[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
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>
> John wrote:
>
> >Tis a vast apparatus operating well beyond the cover story of the
> >famous 13. How far it extends into the private sector is a most
> >interesting question, sometimes examined here but not as much as it
> >deserves,
>
> Deep, and getting deeper all the time. A fascinating theorist from
> Brookings refers to this as "the shadow of government", and people
> like our many friends here who take money for government contract work
> "the shadow federal workforce":
>
> The Shadow of Government
>
> The shadow government casts through its vast inventory of private,
> nonprofit and state and local partners is a blend of intent and
> accident. On the onehand, it reflects decades of perfectly appropriate
> contracting for impeccably commercial activities and non-inherently
> governmental functions. On the other hand, the shadow also reflects
> decades of personnel ceilings, hiring limits and unrelenting pressure
> to do more with less. Under pressure to create a government that looks
> smaller and delivers at least as much of everything the public wants,
> federal departments and agencies did what came naturally: They pushed
> jobs outward and downward into a vast shadow that is mostly outside
> the public's consciousness.
>
> That creates a truth-in-advertising problem. It is impossible to
> have an honest debate about the role of government in society if the
> measurements only include part of the government. The government also
> is increasingly reliant on non-federal workers to produce goods and
> services that used to be delivered in - -house. Not only does the
> shadow workforce create an illusion of smallness that may mislead the
> public about the true size of government, it may create an illusion of
> merit as jobs inside government are held to strict merit standards,
> while jobs under contracts, grants and mandates are not. It may also
> create illusions of capacity and accountability as agencies pretend
> they know enough to oversee their shadow workforce when, in fact, they
> no longer have the ability to distinguish good product or service from
> bad.
>
> The government knows virtually nothing about its shadow. Neither the
> Office of Personnel Management nor the Office of Management and Budget
> has ever counted the full-time-equivalent non-federal workforce, let
> alone analyzed its appropriateness.
>
> ***
>
> Wheres the incentive for anyone here or elsewhere to step forward and
> admit youre working for the CIA, NSA or wherever? How much business
> can you take before you wake up and realize you're working for a front
> company?
>
> "Hey, back off man, my paycheck coming is from the private sector.
> Nevermind whos footing the bill or where my research product goes. Its
> not a front company, the DoD is a uh um just someone we do business
> with. They didnt even tell me who the real client is. So dont blame
> me."
>
> You can cut as many smelly little deals with the Devil as you please,
> but at the end of the day when you look in the mirror you really ought
> to see yourself for what you are. Feds are bumbling fools but somehow
> you, the genius beyond-cool cypherpunk contractor, are any different?
> Blinding you with your passionate commitment to the free market, not
> bad.
>
> What a brilliant con.
>
> ~Faustine.
>
> ***
>
> He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy
> from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a
> precedent that will reach to himself. - -Thomas Paine
>
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