What kind of sheltered universe must one be living in to call the Government stupid

[Le Jacquelope]

and not see the raging stupidity going on all around in the private sector?

What's up with that?

 

[Stella_Omega]

We live in an era of stupidity.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Once upon a time there was honesty and reality in our universe...

Then, evil and stupidity sprung forth from the bowels of men...

The End.

 

[sr71plt]

I think the issues have always been too big for mere human beings to get their arms around (although they, of course, assume otherwise) so that their best efforts fall short and other simplistic human beings (especially ones not putting in personal effort into solving the issues themselves) then call them stupid--for not fully succeeding even if what they did help at least a bit. We're not in a particularly stupid age now, I think; rather we're just in an increasingly complex world, where more effort is put into pointing to (publicizing) and complaining about incomplete efforts than is put into helping solve problems. Because it's easier and more self-satisfying to bitch and moan than it is to roll up your sleeves and help chip away at the problems.

 

[desertslave]

Because idiots who can't succeed in the private sector end up getting jobs in the government.

 

[rgraham666]

Like George W. Bush.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Because idiots who can't succeed in the private sector end up getting jobs in the government.

Or they become middle / upper corporate management.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I think the issues have always been too big for mere human beings to get their arms around (although they, of course, assume otherwise) so that their best efforts fall short and other simplistic human beings (especially ones not putting in personal effort into solving the issues themselves) then call them stupid--for not fully succeeding even if what they did help at least a bit. We're not in a particularly stupid age now, I think; rather we're just in an increasingly complex world, where more effort is put into pointing to (publicizing) and complaining about incomplete efforts than is put into helping solve problems. Because it's easier and more self-satisfying to bitch and moan than it is to roll up your sleeves and help chip away at the problems.

yeah, I agree with you here. Another problem I think, is that as the world gets more complex, most people want to shy away from the complexities. Black-and-white is so comforting, and so rewarding-- It's easy to get validation from simplistic statements, and very difficult to discuss nuances.

 

[sr71plt]

yeah, I agree with you here. Another problem I think, is that as the world gets more complex, most people want to shy away from the complexities. Black-and-white is so comforting, and so rewarding-- It's easy to get validation from simplistic statements, and very difficult to discuss nuances.

And boy is it easy to go on Internet chat boards and complain about what everyone else isn't doing for you.

 

[Stella_Omega]

And boy is it easy to go on Internet chat boards and complain about what everyone else isn't doing for you.

Bladder full again?

I also agree with you on the biden thread. Chill out.

 

[sr71plt]

Bladder full again?

I also agree with you on the biden thread. Chill out.

Ummm, I wasn't disagreeing with you or directing my comment at you. So, perhaps you could chill out instead(?)

 

[freshface]

yeah, I agree with you here. Another problem I think, is that as the world gets more complex, most people want to shy away from the complexities. Black-and-white is so comforting, and so rewarding-- It's easy to get validation from simplistic statements, and very difficult to discuss nuances.

Back to the topic at hand, it's easy to pass judgment based on only selected parts of the story. The rest of the story might not be as interesting, but suddenly the action makes a lot more sense.

Because 999 people doing what they're supposed to be doing isn't a story. One person screwing up is.

Because all of us have to interact with government every day in some way, so there are more opportunities to see and be affected by government policies. Stupidity in the private sector might be more egregious and blatant than anything the government would do, but it's much less likely to affect all of us the way that government does.

Because, as sr71plt pointed out, in today's digital age it doesn't take long for information to appear on blogs, YouTube, etc., frequently with only one side of the story.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Ummm, I wasn't disagreeing with you or directing my comment at you. So, perhaps you could chill out instead(?)

LOL, nice way of squirming there. Where, then, were you directing your comment?

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Back to the topic at hand, it's easy to pass judgment based on only selected parts of the story. The rest of the story might not be as interesting, but suddenly the action makes a lot more sense.

Because 999 people doing what they're supposed to be doing isn't a story. One person screwing up is.

Because all of us have to interact with government every day in some way, so there are more opportunities to see and be affected by government policies. Stupidity in the private sector might be more egregious and blatant than anything the government would do, but it's much less likely to affect all of us the way that government does.

Because, as sr71plt pointed out, in today's digital age it doesn't take long for information to appear on blogs, YouTube, etc., frequently with only one side of the story.

Stupidity in the private sector affects all of us quite often. Look at Enron, and look at the decades of dependence on coal and oil despite the electric car having been around since the 1830s. Our whole country is roiling because of private industry stupidity in the energy sector. That's just one example.

 

[freshface]

Stupidity in the private sector affects all of us quite often. Look at Enron, and look at the decades of dependence on coal and oil despite the electric car having been around since the 1830s. Our whole country is roiling because of private industry stupidity in the energy sector. That's just one example.

I agree completely. The insistence in Detroit that Americans want big, brawny, gas guzzlers despite the runaway success of small Japanese cars is another. But in a soundbite world, it's easy to poke fun at the DMV or TSA. We all have to interact with them and we all have our stories where they were less than helpful. When I choose to purchase a small car, it doesn't feel like I'm being affected by Detroit. Of course it's not true, but sometimes perception is reality.

 

[Elianna]

"What kind of sheltered universe must one be living in to call the Government stupid and not see the raging stupidity going on all around in the private sector?

What's up with that?"

We say government is stupid instead of business, because right now we're focused on government (elections, stupid JWB, wars, etc.). When all that settles down we'll probably be right back to being pissed at whoever is fucking us today in the private sector again.

Maybe it's also because we want government to FIX the private companies who are hurting us and don't understand our own free market and politics. (Sometimes I'm not sure anyone does).

IMHO

 

[sr71plt]

LOL, nice way of squirming there. Where, then, were you directing your comment?

To you--directly--of course. All you do here is complain, bitch and moan, go postal on all of life's little absurdities--and blame everyone but yourself.

 

[desertslave]

Or they become middle / upper corporate management.

Now who's sounding sheltered? LOL

There's one significant difference between the private sector and the government. In the private sector there's a constant pressure to perform, excel or get out of the way. Witness the massive turnover of upper management over the past few years. The vultures are always circling.

In the government, one can thrive on being stunningly mediocre or even substandard for years, decades even. It's incredibly difficult to fire a non-performing federal or state employee. Even private companies with gov't contracts have a tough time canning the idjits.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

To you--directly--of course. All you do here is complain, bitch and moan, go postal on all of life's little absurdities--and blame everyone but yourself.

And all you do is bitch about me.

Maybe I do this just to get on the nerves of apathetic jackholes like you?

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Now who's sounding sheltered? LOL

There's one significant difference between the private sector and the government. In the private sector there's a constant pressure to perform, excel or get out of the way. Witness the massive turnover of upper management over the past few years. The vultures are always circling.

Funny how so many of them leave with golden parachutes, to say nothing of the CEOs who get multi million dollar payouts while their companies are going under.

In the government, one can thrive on being stunningly mediocre or even substandard for years, decades even. It's incredibly difficult to fire a non-performing federal or state employee. Even private companies with gov't contracts have a tough time canning the idjits.

Your commentary intentionally leaves out the staggering compensation that private sector heads get even when they epic fail their company.

 

[sr71plt]

And all you do is bitch about me.

Maybe I do this just to get on the nerves of apathetic jackholes like you?

Ah, no. This is supposedly an erotic stories site. I spend a lot of time contributing product to it. I have no idea why you are on this site--unless it's because you've been kicked off of all the other sites you moaned and groaned on. You certainly should be relegated to the General Board (or better, the trash bin) here.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Ah, no. This is supposedly an erotic stories site. I spend a lot of time contributing product to it. I have no idea why you are on this site--unless it's because you've been kicked off of all the other sites you moaned and groaned on. You certainly should be relegated to the General Board (or better, the trash bin) here.

Well then why don't you get to writing erotic stories instead of being a hypocrite and bitching about me? Or am I about the only person left who'll even listen to you? Well, that may change soon. Then you'll only have your parents and I bet they're happy to be deaf.

 

[rgraham666]

Now who's sounding sheltered? LOL

There's one significant difference between the private sector and the government. In the private sector there's a constant pressure to perform, excel or get out of the way. Witness the massive turnover of upper management over the past few years. The vultures are always circling.

In the government, one can thrive on being stunningly mediocre or even substandard for years, decades even. It's incredibly difficult to fire a non-performing federal or state employee. Even private companies with gov't contracts have a tough time canning the idjits.

I shouldn't laugh, but I am. I worked in the private sector for over twenty years. And I saw very little "pressure to perform". Unless "pressure to perform" is the same as "pressure to conform".

The people who did well were almost never the best performers. Because the best performers, well, performed.

In the meantime the mediocre and incompetent went to the right meetings, filled out the right forms in the right manner, dressed properly, mouthed company platitudes and kissed the right asses.

My favorite author compares the modern business world to Versailles under Louis XVI and The Forbidden City under the Mancus. A complex maze of power played by people only interested in power. We know what happened to both those societies.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

I shouldn't laugh, but I am. I worked in the private sector for over twenty years. And I saw very little "pressure to perform". Unless "pressure to perform" is the same as "pressure to conform".

The people who did well were almost never the best performers. Because the best performers, well, performed.

In the meantime the mediocre and incompetent went to the right meetings, filled out the right forms in the right manner, dressed properly, mouthed company platitudes and kissed the right asses.

My favorite author compares the modern business world to Versailles under Louis XVI and The Forbidden City under the Mancus. A complex maze of power played by people only interested in power. We know what happened to both those societies.

You forgot the obligatory reference to Machiavelli (by name, that is). Office politics. Corporate sycophantry. The Good Old Boy System.

 

[Elianna]

Funny how so many of them leave with golden parachutes, to say nothing of the CEOs who get multi million dollar payouts while their companies are going under.

Your commentary intentionally leaves out the staggering compensation that private sector heads get even when they epic fail their company.

I don't know about you, but I learned some valuable lessons back in high school right before I was tossed out on my own.

Lesson 1: Money = Power.
If you haven't figured out that the more money you have the easier it is to get out of trouble, I suggest you go back to your teachers and ask them why they didn't use a 2X4 to teach you. Lots of rich people get away with awful things. It's sad, but not surprising in the least.

Lesson 2: Buyer beware.
No one HAD to buy the ARM loans in order to purchases houses they couldn't afford in the first place. Not the private sector's fault. It's ours. People were idiots with their finances. Same thing with investing in companies like Enron. If you put all your money in one pot... well, duh. The stock market IS taking a gamble; those who play stupid lose their money.

Lesson 3: No one can save you from your own stupidity
Except you.

So stop whining. Suck it up. Learn from your mistakes and be "smarter than the average bear."