Flop, I just think you don't know much about how govt operates. You work with a slice of it, yet you don't know why the govt subcontracts? I'm guessing it has a lot to do with (saving) money, and political influence and little to do with ability. Hasn't privatization been the rage ever since Reagan and the Grace commission? Why do we have soldiers (the Govt) guarding private contractors in Iraq? Because the contractors are the only ones who know how to get the job done?

Also, you haven't said so directly, but people often make the mistake of treating govt and the private sector the same--making apples to apples comparisons. In reality, they have different purposes and different goals. To put it perhaps over-simply: The goal of the govt is to serve the people. The goal of private industry is to make a profit. These goals are not the same, and the methods used to meet the respective goals in the best way are not the same.

Originally Posted by Big

Most people in leadership positions that I have known on a personal level that weren't good students or don't have much education might look like good leaders on the surface but more so than not they are dead meat when you talk to them about relatively complicated issues and/or issues that require meticulous thinking. I have seen it time and time again.

You have to be very knowledgeable in the field yourself to expose them because they know how to hide it very well from an avergae Joe.

I work at corporate fitness and many "good" managers don't have as much education as I do (Master's degree in ex. physiology). They often think they are real smart until we get in a discussion about physiology and fitness and I expose them of their nonsense. Usually, they will debate me to death until I point them to a certain page in a textbook so they can shut up finally.

What speicfic field should a politician be educated in. Is physics a must or english lit. or biology. What exactly should a politician excel in. Most politicians that I know surround themselves with a think tank, people who are experts and give advice based on their expertise. I will agree that Bush has surrounded himself with idiots.

I think an undergraduate degree of a politician can be in any field really BUT a politician has to excel with regard to grades, show he has the discipline and drive to do what it takes to understand the subjects.

Further, he has to have a Masters degree or PHD or both and at least one of them in something that related to business, law or politics. Again good to excellent grades are very important here as well.

Then, of course you need experience in the field and here you get a position and prove yourself by working up.

I am sorry but getting shot down and taken prisoner by the enemy just doesn't do it for me in the realm of being a good politician.

[QUOTE=matclone;2774]Flop, I just think you don't know much about how govt operates. You work with a slice of it, yet you don't know why the govt subcontracts? I'm guessing it has a lot to do with (saving) money, and political influence and little to do with ability. Hasn't privatization been the rage ever since Reagan and the Grace commission? Why do we have soldiers (the Govt) guarding private contractors in Iraq? Because the contractors are the only ones who know how to get the job done?

QUOTE]


The government doesn't save money by hiring consultants. If you think they do, then you don't know much about how the government operates.

You continue to recite the talking points of the left, with no real basis for your positions. You throw in a "talk radio" reference for about 50% of my posts, and expect that to be a "gotcha", so it's kind of a waste of time for us to converse.

The government doesn't save money by hiring consultants.

I didn't mean to say they do. You asked why they subcontract. I was just suggesting the idea for it.

You continue to recite the talking points of the left, with no real basis for your positions.

Whatever. Then obviously I'm wasting my time.

Matclone, I asked and answered my own question in my original post. Aren't I tricky?

"Why does the govt subcontract everything? Because they don't have the skill set to do it themselves."

BIG, You're going to make a great Catholic (converts always make the best), freedom is confused in the West with self-indulgence, or Id gratification. This is really conveinent as it dovetails nicely with our consumeristic culture. Freedom should be understood to be the right to do the right thing.