[jackbill]

The notion that supervisors could not take disciplinary action is nonsense. If an air traffic controller needs to be fired, for example, he can be fired without many problems.

You're just flat out wrong. Government employees are backed by one of the strongest unions in the country and the union fights every damned attempt to fire someone - whether they are in the wrong or not. Check the numbers.

[ignatz_q]

You're just flat out wrong.

No, I'm not. There is not a single union that oversees all government employees, especially those in critical positions. Again, look at the Air Traffic Controllers. These guys are paid well, professionally trained, and can be removed from the job easily when they show incompetence.

[mdwakeup]

True, but it's pretty tough to fire people in the private sector, too -- especially in large organizations.