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David Broder: 'High-risk' government (reflections on NASA and lessons to be learned)
The Washington Post ^ | 02/04/2003 | David Broder

Posted on 02/04/2003 11:07:03 AM PST by cogitator

'High-risk' government

Two excerpts that struck a chord:

1: "The GAO report was not specific to the shuttle and made no mention of the Columbia, the oldest vehicle in the fleet. Nor did it mention the United Space Alliance, the private consortium formed by the Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp., which since 1996 has taken over space shuttle operations as a government contractor. But noting that NASA "spends over $12 billion a year" on its contractors, the GAO report said: "Since 1990, we have identified NASA's contract management function as an area of high risk, principally because it has lacked accurate and reliable financial and management information on contract spending, and it has not placed enough emphasis on end results, product performance and cost control." This failure, it said, "threatens the success of NASA's major programs."

2 (end of article): "The budget that President Bush offered this week needs to be examined in the context of what appears to be a pervasive problem -- failure to address the systemic shortcomings that are crippling too many important parts of our government. If the federal government lacks the basic ingredients it needs to do its job -- enough talented, motivated people, modern management and communications systems, and adequate funding to avoid risky short cuts -- the result will almost certainly be costly.

The failures will not always provide the kind of television pictures and personal tragedies the Columbia accident did. But the damage to the country will be no less. We have been warned."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: columbia; costs; government; nasa; risk
We've got to pay the piper for some things, or it might cost us a lot more later.
1 posted on 02/04/2003 11:07:03 AM PST by cogitator
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To: cogitator
Agencies on the watch list include the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Postal Service and the Federal Aviation Administration.

After reading this its clear that Broder is using the shuttle disaster as an excuse to call for more welfare. Shame on him.

2 posted on 02/04/2003 11:43:46 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: KC_Conspirator
After reading this its clear that Broder is using the shuttle disaster as an excuse to call for more welfare. Shame on him.

You think so? I didn't read it that way. I read it as pointing out that reducing risk in government operations is going to require funding, and lack of funding could be a contributing cause of increased risk.

3 posted on 02/04/2003 11:57:10 AM PST by cogitator
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To: cogitator
Yes I think so. He cites the GAO report (wonderful, that GAO, the same people who refused President Bush to use their offices) and then goes on a laundry list of welfare agencies that need "more money". Its the same old welfare arguement and these agencies don't need anymore money. The Dept. of (democrat) Education? C'mon already!
4 posted on 02/04/2003 12:02:45 PM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: cogitator
Futhermore, there is not one mention of the risks of the military, although they have ahd their budgets slashed for the past decade.
5 posted on 02/04/2003 12:05:04 PM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: cogitator
David Broder has become what someone said of Gene McCarthy a decade ago. He is a "grey sparrow," notable, but no longer any great importance. Broder is just playing out the string now.

My UPI article on the same subject is better, and has more flavor -- by a long shot. Try the first link, below.

Congressman Billybob

Click for latest column for UPI, "Those in Peril on the Sea" (Not yet on UPI wire, or FR.)

As the politician formerly known as Al Gore has said, Buy my book, "to Restore Trust in America"

6 posted on 02/04/2003 12:09:16 PM PST by Congressman Billybob
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To: cogitator
Ya know this must be the 10th or 11th time this year I've had to remind you guys that there is absolutely no way a dead man can write these columns!!
7 posted on 02/04/2003 12:09:32 PM PST by Doc Savage
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To: KC_Conspirator
I don't think you read this part very closely:

"Among the many areas of government where critical services are seriously deficient, or costs and inefficiencies are unacceptably high, according to the GAO, are many that directly affect the lives and well-being of the American people. Agencies on the watch list include the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Postal Service and the Federal Aviation Administration."

(Sometimes it's necessary to spend money to make improvements.)

"Several operations of the Defense Department are in the same category -- a signal to Congress and the White House that attention must be paid."

I interpret his comments as being on mark: if limited government means too many limitations, then necessary government functions become difficult to maintain at an efficient level of operation.

Finally, if we don't think education is important to the future of the U.S., why was there so much buzz about "No Child Left Behind"?

8 posted on 02/04/2003 1:21:30 PM PST by cogitator
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To: cogitator
Well, I guess I am making some assumptions. Broder cites the GAO report, but does not specify what the report cited about each agency. From experience, I can't ever recall Broder not liking a welfare program.

As far as defense goes, Broder does not cite defense, but immediately goes into Homeland Security, which is its own entity.

9 posted on 02/04/2003 1:38:34 PM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: cogitator
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10 posted on 02/04/2003 4:36:12 PM PST by vannrox (The Preamble to the Bill of Rights - without it, our Bill of Rights is meaningless!)
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