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I will agree that the contractors do the majority of the work....that's what we hire them to do. NASA’s job is to oversee and double check their work to help ensure safety. I am truly heartbroken that so many hard working, talented and dedicated folks are going to losing their jobs. It is a difficult time.

Yes, I am a NASA gov’t employee....have been for over 20 years. I work hard for my pay. I know that there are many govt workers that don't work as hard as private industry workers, but please don't paint with such a broad brush.

I work with a lot of engineers....it's been my experience that most engineers are conservatives...there are exceptions, however, I think most folks that are trained to look objectively at data(facts) tend to be conservatives...not all but most.

I am dismayed at what NASA is being turned into. (Don't even get me started on Global Warming!) Many of us would love nothing more than to have commercial space become viable. The more folks involved the better. (Personally, I would love to fly in space before I die.)
Unfortunately, I think that the current space policy hasn't been thought out with all the consequences understood.

Not all of us believe in gov’t jobs for a jobs sake. Some of us truly believe in exploring and understanding the universe. I believe human existence depends on it. I'm not just trying to have a cushy gov’t job, I'm trying to help further our knowledge base....hopefully, this knowledge will help mankind now and in the future.

I will tell you that I feel very blessed to have been working in manned space flight for these 20+ years. It is truly an amazing place to work. NASA and it's contractors truly have a Can Do attitude! The things that go on behind the scenes are truly amazing.

ok, I'll get off my soapbox...sorry for the rant.

I will stipulate that there are some civil servants (Gold badgers) like yourself that actually do earn their paychecks at NASA (and aren't "gold brickers", as I have worked along side them (possibly even you) over many years. But your elitist attitude of "that's what we hire them to do" and your fearlessness to post your comments on FR (potentially in violation of the Hatch Act), illustrates the two tiers of status within the NASA work environment. Contractors working hard, in fear of being fired at any time for nearly any reason, including offending the political sensibilities of a NASA manager. While NASA workers have little fear of losing their jobs for even blatant ethical or even criminal behavior. Ancient Rome gave their slaves more rights and respect than NASA gives it's contractor workforce.

You also touch on another observation of mine, that engineers (which often are contractors) tend to be more conservative by nature, while scientists and business administrative types (which then to get hired by NASA) tend to be more liberal in their views. Thus their is an obvious political motive to Democrat Administrations and majority Congress to push bloated science projects top heavy with administrative staff, rather than engineering projects. Reward and punishment via pork is no stranger to NASA. It also fosters the abusive work environment I mentioned above. "Badge-neutral work environment, my @ss!"