Oil Prices

[Kung Wu]

Kung, you're offering us a false equivalency.

How many corporations pi$$ money away on failed ventures. Ones that are usually some wet dream of an overpaid CEO?

A company I once worked for had to write $42 million (after depreciation) of software after the EVP brought his consultant girl friend in to rework our business processes and the software supporting them. He brought his girlfriend into every business unit he worked in for the company, usually with less than syellar results. When he left, he received a half million plus severance and then IMMEDIATELY went to work for the software consultants. I heard one of the things he did for his new employer was teach ethics classes.

Corporate America rewards executives for failing.

Career Government employees, on the other hand, must try to do their work toiling under some well-heeled contributor (mostly incompetent ones) who don't know jack about how the department works, or what they do. And even worse, once these well-heeled fools finally get it, they jump back to private industry to consult.

Like I always say, show me an entrenched politician and I'll show you a crook!

This discussion has nothing to do whatsoever regarding corporate America.

[RoyalShock]

Courthouse employees? State highway workers? US Postal workers?

My ex-wife's first job after we got married was working as a clerk in a county courthouse. I guarantee you they are not overpaid. Local and state governments don't have the luxury of exceeding budgets and printing money. When I was on the city council, I gained a whole new appreciation for our city workers, from the clerk to the police to the maintenance crews. Granted, it was a small town, but I don't think it's terribly different in larger towns and cities, other than their compensation may be more in line with the private sector. But definitely not much higher, if at all. And in my opinion, that's how it should be. If your wages are paid by tax revenue, don't expect to live a life materially better than your neighbor.

[pinstripers]

My ex-wife's first job after we got married was working as a clerk in a county courthouse. I guarantee you they are not overpaid. Local and state governments don't have the luxury of exceeding budgets and printing money. When I was on the city council, I gained a whole new appreciation for our city workers, from the clerk to the police to the maintenance crews. Granted, it was a small town, but I don't think it's terribly different in larger towns and cities, other than their compensation may be more in line with the private sector. But definitely not much higher, if at all. And in my opinion, that's how it should be. If your wages are paid by tax revenue, don't expect to live a life materially better than your neighbor.

totally different life experience than Royal. Totally.

[shocka khan]

Kung, you said that government employees were overpaid and inept.

I would expect as much from a libertarian, and that's your problem. You're the mirror image of a socialist. Socialists believe that government cures all ills, libertarians believe government creates them.

Instead of using your 'what is true of the parts must be true of the whole' logic, why don't you bring some facts and figures to bolster your argument.

I was merely pointing out to you that corporations waste a whole lot more money than government.

[shocka khan]

Royal, I agree, and would like to add that many government employees have better benefits (including and especially retirement) that justifies a little lower salary. When I left state government, my compensation increased $17K over two years.

I chalked that up to the gold-plated retirement and paid time off.

[Kung Wu]

Kung, you said that government employees were overpaid and inept.

I haven't said a single word about government employees.

I would expect as much from a libertarian, and that's your problem. You're the mirror image of a socialist. Socialists believe that government cures all ills, libertarians believe government creates them.

Calling me a libertarian is like calling Da Vinci a painter.

Instead of using your 'what is true of the parts must be true of the whole' logic, why don't you bring some facts and figures to bolster your argument.

I'm too dumb to understand what you are talking about.

I was merely pointing out to you that corporations waste a whole lot more money than government.

My commentary has nothing to do with corporate America.

[wsushox1]

This could be a 4000 page thread all by itself, but I'd roughly estimate 99% of federal employees are underworked, overpaid, over-benefited workers when compared to their private sector counterparts.

Wow, that's not true at all.

[pinstripers]

Every day at the local Quick-Trip, all the state highway pickups and all of the County vehicles, pull up and get their Big Gulp and a doughnut, all while clocked in. Every day.

[WstateU]

Every day at the local Quick-Trip, all the state highway pickups and all of the County vehicles, pull up and get their Big Gulp and a doughnut, all while clocked in. Every day.

[ShockBand]

Every day at the local Quick-Trip, all the state highway pickups and all of the County vehicles, pull up and get their Big Gulp and a doughnut, all while clocked in. Every day.

And private sector employees never waste time in similar fashion?

[pinstripers]

Perhaps some do, I don't know. I don't pay their salaries, tho.

[ShockBand]

If you purchase their products or services, you do pay for it.

[Play Angry]

Perhaps some do, I don't know. I don't pay their salaries, tho.

Do you or your neighbors accept farm subsidies or purchase crop insurance? Just wondering.

[pinstripers]

I guess I will stop. It's like talking to KU fans.

[shocka khan]

Pin, as Jack Nicholson said in "A Few Good Men"

"You want to know the truth? You can't handle the truth!"

Keep trying, though.....