[diablos30]

People often lament the waste, corruption, and downright absurdities of government enterprises, wondering why they can't be "run like a business." Yet economic theory shows that this is no mere accident: Serious institutional differences make government officials much less efficient at managing scarce resources than their private-sector counterparts. We can see these theoretical lessons illustrated in numerous examples spanning a wide range of industries. This evidence should place a prima facie hurdle in the spread of government intervention into new sectors, such as health insurance...

http://www.econlib.org/library/Columns/y2013/Murphymanage.html

 

[JamesLFlowers]

I work (contractor) for the government. One of the worst issues is that no one is will to make a decision, everyone is afraid that it will come back to bite them. They also feel they have no need to follow the law. So now we are in Year 4 of a 90 Day job.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Government organizations aren't run like corporate businesses in a lot of instances because many government businesses have documentation and accounting practices in place, many times mandated by law, for tracking and documentation purposes. All of these requirements take time to comply with.

Government agencies are all about tracking and documenting stuff on a variety of levels. It's ingrained into the way government agencies function, in many cases for concepts like "accountability" and such.

Corporate businesses don't have so many levels of "red tape" to follow, which is good because it would really cut into company profits.

 

[diablos30]

thats part of the equation, the main portion is that government entities simply do not have a residual claimant

 

[jb2sea]

Govt agencies have to justify their existence.
Govt agencies have to use all of their budget so that they can ask for an increase next budget year.
Govt employee's jobs are typically more protected than business employees, thus they are harder to motivate to work hard. Managers/supervisors do not have the same level of authority.
Govt agencies have more procedures to follow (red tape) and very often have to document their work (as mentioned), which is very time consuming.
Govt agencies typically have more levels than a comparable business entity, making any decision more complex and time consuming.
Govt agencies don't have to make a profit.

 

[sleipnir]

Corporate businesses don't have so many levels of "red tape" to follow, which is good because it would really cut into company profits.

Come work in an FDA regulated environment. You will then understand why healthcare is so expensive. The regulatory burden is monumental.

 

[WhiteStarNC]

The government has no competition. Stop to buy gas at an exit with one station -their price and their service. Stop where there a a few and see how competitive they are for your business. This is why schools are so poor and libs still fight vouchers.

 

[jakerson9]

I'm sure there are great people somewhere in the government, but...

Government is inefficient because there is no real accountability and nobody really takes responsibility for anything.
At high levels of government employment, success is defined by ensuring someone else is responsible for everything that goes wrong.
Success is defined by reports generated by people who's performance, raises and bonuses are defined by the reporting.

VA not taking care of enough vets, not serving them quickly enough, not completing disability evaluations quick enough? No problem, fudge the reporting to make it look different - and while you are at it - find a bunch of disabled veterans that you can collect insurance from for treating - even though their disabilities are service-connected. And hire a new VA Secretary.
TSA finding just 5% of explosives and firearms being carried onto planes? No problem, move the acting TSA director into another job until he can retire, and blame him. Change nothing.
People dying because of Amtrak engineer driving a train at 107mph around a curve where the speed limit is posted as 50? No problem, blame congress for cutting funding that would have installed safety equipment.
Congressmen want to cut funding on Amtrak the day after a massive fatal accident? No problem. Claim that you're just cutting funding on subsidies, not safety equipment.
Got an Air Force with an ugly but super-effective ground support jet with an enormous gun system? No problem. Defund it without a replacement. Remember - Army and Marine Corps infantry fatalities do not count against any Air Force General Officer's command. No need to keep them, no risk of dropping them to the Air Force who can fund some other pet project that they can take credit for.

Since nobody TAKES responsibility for anything, really. Nobody has any risk of being fired. Most people working IN government forget that the purpose of government is to serve the people... Most are selfish, self-serving, spineless, worthless, weak, cowards who get along, get by, get promoted, retire and don't care. Every day, month and year reveals new examples of idiocy, cowardice, selfishness and ineptitude.

We pay for all of it. Halalluliah - Where's the Tylenol?

 

[GSRswapandslow]

Come work in an FDA regulated environment. You will then understand why healthcare is so expensive. The regulatory burden is monumental.

so...so...so damn true. i work in sterile injectables....we get hit with CDER and CBER......and EU........

 

[diablos30]

as yall can see, i'll be fully converted by the time i graduate...a full blown liberal, and some say college ruins you.

 

[DrSideways]

as yall can see, i'll be fully converted by the time i graduate...a full blown liberal, and some say college ruins you.

I tend to think colleges have ruined more than students.....

 

[TSheaffer]

Come work in an FDA regulated environment. You will then understand why healthcare is so expensive. The regulatory burden is monumental.

Same with an EPA regulated environment. $32,500 fines for even the smallest infraction, and it pretty much just depends on what kind of day the inspector is having.

 

[JamesLFlowers]

as yall can see, i'll be fully converted by the time i graduate...a full blown liberal, and some say college ruins you.

Some range time will help you clear your head.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I'm sure there are great people somewhere in the government, but...

Government is inefficient because there is no real accountability and nobody really takes responsibility for anything.
.
.
.
Since nobody TAKES responsibility for anything, really. Nobody has any risk of being fired. Most people working IN government forget that the purpose of government is to serve the people... Most are selfish, self-serving, spineless, worthless, weak, cowards who get along, get by, get promoted, retire and don't care. Every day, month and year reveals new examples of idiocy, cowardice, selfishness and ineptitude.

Sorry, dude...I work for the government as a nuclear engineer at a naval shipyard. I have a very clear understanding and philosophy with respect to the concept of responsibility:

"Responsibility is a unique concept... You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you... If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion, or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else. Unless you can point your finger at the man who is responsible when something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really responsible."

- Admiral Hyman G. Rickover

 

[diablos30]

Sorry, dude...I work for the government as a nuclear engineer at a naval shipyard. I have a very clear understanding and philosophy with respect to the concept of responsibility:

"Responsibility is a unique concept... You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you... If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion, or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else. Unless you can point your finger at the man who is responsible when something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really responsible."

- Admiral Hyman G. Rickover

clearly many who have sat before congressional hearings have never read this gem

 

[MacEntyre]

as yall can see, i'll be fully converted by the time i graduate...a full blown liberal, and some say college ruins you.

My brother was liberal before he got his MBA... but now he is lost forever!

He doesn't understand the simple economic truths... now they are all complicated by Keynesian ideas.

 

[diablos30]

My brother was liberal before he got his MBA... but now he is lost forever!

He doesn't understand the simple economic truths... now they are all complicated by Keynesian ideas.

OMG, i need to go puke.

 

[jakerson9]

"Responsibility is a unique concept... You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you... If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion, or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else. Unless you can point your finger at the man who is responsible when something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really responsible."
- Admiral Hyman G. Rickover

Awesome quote - and I have mad respect for your devotion - and I did say - I'm sure there are other great people working with you in our government too...
I wish there were more.