the
doorstep was a red line for Russia. They miscalculated; Putin is no Obama
with flexible red lines. Of course the Brit puppets were in on it.

What ever happened to my peace dividend and flying car?

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton
No, we can't. I agree on Netanyahu, but not on Zelensky. If I could
wave a magic wand, we'd stop all military aid to Israel and push Russia
out of Ukraine, good and hard.

I'm not a fan of Russia but I believe Power, Nuland, and the Obama
administration sold the Ukraine a bill of goods about becoming a NATO
member and stage managed the Maidan. They knew a NATO member on the
doorstep was a red line for Russia. They miscalculated; Putin is no Obama
with flexible red lines. Of course the Brit puppets were in on it.
What ever happened to my peace dividend

It was spread over the entire economy. Remember the budget
surplus we had at the end of the 1990s?

Post by rbowman
and flying car?

Having seen the way other people drive, I gave up on flying cars
quite some time ago.

[rbowman]

Having seen the way other people drive, I gave up on flying cars quite
some time ago.

It is a scary thought. I learned to fly in the '80s and the Rockwell Lark
was sort of like a Pontiac with wings, down to having to pump up the
brakes on final if you expected to stop. It was fun and I learned a lot
but ultimately I realized I wasn't all that comfortable and probably would
have handled SHTF situations badly.

Yeah, I know the statistics about the irrationality of riding a bike and
worrying about aircraft safety.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Flivver

If you get over to the Henry Ford they've got on hanging from the ceiling,
a safe place for it.

[Bob F]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton
I've never given Google my Social Security number, annual income,
or any of a host of other information that the federal government has
(especially considering my husband used to have a security clearance).
They're going to have to buy it like everyone else.

If Google does it, it's bad. If the Federal government does it, it's
good. If Solly the loanshark puts you up against the wall, it's bad. If
the Federal government grabs a chunk of your income before you even see
it, it's good.

Sure, it's good. They do a lot of stuff with tax money that I
approve of. For example, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act funded some excellent road improvements near me.

And they used to fight ebola too!

[rbowman]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
I'm sure it can be made more efficient and probably update technology.
Never said it should not be considered, I'm all for it, done right.
Each department has to be evaluated on its own. What is the goal and
how is be being achieved? Musk has already proved his slash and burn
is wrong because they had to call back needed people.

'Done right' is the problem. Politicians have mumbled about making
government more efficient for decades and have done squat so this is
virgin territory. Try something,refine the process, rinse and repeat.
Another problem is the clock is ticking.

The clock is ticking? It's been ticking for decades.
An organization with millions of employees can't be streamlined in a
week. There are turnaround specialists and efficiency experts; that's
who should be making the decisions. Not a goofball with a chainsaw.

Paging Fred Taylor... I'll say again -- nobody has done fuck all for
decades. At least the goofball with a chainsaw is trying to do something
other than submitting reports to a snoozing Congress like the GAO has been
doing.

Post by Cindy Hamilton
Are you comfortable that Elon and his infant cadre has access to your
personal data?

He probably won't be sending me emails about stuff I might be interested
in like Amazon. How about the cadres that already have access to that
data?

[Bob F]

Post by Ed P

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
It will take each respondent from 15 to 45 minutes to compose the
email every Monday.  That is a lot of wage theft and wasted
productivity time.

Are they retarded? If it takes 15 minutes to describe what you did last
week you should be packing your personal belongings.

Depends on how pissed off you are that you have to do silly thing. Want
the two minute or the two hour version?  I could easily do either.  My
boss was the owner.  He would never ask and did not care as long as the
work was done properly.  He knew if things were going properly.

That might work for a small business. Putting aside your TDS, do you think
the Federal bureaucracy is efficient and meeting all its goals in the most
cost effective manner? If you were king, how would you improve it?

I'm sure it can be made more efficient and probably update technology.
Never said it should not be considered, I'm all for it, done right.
Each department has to be evaluated on its own.  What is the goal and
how is be being achieved?  Musk has already proved his slash and burn is
wrong because they had to call back needed people.
Perhaps some departments need people added while other can be
drastically cut.  Each has to be evaluated on its own.  Millions of
people sending an email is just a total waste of time and a big show
that you and I are going to pay for.  That would be my first cut.
I may cut 7500 from the IRS but I'd certainly wait until April 16th to
do it.  Or, I may hire more to get more audits and collections.  It has
to be properly evaluated.  Is that too much to ask?

Cutting IRS employment is a give away by preventing the audits of
billionaire tax cheats to collect the taxes they legally owe. So much
for those pro law GOP liars. But then, everything trump is doing is
violating law after law.

[Bob F]

Post by Ed P

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
It will take each respondent from 15 to 45 minutes to compose the email
every Monday.  That is a lot of wage theft and wasted productivity time.

Are they retarded? If it takes 15 minutes to describe what you did last
week you should be packing your personal belongings.

Depends on how pissed off you are that you have to do silly thing. Want
the two minute or the two hour version?  I could easily do either.  My
boss was the owner.  He would never ask and did not care as long as the
work was done properly.  He knew if things were going properly.

Funny how all these "patriot" trumptards think it is OK for Elon and the
GOP to fire thousands of patriotic American workers, and kill thousands
by killing Medicaid, just so the billionaire can get a gigantic tax cut.

[h***@ccanoemail.com]

On Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:00:44 -0000 (UTC), Cindy Hamilton

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by Ed P

Post by rbowman

Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest things I
ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It fosters
inefficiency and waste.

Until it went to an online report I filed out a paper form every week for
20 years with my hours and which projects I worked on. How else are you
going to keep track of development costs? Guess?

They probably went to your supervisor or a project leader of some sort.
Musk wants 3 million people to report to the same place every week. See
the difference?

When I had to report my hours for cost-accounting purposes, each
project had an account number. My reported hours went directly
(or semi-directly at first) into a database.
How useful is a free-form e-mail for this purpose?

Yup.
And Projects can be further broken-down into Tasks -
to provide more detail for the reported hours.
This sort of time-reporting has been around for decades
in the big companies. Managers use the data constantly.
John T.

[rbowman]

When I had to report my hours for cost-accounting purposes, each project
had an account number. My reported hours went directly (or
semi-directly at first) into a database.
How useful is a free-form e-mail for this purpose?

The email method does seem awkward, but I doubt even a single division of
the Federal government has anything approaching project accounts. This is
an entity that is notorious for misplacing a few billion dollars.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by rbowman

When I had to report my hours for cost-accounting purposes, each project
had an account number. My reported hours went directly (or
semi-directly at first) into a database.
How useful is a free-form e-mail for this purpose?

The email method does seem awkward, but I doubt even a single division of
the Federal government has anything approaching project accounts. This is
an entity that is notorious for misplacing a few billion dollars.

It's also an entity with something like 2.3 million civilian employees
and 2.3 military. It seems unduly pessimistic to think that none of
them have project accounts.

[rbowman]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton
When I had to report my hours for cost-accounting purposes, each
project had an account number. My reported hours went directly (or
semi-directly at first) into a database.
How useful is a free-form e-mail for this purpose?

The email method does seem awkward, but I doubt even a single division
of the Federal government has anything approaching project accounts.
This is an entity that is notorious for misplacing a few billion
dollars.

It's also an entity with something like 2.3 million civilian employees
and 2.3 military. It seems unduly pessimistic to think that none of
them have project accounts.

So you're a glass half full sort of girl?

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3967009/department-
of-defense-completes-seventh-consecutive-department-wide-financial-s/

The terminology is obscure but somehow a 'disclaimer of opinion' seems
equivalent to 'fucked if we know where the money went'.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/steelrose/2024/12/03/dod-fails-to-obtain-a-
clean-audit-again/

Forbes is more polite. That's the DoD. The GAO isn't very optimistic.

https://www.gao.gov/reports-testimonies

"We issued our updated " High Risk List" in February 2025. The List
highlights 38 areas across the federal government that are seriously
vulnerable to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement or that are in need
of transformation. "

Maybe some do have project accounts. Are they vulnerable to fraud, waste,
abuse, and mismanagement? To paraphrase an apocryphal quote "How many
divisions does the GAO have?"

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton
When I had to report my hours for cost-accounting purposes, each
project had an account number. My reported hours went directly (or
semi-directly at first) into a database.
How useful is a free-form e-mail for this purpose?

The email method does seem awkward, but I doubt even a single division
of the Federal government has anything approaching project accounts.
This is an entity that is notorious for misplacing a few billion
dollars.

It's also an entity with something like 2.3 million civilian employees
and 2.3 military. It seems unduly pessimistic to think that none of
them have project accounts.

So you're a glass half full sort of girl?
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3967009/department-
of-defense-completes-seventh-consecutive-department-wide-financial-s/
The terminology is obscure but somehow a 'disclaimer of opinion' seems
equivalent to 'fucked if we know where the money went'.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/steelrose/2024/12/03/dod-fails-to-obtain-a-
clean-audit-again/
Forbes is more polite. That's the DoD. The GAO isn't very optimistic.
https://www.gao.gov/reports-testimonies
"We issued our updated " High Risk List" in February 2025. The List
highlights 38 areas across the federal government that are seriously
vulnerable to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement or that are in need
of transformation. "
Maybe some do have project accounts. Are they vulnerable to fraud, waste,
abuse, and mismanagement? To paraphrase an apocryphal quote "How many
divisions does the GAO have?"

Everything's vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement.
The auto industry (which which I'm passing familiar) is famous for it.
Everything from "don't buy a car manufactured on a Monday or Friday"
to guys rushing through their work so they can start happy hour
early (and damaging product in the process).

[rbowman]

Everything's vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. The
auto industry (which which I'm passing familiar) is famous for it.
Everything from "don't buy a car manufactured on a Monday or Friday" to
guys rushing through their work so they can start happy hour early (and
damaging product in the process).

So that makes it good? There is one small difference. I don't have to buy
a Chevy made in Lordstown. I do have to send money to the government, to
say nothing of the government devaluing my money as a hidden tax. The last
time I looked GM didn't have thousands of armed employees making sure I
bought one of their cars. When I did buy one in 1982 it was a voluntary
act.

[Ed P]

Post by rbowman

Everything's vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. The
auto industry (which which I'm passing familiar) is famous for it.
Everything from "don't buy a car manufactured on a Monday or Friday" to
guys rushing through their work so they can start happy hour early (and
damaging product in the process).

So that makes it good? There is one small difference. I don't have to buy
a Chevy made in Lordstown. I do have to send money to the government, to
say nothing of the government devaluing my money as a hidden tax. The last
time I looked GM didn't have thousands of armed employees making sure I
bought one of their cars. When I did buy one in 1982 it was a voluntary
act.

I've not bought a US brand in 25 years, but the tariffs can stil raise
hell in the industry and your local dealer. I can see a lot of people
out of work

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/trump-says-tariffs-will-help-car-companies-here-s-why-he-s-wrong/ar-AA1zQuHA?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=8a7326cafb3f4d7ca474c9bc1c7140f3&ei=70

A 25% duty on the average $25,000 cost of a vehicle imported from Mexico
and Canada would add $6,250 in costs, S&P Global Mobility said. Cars
that have parts imported from either country — such as a Ford F-series
pickup with a Canadian engine — would also see a price increase.

The Michigan-based Anderson Economic Group estimates that a 25% tariff
would add between $4,000 and $10,000 per car to vehicles assembled in
North America, according to a recent presentation. A full-size SUV’s
price would be increased by $9,000, while a battery-electric vehicle’s
price would grow by $12,200.

The president’s announced duties on imports of aluminum and steel would
add another $250 to $800 per gas-powered vehicle and up to $2,500 on
EVs, the group said, assuming that there are no tariff exclusions.
Vehicles made in Europe and Asia would see a $800 to $1,600 price hike.
Production and job cuts in the U.S. “would be inevitable,” the
presentation said.

[rbowman]

Post by Ed P
I've not bought a US brand in 25 years, but the tariffs can stil raise
hell in the industry and your local dealer. I can see a lot of people
out of work

No doubt there will be some pain but the manufacturers might get the idea
building stuff in the US again is a good idea as costs go up and profits
go down. Eventually there may be a lot of people out of work in the
maquiladoras.

When you've been hitting the crack pipe for decades it's a bitch to get
clean.

[Ed P]

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
I've not bought a US brand in 25 years, but the tariffs can stil raise
hell in the industry and your local dealer. I can see a lot of people
out of work

No doubt there will be some pain but the manufacturers might get the idea
building stuff in the US again is a good idea as costs go up and profits
go down. Eventually there may be a lot of people out of work in the
maquiladoras.
When you've been hitting the crack pipe for decades it's a bitch to get
clean.

The CEO of Alcoa said the tariff can cost 100,000 jobs. If the federal
workforce is cut, that is another few hundred thousand jobs. Price of
cars will go up $3-6000.

It will take 6 to 12 months to really see what happens.

[T]

Post by Ed P

Post by rbowman

Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest things I
ever heard of.  Who is going to read and evaluate them? It fosters
inefficiency and waste.

Until it went to an online report I filed out a paper form every week for
20 years with my hours and which projects I worked on. How else are you
going to keep track of development costs? Guess?

They probably went to your supervisor or a project leader of some sort.
Musk wants 3 million people to report to the same place every week.  See
the difference?

Post by rbowman
If Clinton or Obama had done they same thing when they promised to make
government more efficient you would have lapped it up. Of course, they
never did keep promises.

The would not have 3 million people sending an email to the same place.
They had some sensibility. To be efficient, you have to be organized.
This is not.

Loading Image...

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by Ed P
I did not say they should be protected. I'm sure there is a lot of room
for efficiency but just cutting X number of people is not the way to do
it. Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest
things I ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It
fosters inefficiency and waste.

I can see e-mailing your immediate superior with a summary. Not
having 2.3 million people e-mailing a single address.

Some security wonk concluded that the aggregation of those 2.3 million
e-mail addresses on a single server would constitute a potential
hazard.

Post by Ed P
Look at the stupid comments Musk made about the 150 year old people
getting SS payments. A smart manager would have found out the real
cause of what they found first so you don't look the fool.

Because he's performing for his audience of one, not managing.

[Racheal Madcow]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by Ed P
I did not say they should be protected. I'm sure there is a lot of room
for efficiency but just cutting X number of people is not the way to do
it. Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest
things I ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It
fosters inefficiency and waste.

I can see e-mailing your immediate superior with a summary. Not
having 2.3 million people e-mailing a single address.
Some security wonk concluded that the aggregation of those 2.3 million
e-mail addresses on a single server would constitute a potential
hazard.

Post by Ed P
Look at the stupid comments Musk made about the 150 year old people
getting SS payments. A smart manager would have found out the real
cause of what they found first so you don't look the fool.

Because he's performing for his audience of one, not managing.

Yet no one in the Biden Crime Family thought to audit Social Security?
The government audits taxpayers, don't you think the taxpayers need to audit the government?

How much fraud and corruption will DOGE have to uncover before you stop chanting "Orange Man Bad" ????????

[Snag]

Post by Racheal Madcow

I did not say they should be protected.  I'm sure there is a lot of room
for efficiency but just cutting X number of people is not the way to do
it.  Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest
things I ever heard of.  Who is going to read and evaluate them? It
fosters inefficiency and waste.

I can see e-mailing your immediate superior with a summary.  Not
having 2.3 million people e-mailing a single address.
Some security wonk concluded that the aggregation of those 2.3 million
e-mail addresses on a single server would constitute a potential
hazard.

Look at the stupid comments Musk made about the 150 year old people
getting SS payments.  A smart manager would have found out the real
cause of what they found first so you don't look the fool.

Because he's performing for his audience of one, not managing.

Yet no one in the Biden Crime Family thought to audit Social Security?
The government audits taxpayers, don't you think the taxpayers need to
audit the government?
How much fraud and corruption will DOGE have to uncover before you stop
chanting "Orange Man Bad" ????????

There is NOTHING that will change their minds . They would burn the
country to the ground and rule over the ashes before ever admitting that
Trump is right .

[Clare Snyder]

Post by Snag

Post by Racheal Madcow

I did not say they should be protected.  I'm sure there is a lot of room
for efficiency but just cutting X number of people is not the way to do
it.  Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest
things I ever heard of.  Who is going to read and evaluate them? It
fosters inefficiency and waste.

I can see e-mailing your immediate superior with a summary.  Not
having 2.3 million people e-mailing a single address.
Some security wonk concluded that the aggregation of those 2.3 million
e-mail addresses on a single server would constitute a potential
hazard.

Look at the stupid comments Musk made about the 150 year old people
getting SS payments.  A smart manager would have found out the real
cause of what they found first so you don't look the fool.

Because he's performing for his audience of one, not managing.

Yet no one in the Biden Crime Family thought to audit Social Security?
The government audits taxpayers, don't you think the taxpayers need to
audit the government?
How much fraud and corruption will DOGE have to uncover before you stop
chanting "Orange Man Bad" ????????

There is NOTHING that will change their minds . They would burn the
country to the ground and rule over the ashes before ever admitting that
Trump is right .

It's Trump and his MuskRat friend burning the country to the ground.
Chipping it up with a chainsaw, putting it through the chipper, then
peletizing it first to make CERTAIN it can't be put backtogether
again.

[Snag]

Post by Clare Snyder

Post by Snag

Post by Racheal Madcow

I did not say they should be protected.  I'm sure there is a lot of room
for efficiency but just cutting X number of people is not the way to do
it.  Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest
things I ever heard of.  Who is going to read and evaluate them? It
fosters inefficiency and waste.

I can see e-mailing your immediate superior with a summary.  Not
having 2.3 million people e-mailing a single address.
Some security wonk concluded that the aggregation of those 2.3 million
e-mail addresses on a single server would constitute a potential
hazard.

Look at the stupid comments Musk made about the 150 year old people
getting SS payments.  A smart manager would have found out the real
cause of what they found first so you don't look the fool.

Because he's performing for his audience of one, not managing.

Yet no one in the Biden Crime Family thought to audit Social Security?
The government audits taxpayers, don't you think the taxpayers need to
audit the government?
How much fraud and corruption will DOGE have to uncover before you stop
chanting "Orange Man Bad" ????????

There is NOTHING that will change their minds . They would burn the
country to the ground and rule over the ashes before ever admitting that
Trump is right .

It's Trump and his MuskRat friend burning the country to the ground.
Chipping it up with a chainsaw, putting it through the chipper, then
peletizing it first to make CERTAIN it can't be put backtogether
again.

Yeah yeah yeah , sure Clare . Just hide and watch . Now go back to
your cry room like a good little minion .

[Ed P]

Post by Racheal Madcow

I did not say they should be protected.  I'm sure there is a lot of room
for efficiency but just cutting X number of people is not the way to do
it.  Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest
things I ever heard of.  Who is going to read and evaluate them? It
fosters inefficiency and waste.

I can see e-mailing your immediate superior with a summary.  Not
having 2.3 million people e-mailing a single address.
Some security wonk concluded that the aggregation of those 2.3 million
e-mail addresses on a single server would constitute a potential
hazard.

Look at the stupid comments Musk made about the 150 year old people
getting SS payments.  A smart manager would have found out the real
cause of what they found first so you don't look the fool.

Because he's performing for his audience of one, not managing.

Yet no one in the Biden Crime Family thought to audit Social Security?
The government audits taxpayers, don't you think the taxpayers need to
audit the government?
How much fraud and corruption will DOGE have to uncover before you stop
chanting "Orange Man Bad" ????????

Look at the results of the audit. They were very wrong and they made
stupid conclusions about 150 year old getting checks. DOGE crew looks
like fools.

Do it right, I'm all for it.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by Racheal Madcow

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by Ed P
I did not say they should be protected. I'm sure there is a lot of room
for efficiency but just cutting X number of people is not the way to do
it. Turning in a weekly email of what you did is one of the dumbest
things I ever heard of. Who is going to read and evaluate them? It
fosters inefficiency and waste.

I can see e-mailing your immediate superior with a summary. Not
having 2.3 million people e-mailing a single address.
Some security wonk concluded that the aggregation of those 2.3 million
e-mail addresses on a single server would constitute a potential
hazard.

Post by Ed P
Look at the stupid comments Musk made about the 150 year old people
getting SS payments. A smart manager would have found out the real
cause of what they found first so you don't look the fool.

Because he's performing for his audience of one, not managing.

Yet no one in the Biden Crime Family thought to audit Social Security?

There's a permanent position that does nothing but:

https://oig.ssa.gov/

Unless the Musk Crime Family has fired them.

Post by Racheal Madcow
The government audits taxpayers, don't you think the taxpayers need to audit the government?

Through their votes, they do exactly that. We're a representative
democracy.

Post by Racheal Madcow
How much fraud and corruption will DOGE have to uncover before you stop chanting "Orange Man Bad" ????????

How much actual money has he saved?

I know you're not going to believe this source, but you should look
at the facts presented here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/22/doge-savings-found-list-analysis/

If you can find one that's both authoritative and trustworthy, feel free.

[T]

Post by rbowman
Businesses can't afford dead wood. Why should 'civil servants' be a
protected species?

1+

Civil service missiles: cost too much; won't work; can't be fired

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
This weekly email thing is a waste of productive time both by the people
sending them and the person reading them In a well run, well structured
organization it is not needed. No need for 3 million employees to send
an email or for anyone to take the time to read them. What is the
budget for that?

We are talking about the US government, aren't we? I don't think it has
ever been known as a well run, well structured organization. How would you
suggest going from what it is to any semblance of a well run
organization?
Yes, it should be hierarchical but where do you start?

Either at the top or the bottom.

Post by rbowman
Should middle
managers be examined to see if they even know what their people are
doing?

Yes.

Post by rbowman
https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/12/ibm_return_to_office_mandate/
I'm not saying IBM is particularly well run but they fired 9000 people
last year who presumably weren't necessary.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/24/tech-layoffs-2024-list/
Businesses can't afford dead wood. Why should 'civil servants' be a
protected species?

Are they? Do you have evidence that civil servants are unproductive?
Or do you just dislike what they produce?

[Lizard Cheney]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Ed P
This weekly email thing is a waste of productive time both by the people
sending them and the person reading them In a well run, well structured
organization it is not needed. No need for 3 million employees to send
an email or for anyone to take the time to read them. What is the
budget for that?

We are talking about the US government, aren't we? I don't think it has
ever been known as a well run, well structured organization. How would you
suggest going from what it is to any semblance of a well run
organization?
Yes, it should be hierarchical but where do you start?

Either at the top or the bottom.

Post by rbowman
Should middle
managers be examined to see if they even know what their people are
doing?

Yes.

Post by rbowman
https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/12/ibm_return_to_office_mandate/
I'm not saying IBM is particularly well run but they fired 9000 people
last year who presumably weren't necessary.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/24/tech-layoffs-2024-list/
Businesses can't afford dead wood. Why should 'civil servants' be a
protected species?

Are they? Do you have evidence that civil servants are unproductive?
Or do you just dislike what they produce?

"I'm from the government and I'm here to assist you" said no civil servant ever.

[rbowman]

Post by Cindy Hamilton
Are they? Do you have evidence that civil servants are unproductive?
Or do you just dislike what they produce?

That truly is an interesting question. What sort of metric would you
suggest?

Have you spent any time at the DMV lately? Had any Kafkaesque experiences
with the servants? If they're all working away like little beavers why do
bureaucracies have such stellar reputations across the centuries?

My experience within a government agency consists of working summers for
the NYS Dept. of Education when I was in school. There weren't cat videos
back then but people managed to fill their days with comparing notes on
soap operas. My uncle worked for the Highway Department, and organization
notorious for requiring 7 people to fill a pothole, one of which was
wielding a shovel.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton
Are they? Do you have evidence that civil servants are unproductive?
Or do you just dislike what they produce?

That truly is an interesting question. What sort of metric would you
suggest?
Have you spent any time at the DMV lately? Had any Kafkaesque experiences
with the servants?

I am impressed with the efficiency of the Michigan Secretary of
State's motor vehicle division. I was particularly pleased when
they instituted the ability to make an appointment.

It's a difficult job. Most of the people who come to the office
for services are complete idiots.

I admit, I have very little contact with that office. I have to renew
my license in person every eight years. In between, I do it online.

Post by rbowman
If they're all working away like little beavers why do
bureaucracies have such stellar reputations across the centuries?

Have you dealt with an insurance company bureaucracy? It's more
a function of the size of the organization than who write the
paychecks.

Post by rbowman
My experience within a government agency consists of working summers for
the NYS Dept. of Education when I was in school.

Just a couple of years ago, then?

Post by rbowman
There weren't cat videos
back then but people managed to fill their days with comparing notes on
soap operas. My uncle worked for the Highway Department, and organization
notorious for requiring 7 people to fill a pothole, one of which was
wielding a shovel.

What actions did you take? To whom did you report these miscreants?

[rbowman]

I am impressed with the efficiency of the Michigan Secretary of State's
motor vehicle division. I was particularly pleased when they instituted
the ability to make an appointment.

Montana finally got around to that. You can make an appointment 6 months
before your license expires -- and you better. The first available
appointment is often 5 1/2 months from now.

Have you dealt with an insurance company bureaucracy? It's more a
function of the size of the organization than who write the paychecks.

Thankfully, very rarely. I pay them money. Sometimes they pay for
something. It does come to my mind that insurance company bureaucracies
are designed for maximum inefficiency; i.e stall as long as possible and
pay out as little as you can. Do you think an insurance company would last
long if its payouts were as questionable and unaccountable as Federal
agencies? I'm not talking about 150 year olds, rather some of the covid
money that disappeared into various scams.

Post by rbowman
My experience within a government agency consists of working summers
for the NYS Dept. of Education when I was in school.

Just a couple of years ago, then?

Do you think the NYSDoE has been streamlined since the '60s? I'm sure
Hochul is right on top of it.

Post by rbowman
There weren't cat videos back then but people managed to fill their
days with comparing notes on soap operas. My uncle worked for the
Highway Department, and organization notorious for requiring 7 people
to fill a pothole, one of which was wielding a shovel.

What actions did you take? To whom did you report these miscreants?

College kid in a summer job? Right.

[Ed P]

Post by rbowman

I am impressed with the efficiency of the Michigan Secretary of State's
motor vehicle division. I was particularly pleased when they instituted
the ability to make an appointment.

Montana finally got around to that. You can make an appointment 6 months
before your license expires -- and you better. The first available
appointment is often 5 1/2 months from now.

CT was a mess. I was impress with Florida. Sometimes you can get an
appointment the same day. The times I've been to our local office it
was a good experience with competent people.

[rbowman]

Post by Ed P
CT was a mess. I was impress with Florida. Sometimes you can get an
appointment the same day. The times I've been to our local office it
was a good experience with competent people.

I never dealt with CT. iirc, in MA you picked your plates up at your
insurance company. I can't remember the DL process or if I ever got one.

NH in the early '70s was simple. You packed a lunch and went to Concord.
It was really something when DMV established a branch office at the mall
in Portsmouth.

AZ was similar if you lived around Ajo. The closest DMV was in Gila Bend,
about 90 miles as the vulture flies. Ajo eventually got a branch office
open a few hours a week.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by rbowman

I am impressed with the efficiency of the Michigan Secretary of State's
motor vehicle division. I was particularly pleased when they instituted
the ability to make an appointment.

Montana finally got around to that. You can make an appointment 6 months
before your license expires -- and you better. The first available
appointment is often 5 1/2 months from now.

I got a same-day appointment when we had to go in to renew my mother's
non-driver's license.

[rbowman]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton
I am impressed with the efficiency of the Michigan Secretary of
State's motor vehicle division. I was particularly pleased when they
instituted the ability to make an appointment.

Montana finally got around to that. You can make an appointment 6
months before your license expires -- and you better. The first
available appointment is often 5 1/2 months from now.

I got a same-day appointment when we had to go in to renew my mother's
non-driver's license.

Yeah, I don't know what the deal is with their DL appointments. Vehicle
registrations are a lot better but that's a county thing.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton
I am impressed with the efficiency of the Michigan Secretary of
State's motor vehicle division. I was particularly pleased when they
instituted the ability to make an appointment.

Montana finally got around to that. You can make an appointment 6
months before your license expires -- and you better. The first
available appointment is often 5 1/2 months from now.

I got a same-day appointment when we had to go in to renew my mother's
non-driver's license.

Yeah, I don't know what the deal is with their DL appointments. Vehicle
registrations are a lot better but that's a county thing.

It's a state thing here. The dealer has always handled the title
transfer for me.

[rbowman]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Cindy Hamilton
I am impressed with the efficiency of the Michigan Secretary of
State's motor vehicle division. I was particularly pleased when
they instituted the ability to make an appointment.

Montana finally got around to that. You can make an appointment 6
months before your license expires -- and you better. The first
available appointment is often 5 1/2 months from now.

I got a same-day appointment when we had to go in to renew my mother's
non-driver's license.

Yeah, I don't know what the deal is with their DL appointments. Vehicle
registrations are a lot better but that's a county thing.

It's a state thing here. The dealer has always handled the title
transfer for me.

The registration is from the state but the county gets most of the fee so
they do the work. I forget how it goes normally. I bought my current car
on the day the county went into covid lockdown. Not only didn't they want
to see anyone in person but they didn't have a payment processing system
in place and had to use Idaho's. The page with the redirect assured you it
wasn't a scam and you really were going to go to Idaho's site.

Luckily the pickup and all the bikes have permanent plates so I don't have
to deal with them. The year when they went to permanent registrations on
bikes the nice lady said "You won't have to come in and renew your toys
anymore.'' No respect!

[Jim Joyce]

On Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:13:05 -0000 (UTC), Cindy Hamilton

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

I am impressed with the efficiency of the Michigan Secretary of State's
motor vehicle division. I was particularly pleased when they instituted
the ability to make an appointment.

Montana finally got around to that. You can make an appointment 6 months
before your license expires -- and you better. The first available
appointment is often 5 1/2 months from now.

I got a same-day appointment when we had to go in to renew my mother's
non-driver's license.

Here in Mississippi, they don't do appointments. My wife and I went in
on a Monday morning and the waiting area was full, so we left. We
returned the next day and we were in and out in 15 minutes.

The lady told us that Mondays and Fridays are bad, but things get really
hectic toward the end of each month, when people realize they can't put
it off any longer.

[Bob F]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

I am impressed with the efficiency of the Michigan Secretary of State's
motor vehicle division. I was particularly pleased when they instituted
the ability to make an appointment.

Montana finally got around to that. You can make an appointment 6 months
before your license expires -- and you better. The first available
appointment is often 5 1/2 months from now.

I got a same-day appointment when we had to go in to renew my mother's
non-driver's license.

Just wait until they Elon-gate the department.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by Bob F

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

I am impressed with the efficiency of the Michigan Secretary of State's
motor vehicle division. I was particularly pleased when they instituted
the ability to make an appointment.

Montana finally got around to that. You can make an appointment 6 months
before your license expires -- and you better. The first available
appointment is often 5 1/2 months from now.

I got a same-day appointment when we had to go in to renew my mother's
non-driver's license.

Just wait until they Elon-gate the department.

I don't think the State of Michigan will Elon-gate anything.

[rbowman]

Post by Cindy Hamilton
I don't think the State of Michigan will Elon-gate anything.

When I was working in Ft. Wayne a common question was 'Why isn't Indiana
flooded by the Great Lakes? Because Michigan sucks so much.' I don't
know why they had it in for Michigan and gave Ohio a pass.

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by Ed P
This weekly email thing is a waste of productive time both by the people
sending them and the person reading them In a well run, well structured
organization it is not needed. No need for 3 million employees to send
an email or for anyone to take the time to read them. What is the
budget for that?

No one will take the time to read them. At most, an AI will
summarize them. They're just seeing who will toe the line.