Do you believe that the elimination of the United States civil service

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   gmwilliamsposted 11 years ago

   
   wmployment system as it currently is, would save tons of tax monies? 
   Many agencies in the civil service are a total waste of taxpayer monies.  Many of these agencies do less than an efficient job.  In fact, they perform unnecessary and/or repetitive jobs that can be performed more efficiently in private industry.   Besides, civil service is way too enormous which require massive taxpayer monies to support it.   If civil service is eliminated completely or reduced to its most essential components, taxpayer monies will be significantly reduced.    Civil service, because it is mostly non-profit, do a great disservice to the economy.  Do you agree or disagree? Why?  Why not?

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      psycheskinnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Wastes of money like search and rescue, the police, firefighters, teachers, people who check out food for toxins, courts, local government, disaster response etc?
      
      No, I don't want those people fired.  I don't want to live in a world where kids have no education, crime never leads lead to punishment, and there are not even roads to travel on.
      
      These things are only "non-profit" if you don't see living in a safe, peaceful and educated community as something you profit from.

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   Zelkiiroposted 11 years ago

   I don't know about that. There are a handful of civil service jobs that seem redundant (why does the DMV need 3 people at the desk if they can only help one person at a time...?), but for the most part, I don't really see many inefficiencies.
   
   Policemen are civil servants, but I highly doubt anyone's gonna clamor for fewer of them--it's an important job, after all.
   
   Phone operators for places like government buildings and welfare offices are necessary because, well, people are going to make phone calls to these places, and someone has to pick up the phone. Customer service is always needed no matter where you are.
   
   And so on, and so forth.

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      wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't see it as a "handful"; I see it approaching 1/2 the workforce.  civil service jobs are usually plums, and the lack of work load coupled with high pay and even better "bennies" (all supplied by YOU) is the reason.
      
      What I typically see (and hear from civil "servants") is that they have nothing to do.  That half their workforce could be fired and still get the work done fine.  Civil servants typically seem unwilling to go the extra; perform their written duties and that's it.  Unless, of course, they can slide through doing less, which most can.

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         gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Ooooouch, right-on target as usual, couldn't said it better myself.  So correct, Wilderness, many civil service workers are there unwillingly.  They hate their jobs and only look forward to breaks, lunchtime, going home, holidays, PAYDAY, and RETIREMENT.    You are spot on in saying that they refuse to/don't go the extra mile.  They will say that their salary do not pay for them going the extra mile.  In fact, they do AS LITTLE AS possible.   I know civil servants who stated that they will work JUST ENOUGH not to get fired and THAT'S IT!

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   psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago

   And I know civil servants who work long hours, many unpaid, and get treated pretty much like crap with lower salaries, longer hours and worse benefits than they would get in the private sector.  Amongst the people who stop tainted meat from being sold, primary school teachers, and people who investigate and prosecute child abuse.
   
   So maybe instead of firing all these people we should just fire the lazy ones. And then we should give the rest competitive salaries so they don't have to give up so much to work for the public good.

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4. 85

   gmwilliamsposted 11 years ago

   It is their choice to work in civil service.  The few, dediicated employees who work for civil service oftentimes eventually leave for private industry where the pay is better and there is more promotional opportunities.   The average civil servant is really there for the benefits, esp. health benefits, and the job security which they would not find in private industry. 
   
   A lot of civil servants state that they are working just enough to get by.  There was even advice among civil service employees as to NEVER VOLUNTEER or GO THE EXTRA  MILE.   Another civil service mantra is that work is rewarded with more work.  Many civil servants go to their union if they are given work beyond their grade level.  ( I worked in civil service for 26 years, being promoted several times.)   If  a supervisor dares to give an employee assignments beyond their grade level, a union representative would be in his/her face. 
   
   There are civil servants who would deliberately work slow in order to avoid being given more and/or extra assignments.  They would tell other workers to tone it down and pretend to be slow for that purpose.   They would warn a smart employee to dumb it down and pretend to be stupid in order not to get more work.

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   InsideTheMindofKTposted 11 years ago

   Awesome Article. Will generation X and Y have enough in the bank to retire? I do not think so

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