Only this Leftist rag would bemoan the decrease in government jobs for affirmative action hires. If 50% of government workers disappeared, the only noticeable result would be that the surrounding VA counties wouldn’t be the richest in the nation during this economic depression. Over-paid, top-heavy government is always the death of a nation.
Check out the books by Author and Consultant Adizes....
(Escaped under fire from communist Yogoslavia)
...his take: ...death of a company follows bureaucracy.....and there is no known return from the death state. 
more at: http://www.adizes.com/lifecycle/