Time to clean House

I was finishing an NYT oped just now and had a moment of clarity. It seems that many of those who promise that they are on the job when it comes to US "safety and security" just aren't living up to their basic job requirements. Whether the position is elected or appointed, a certain level of knowledge, and the accompanying continuing education and due diligence, are necessary in order for that person to be an effective representative or administrator. Without current and important facts, the best that we can expect from them is that they occasionally get lucky and do the right thing. Even a broken watch is right twice a day.

But with that level of expectation, I just don't think we are getting our money's worth. These folks are drinking deeply from the public teat. Who among the commoners wouldn't like a GS-umpteen level income? I know my employer expects me to be competent in my basic job requirements(and then some), plus continuing education. All for a whole lot less than a congress member or counterterrorism expert pulls down. And don't even think about the benefits; the insurance, the paid holidays, the sweet retirement package. Oh my. I'm getting dizzy. The point is, you or I would be out looking for a job if we were as incompetent as some of our employees seem to be.

These people have got to go. The cost/benefit analysis is deep in the negatives. It is unacceptable, and too too ironic, for a member of the House intelligence committee to be this out of the loop:

"I asked her[Rep. Jo Ann Davis, R-VA] if she knew the difference between Sunnis and Shiites.

'Do I?' she asked me. A look of concentration came over her face. 'You know, I should.' She took a stab at it: 'It's a difference in their fundamental religious beliefs. The Sunni are more radical than the Shia. Or vice versa. But I think it's the Sunnis who're more radical than the Shia.'

Did she know which branch Al Qaeda's leaders follow?

'Al Qaeda is the one that's most radical, so I think they're Sunni,' she replied. 'I may be wrong, but I think that's right.'" (op. cit.)

Yes darling, you could be wrong, you could be right. The trouble is, like a broken watch, you just don't know. I bet you know who your top 3 bag men, errr contributors are, don't you? Yes, and that is why you have to go. You and your kind are not good enough to keep your job. Not with that "bad attitude":

"Did she think that it was important, I asked, for members of Congress charged with oversight of the intelligence agencies, to know the answer to such questions, so they can cut through officials' puffery when they came up to the Hill?

'Oh, I think it's very important,' said Ms. Davis, 'because Al Qaeda's whole reason for being is based on their beliefs. And you've got to understand, and to know your enemy.'" (op. cit.)

Right. Keep up the BS. That'll help.

Don't know why I bother
There's nothing in it for me
The more I see the less I get
The likes of you and me are
An embarrassment
(PiL - Chant)