Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   You really should have stuck to things DoD Date:   10/1/2014 9:49:55 AM

You obviously have no idea on the inner workings of government today.  I've hired and fired people.  I have been in situations, thanks to the vagaries of the DoD budget, I had to call a contractor every Friday to let him know that no more money was coming and he would tell me which of his employees he was letting go.  Did you know that if a Congress authorizes a pay raise for government employees that they don't send extra money?  And when one doesn't have the "luxury" of not paying people, one has to scramble to figure out where that money is coming from.  I've had to call people into the office and let them know that Congress has elected not to pass a budget and that they were "furloughed" until further notice and them ask me how they were supposed to pay their mortgage.

Do you have any idea what it is like to have money thrown at you at the end of the fiscal year and try to figure out how to legally spend it in 5 days, knowing that if you can't get it done, you will be decrimated that much or more next fiscal year.  Do you know what it is like to try to figure out how to get the job done when your agency decides that there can be no travel for the balance of the year and you have engineers who are expected at international forums?  Do you have any idea what it is like to try to keep people up to speed on the latest technology when your government has decided not to fund any training?  Do you have any idea what it is like to have to money of one color and can only be spent for certain specific things, while other things cannot be done? 

Do you have any idea what it is like to get an off the wall Congressional inquiry have have to answer it compeletely in less than 24 hours - not business hours, but 24 hours???  Do you know what it is like to have large companies come to you and expect you to solve their problems involving millions of dollars, when you know that to approve what they want to do will could negatively impact the national security of the U.S.?  Have you ever sat with a group of night vision contractors who want to sell their very fine devices to firemen all over China and reap millions of dollars of sales, and balance that with a letter from 3-4 4 star general who have said that they do not want to have any night vision devices exported because they pose a tactical threat to forces engaged in urban warfare? And know that whatever you decide, you may face a Congressional hearing? 

The point I am making here is that every endeavor has its challenges.   There is a lot more to running even a small govenrment agency today than you would think.  I assume you will not read this and digest what I am telling you.  Instead you will fail to realize how much it has in common with running a business.  You and some of your "friends" here will merely attack what I have said.  So be it.