Why?
That number represents a loss of expertise,
We have no ambassador to South Korea.
We have no ambassador to Turkey.
And about 40 other countries.
These are key positions in important strategic regions, not government excess. Nominees were not blocked, there have been no nominees.
Frankly IMO, these Ambassadors are old school. With Skype, who needs this expense? What real function do they serve other than symbolic? Please educate me as to what function they do that cannot be done remotely? Spy outlets I suppose. They also issue passports, and cutting immigration means bye-bye to those jobs. Secretary of state could have floating staff flying around on commercial flights as needed instead. What do they do at foreign embassies? They dont help many travelers, just stamp passports. I have read story after story about no help to travelers. Non essential imo. And look what happened at Benghazi. Disgusting.
I would cut all administration in Govt, and increase pay of the 20% who do a great job supporting the 80% non producers unable to be employed outside the DC Swamp. Give them severance, poof no more ongoing overhead. One Ambassador per geograhic region to cut ribbons, shake hands and smile for the camera. Lol. This isnโt morse code era, instant communications make certain jobs obsolete. Turkey is a mess. Forget it. They hate us anyway. Most all of Africa too.
And the Jerusalem embassy thing, its to me devisive, for the US now currently has enough Pro Palestine haters of the US, wait to see that mess in the future. Someone explain to me why the move? More symbolic than productive it seems.
When Ross Perot spoke in 92 of more Govt employees versus manufacturing jobs was 10 years after the beginning of the current demise. Way too many Govt employees and paper shuffling are simply non essential overhead. Smart private companies reduce overhead expenses to get budget under control. The Veterans admin is still a mess. The VA has hundreds of Admin/Medical officers/Drโs that make more money at $250-400k a year. Especially in lower cost states. Thats more than private practice, ridiculous. Private Doctors risk malpractice and their entire business to make less than some Govt employee, who cannot be fired? Career bureaucrats need to be filtered out, less chiefs and better pay for indians.
https://www.federalpay.org/employees/occupations/medical-officer. 2016
https://www.federalpay.org/employees/occupations/medical-officer/2007 Notice the overhead increase, since 2007 yet Veterans services declined.
The Veterans themselves deserve the best treatment and medical care, great hands on surgeons, nurses and non administrators are needed. From what I read, they are not being paid what they deserve. I think entire system should be somehow semi privatized. Behind Pentagon, 2nd in most overhead.
The President announced military pay raises today, excellent move. Maybe if they laid off administrators it might be more balanced.
1992 Flashback from a great guy. 26 years of uncontrolled Govt growth, doubling deficit, increased imports, job losses in private industry. Everything has gotten worse since then. He speaks of the lobbyist revolving door way back then.
