Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/13/2016 7:46:25 PM

What are the possible meanings of "Drain the Swamp"?   It seems anything that is done, any person potentially appointed, is seem as the opposite of draining the swamp.  What would we see or know that would show the swamp was unplugged?

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/13/2016 8:16:57 PM

I think that draining the swamp will occur when all these appointments are confirmed and start working on Trump's agenda.  I'm not happy at the moment that Trump is engaging in a war of words with the intelligence community.  Yes, I believe that the heads of these groups have becoome politicized, due to the pressure to please the current Administration, but the actual analysts are most likely on the level.  As we have previously discussed, intelligence comes in from many sources.  Some people like to cherry pick intelligence to prove their belief, but the true analysts take intelligence from multiple sources and analyze it to come up with what is called "finished intelligence"  In the last 10 years, the cherry pick method has been popular amongst poliiticians.  One thing to keep in mind is that intelligence is like an art, and it is subjet to interpretation. 

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Drain the DIMOKRAP Swamp
Date:	12/14/2016 12:10:17 AM

It amazes me to hear liberal media make all the noise about Trump's appointments not draining the swamp.  What they refuse to acknowledge is, draining the swamp means getting all the DIMOKRAP slugs, muslims, and unqualified appointees by o-BAMA out of office and out of town.

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/14/2016 9:07:31 AM

when i was actively consulting on restructuring financial companies--'draining the swamp' meant getting rid of deadbeaat, non productive, negative employees; and i was damn good at it; lord knows we need some cleaning in D.C.

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/14/2016 11:31:07 AM

LIke Flyfishers definition and would go a little further -  

1. states rights - the fed is not there for everything.

2. get the governement for the people, by the people etc back in business - not I am from the government and I am here to regulate your children/chickens farting in your back yard.

3.  If what I do on my own property does not harm or put others(environment included )  in danger leave me the hell alone.

4.  as Hound pointed out with waste and accounting, while they are not private sector/for profit , they should have an idea of who works for them and what they do - how can you do anything if you have no idea what your resources are in both people and materials.  You have people probably pulling paychecks who are probably not even showing up for work anymore and doing zero.  Accountabililty of funds before you start deciding you need more of my paycheck to cover more waste.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/14/2016 8:00:03 PM

Pulling a paycheck and not showing up is more likely in State government than Federal government.  Managers in the government have to sign off on everyone's time card, which means you certify that people worked the hours.  It's why govenrment mangers hate telecommuting, compressed work schedule. 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/14/2016 8:26:19 PM

Like the fellow in the news a while back who worked at the IRS I think it was and told his bosses he worked for the CIA and would leave for months at time and travel the world on his IRS credit card. Got away with it for years. Of course it happens in the private sector, but only along with corruption. Like  or hello Obamas 350k a year no show job at the city Hospital. Oh no, wait a minute, that was a government job. Hmm, I'll look for an instance of private sector, but it may take a while.

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/15/2016 11:22:10 AM

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/18/the-epa-s-million-dollar-con-man.html

EPA - well there may be one at the IRS s well, sad part is THEY DID SIGN OFF ON HIS PAYCHECKS!!! :)

Beale dealt with his workplace malaise by convincing his bosses that he was a CIA operative whose top-secret work required him to be out of the office for long periods of time—including one stretch that lasted 18 months.

In reality, the agency’s top climate-change expert spent most of his time puttering around his Northern Virginia home or at his vacation house on the Cape, collecting his salary (plus bonuses!) while doing zero work. To break the monotony, he would take deluxe personal trips, on the EPA’s dime, of course, running up fat tabs for first-class airfare, limos, and five-star hotels.

How long did this fraud go on? Hard to say. Two decades, maybe longer. Beale resigned in April, after learning that he was under federal investigation. Court documents trace his shenanigans back through 2000. In its probe, however, the EPA’s inspector general turned up evidence that Beale had been making (unrelated) stuff up since 1989. For his part, Beale reportedly told the IG’s office that he started spinning spy stories in 1994 out of boredom and a need for attention.

I stand by that to drain the swamp they need to account for the people in their areas, what they do and are they actually working, dead or just bored and taking a really long vacation! If they can not locate someone for say 2-3 pay periods cut the funds off and when they show up to wonder why the gravy train stopped, have them show where they have actually been working for it.

Would not be supprised to find that people doing one job are being paid from several different spots for the same job since apparently no one knows anything about accounting.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/15/2016 12:42:49 PM

 I can give you private company example.  I shared on office with a contractor who used to sleep in the office in the morning, and then disappear all afternoon into "meetings".   and sometimes he didn't show up at all.  Seems he drank a bit. 

I like the one about the IRS guy saying he worked for the CIA.  Would have thought his bosses might have checked into it.  Of course, the IRS has field agents as does the CIA.  Maybe he was working for both.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/15/2016 12:54:59 PM

It is not very likely that someone would be paid from 2 different agencies, but then again - there was a guy in my agency who was the head of our little security office.  He would go on trip paid for by the Commerce Department to speak on intelligence and security.  My Director used to get phone calls about him, because it seems in his down time, he would snoop around top secret areas where he was not permitted.  People would get uneasy and report him, but since he wasn't doing the traveling for our agency, my boss would refer them to the Commerce Department.  We all thought he was a bit of a nut.  He was Lebonese and tended to do everything to make himself look like a lot of people would imagine a spy - beard, dark glasses, hat with a low brim, trench coat.  (in truth, real operatives are more likely to be dressed in Kaki pants and a shirt and as normal as any average guy).  Eventually, the DIA pulled his clearance, but he made a comeback wihen Doug Freith, who created his own intellgence group so he could make sure he got the intelligence he wanted, without relying on the pesky truth, hired him as the head of his cell.  Last I heard, the intelligence community pulled his clearance again, for having an affair with a Russian woman whom he ultimately married (leaving his wife of 34 years).  Last I heard, he was working for a newpapaer.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/15/2016 1:14:53 PM

Phil corrected me and provided link and context.  It was actually EPA, but it doesn't matter which alphabet Agency. As for the contractor you described he may have been employed by a private entity but was working on, in and for a government agency. I can about guarantee that if he was contracted to another private entity the behavior you described would not be tolerated. Not any longer than it would take for HR or a supervising manager to investigate, document and terminate. The difference is than in private business folks look out for the bosses and the money more than government employees do for a couple of reasons. First they usually know that once reported action will be taken and they understand the better the company does, the better they do. Secondly folks tend to take it personally. If they are working and producing they expect everyone else being paid to do so also.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/16/2016 9:10:41 AM

I will agree that private entities do have the ability to fire people who are causing a problem. Of course, that blade cuts both ways and you could be fired because your boss simply doesn't like you.

But I have to counter your concept that everyone working for the government is lazy and does nothing and cheats the system every chance they get.  There are a lot of dedicated people and remember, you only hear about the bad ones.  My sister works for the Army.  Two Saturdays ago, she fell and broke her knee cap and had to have surgery last week. When I spoke to her on the phone, her biggest worry was how to get to work, because she had something due and didn't want to slough it off  on her coworkers. She has a ton of sick leave, and could easily take the rest of the month off, since she is in a cast and cannot bend her knee.  But she went back to work on Monday, fell in the parking lot at work on Tuesday but still managed to get up and get to her office, despite being in pain. My point is this, there are a lot of good people too, who care about the work.

I had a woman that once worked for me who used to come to work after chemo treatments, because she believed in getting her job done.

It's just that we remember the goof-offs, the crazies, the lazy, and don't often remember all the times people came through.  When I shop, I don't remember all the times things went without a hitch, but I certainly remember the time Walmart Pharmacy screwed up and the clerk got an  attitude and I  demanded to speak to a manager. 

I don't know anything about the EPA, and cannot comment on their people or their organization. One of the burdens I'm sure that they live with is the huge number of environmental lobbying and activists groups wanting this or that regulation or law to protect the environment.  And their are many examples where companies have dumped chemicals onto the ground or water, polluting the drinking water for many.  So lets not be too quick to abolish them.  Maybe they need to be refocused. 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/16/2016 10:38:45 AM

I have never seen anybody on here claim that ALL government workers are lazy and worthless. What gets repeated is that we ll agree there is a greater percentage of lazy, worthless employees in government over private sector. You tend to get defensive every time it comes up. Many of us have also conceded that DoD probably has a higher caliber of folks than most agencies. We are all intelligent enough and aware enough to realize that the bad ones are the ones we hear about.

I am very quick to complain about poor service anywhere I encounter it. I will call a customer service line or use  websites to lodge complaints. I take surveys also. I have eaten many free sandwiches from the local McDonald's from trashing them on their surveys. On the other hand I am also inclined to call, go online,  or even seek out supervisory personel to compliment exemplary service when I encounter it. I feel that is more important than the complaints. Many more folks will complain than will take time to praise.

Last week I got trapped in the drive through line at the pharmacy again because they allow people to sit at the window while they wait for theirs to be filled. I just needed to drop off and had an appointment to get  to. By the time I realized what was happening I was boxed in and ended up late for my appointment. I complained about this once before so I was pissed when I finally got to the window. I told them if they did not change the policy to using the window for pick up and drop off only I would be changing pharmacy. I sometimes wait also, but I park and go in to do it. I am too considerate to block the drive through. When I go back if there is not signage saying drop off/pick up only I will transfer all my business. Will it break them? Absolutely not, but I am very punctual and hate being late.  I also consider it poor service and want tolerate it. One thing for certain, I would t get stuck in the drive through again. .

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/16/2016 3:58:34 PM (updated 12/16/2016 3:59:03 PM)

I would not say nor imply all or most - I think "some" would probably be a good choice.  There are A$$hats in all levels public, private and government who will find ways to defraud the system.  The longer someone is somewhere the better the chance that they have found out ways to fall through the cracks, double dip etc.  I know in Alabama the college system was a place for many politicians to get an office/ double dip payroll without doing much of anything or even being present - but college A could say well such and such works here, err well gets a paycheck and lobbies in Montgomery for us ( or does not actively seak to cut our funding since he "works" here).

I would probably say MOST in government are hardworking people, and commend your sister as well as your coworker for their work ethics.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/injured-chick-fil-a-cashier-help-homeless_us_58501f64e4b0bd9c3dfed83f

Sort of like this person, he could easily stay home - but went back to work ( probably before he needed to) and hopefully was not on any meds that might cause him issues driving to/home or any problems dealing with customers.  

Unlike many when I do see something that stands out of the crowd in terms of service or something I do like to make it know to that person or their superiors that they have something to be proud of from that employee.  Funniest one ever was at a local steakhouse, asked for the manager and the waitress came back with him with the "oh God what did I do face" with the manager  was shocked when I told him that she was probably one of the best servers I have ever experienced anywhere and left a nice tip.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Unplugged
Date:	12/21/2016 10:55:59 PM

Yes, I believe in recognizing excellent service.  Lately it is important, because so much service is mediocre.  I too will go out of my way to let someone know I appreciate their service and to let their bosses know too. 

I remember when I spent 4 months in Germany. This one small group was doing an outstanding job for us.  When my boss came to visit, their Colonel asked my boss on the side if he would be willing to write a letter of commendation for the 3-4 people in the office.  My boss, who was a sociopath, told him absolutely not.  Ticked the Colonel off.  It would have been so easy for him to do it and it woud have meant so much to those employees; but of course, being a sociopath, he didn't care about other people, except in how he could manipulate them.

Lifer, you and I must be using the same drug store.  It never seems to fail that I get behind that person who is sitting at the window, waiting for their prescription while a long line waits behind them.  Generally, if I suspect there will be any questions, or if the medicine may have to be ordered, I always go inside, so as not to inconvenience everyone else.  I'm also very punctual.  I have been seeing an ortho whose nurse finally admitted to me that he starts scheduling patients at 8 am, so upon his arrival at 9, he runs an hour behind all day long.  Clearly he has no respect for his patients time, and he seems to be in love with my insurance since he has had me coming in every month and he isn't helping me.  So, I am taking my business elsewhere. 

My sisters and I were raised with a strong work ethic.  Two things that my father told me: 1/ that no matter what job I had, I should do it to the best of my ability and be reliable, because they were counting on me to show up.  2/ to check my attitude, bad mood, etc at the door when I got to work, because it wasn't fair to others to be subjected to my personal problems.  the 3rd, is to be punctual.  4th:  everyone has a role to play in the work place and if I didn't like my job, I should quit and find a job I did like.  5th:  if it was supposed to be fun, they wouldn't call it "work".