Today I went to an office of the US Department of Justice – Drug Enforcement Administration. Which office is irrelevant.
One of the reasons that I went was to meet with a legendary DEA Special Agent who had recently rotated back to the US from abroad. This particular Special Agent has forgotten more than most people know about the drug enforcement business, yet he’s humble and very unassuming. He’s one of those rare people in a bureaucracy who was able to make a difference in his career, though he seemed a bit depressed.
I told him that when he left his last assignment, the reputation that he left behind was sterling.
It’s time that I take a step back and share with you that his legacy from his last overseas assignment was nothing but praise and respect from people who had seen his work and had been impressed by it.
He said, “they asked me to leave (Country X).”
I was shocked.
“One of the people from Headquarters came down and asked me candidly how things were going. I’ve known this particular person for twenty years. I told he/she that things were really screwed up and that they could be fixed without a lot of effort, but they needed to be fixed or we were wasting our time. The next day my boss came to me and told me to request a transfer (short of tour – looks bad on your record).”
So he did.
And that is how the world of the government bureaucracy spins – and why, no matter how hard the government tries to govern, more often than not, NOTHING GETS DONE.
Quality work is a threat to the bureaucracy. Sorry to hear about your friend.
What Opus said.
And let me guess who's appointee the boss was.
In government, inertia and c.y.a. govern the performance of the rank and file, while megalomania drives upper management. Insanity seems to rule the top tier.
Sad to hear, but I can't really say I'm surprised… He who points out problems gets transferred rather than the problem getting fixed… sigh
NOF – The Drones win again.
LA – Yes, truer words were never spoken/written
Odie – Of Course
WoFat & Opus – Thus be it ever.
If the People only knew…
Yes and as a government employee we were just informed that we will still be required to take furlough days so the state can continue to pay the welfare recipients. Oh yea, the only employees paid for their overtime are those that work in welfare and the unemployment departments. Really a motivater…
Funny – I had a long conversation with a friend who is a US Marshal this morning and we touched upon the very same thing. Fortunately there are quite a few good sorts who want to serve, but they seem to be a vanishing breed.
There are a lot of people who are good, faithful and want to make things better – want to make the system work. BUT it's the nitwits who seem to win out all too often.
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