I just hope that Rove made the right bet in making Dean the chairman of the Donkeys. HeeHaw

The unions are an archaic & parasitic legacy that struggles to be relevant and only wind up adding cost w/o adding value. This is another reason why we need at least 65% congressional conservatives in the next election round or two to finally break the backs of unions. Until we do that, we can never really make progress in downsizing the govt.

I agree with you here. From my point of view, the workers were just lazy; period. Race should have not been a factor. There was no reason to make it a factor. So, I “spoke up” on what I saw was unnecessary.

question the credentials of government employees on general principal.

Which is something I find troubling. The Pentagon is filled with civilian employees. Same with the CIA, NRO, FBI, etc. Don’t you think the attacks on government employees would make it less likely that highly talented people would want to work there, just making the nation’s job harder?

Those who think private contractors would be so much better obviously don’t live in Chicago

Or live near the D.C. contractor beltway.

only excuse for themselves that they can think of is their skin color.

I find it interesting that most people have no clue as to how many times people make a complaint vs move on. The last time I checked, age discrimination complaints were greater than racial complaints. But people keep putting race in the equation based on “trueisms” that ain’t.

“when private companies are given contracts by corrupt governments, they are seldom better than the employees of corrupt goverments.
Hmmm. Common denominator”

Like I said…King Daley.

So let’s take the black out of the discussion: I for one, and I think you will concur, would be highly offended, that should our daughters to chose a career in Govt service, that their promotion is, or perceived to be, based on who they opened their legs to and not on sacrifice and hard work.

This is the effect that AA has on one’s esteem — didn’t get there on brainpower or merit. All too often, blacks and women who succeed find their sucess attributed to some negative trait: color, sex or b****hiness or any combo thereof.

For what it’s worth, the woman I was referring to is white AND just one of many civil servants derisively referred to as having got to where they are now not due to merit or intelligence, rather with their T&A and/or AA.

According to scuttlebutt, the gubmint program management hiring discussion went something like this:

Manager:”This office is all male. We got our black dude, but for our AA quota, we gotta have a woman.”

Supervisor:”Yeah, but does she have any experience?” “Ya know, having to do more with less, the last thing I need is deadweight.”

Manager:”I hear you. Hey, check this out, the first two ladies are at the top of their scale and wanna move up. Also they’re married. The 3rd has lotsa field experience but is a real pain in the kiester.

But I hear that altho Candidate D is about as dumb as they come, she’s recently divorced, willing & I suppose hot enough after a few beers, or at least I’d put a paperbag over her head. Snicker.”

Supervisor:”Well, okay, If I have to chose, I’ll take her. Nudge, nudge.”

Manager:”Good!! That takes care of our AA issue. You gonna break the news to the guys?”

Is that offensive enuff for ya? The problem with AA is that it is an easy 2 x 4 to beat back any demands for accountability by the shiftless and lazy. White males can’t use it, but all other classes of human beings are encouraged to use it by their union.

I disagree with the two of you 99% of the time, but your initial comments on this post are right. This was not a good example to argue against AA. As a long time city worker, the main problems I see are nepotism and the union cronyism that tvd suggested.
Those who think private contractors would be so much better obviously don’t live in Chicago, with the current hired truck scandal being the latest in a long line of scandals in the city of King Daley.
The real solution is probably a combination of hiring private contractors for some things, and making it easier for government workers to be fired if they’re not doing their jobs. Most importantly, both groups must be held accountable.

The dignity of blacks is much more important to me.