Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Monday, October 17, 2005

Employees at the Department of Homeland Security are severely depressed and the most despondent in the entire federal workforce, according to a new government study of more than 10,000 employees.

Only 3 percent said they were confident that in their department, personnel decisions were "based on merit." Clearly, this means that Bush cronies are rewarded and more qualified experts are passed up because they didn't clear brush with the President on his ranch or kiss his ass with suck-up greeting cards.

Fewer than 18 percent said they felt strongly that they were "held accountable for achieving results." This means that as the terrorists are plotting, it is fine for Homeland Security workers to be plodding.

Just 4 percent said they were sure that "creativity and innovation are rewarded." If there is one thing we know about the terrorists, it is that they are innovative. The only way to beat the "evil doers" is to outthink them. But if smart people with good ideas are not encouraged, they will opt for job security and spend their time bitching about the job at the coffee machine.

On the question: "How would you rate the overall quality of work done by your workgroup?" only 22 percent of Homeland Security employees answered "very good." This "work" they are referring too, is protecting us from terrorist attacks. So, less than a quarter of Homeland Security workers (no doubt the highly paid cronies) think we are safe. Makes you feel good, doesn't it?

Only 20 percent strongly agreed, "My work gives me a sense of personal accomplishment." A sense of accomplishment would obviously come from knowing Americans are safe from Osama. I used to laugh at the dumb ass, redneck survivalists. Maybe they aren't so stupid after all. It is clear by the response to this survey that we will be left to fend for ourselves in the event of an attack (or a storm).

Only 27 percent strongly agreed that "people I work with cooperate to get their job done," and 13 percent strongly agreed, "my job makes good use of my skills and abilities." From my experience, people do not cooperate when they are insecure and don't want their ignorance to be exposed. This goes back to the crony issue. If decisions are not made based on merit, a lot of insecure employees are not cooperating because they can't look their fellow employees in the eyes and explain why they have bungled the job.

In an effort to justify the abysmal results, the Bush administration turned to Homeland Security spin-doctor Russ Knocke.

"I really don't think our employees come to work every day and make the sacrifices they make in their personal lives because they're looking for the kind of workplace environment that is necessarily going to be the easiest or the simplest,” Russ Knocke, the press secretary for the department.

I wonder how Knocke filled out his survey? Having to shove 10 pounds of shit into a five-pound bag can't be good for his morale. Only the Bush administration would try to say that lousy working conditions are necessary for protecting our nation from a second 9-11. Instead of making excuses, how about firing the cronies and rewarding the creative and innovative professionals within the department? This survey is a disgrace and highlights how Bush has made our nation less safe.

3 Comments:

Is anyone surprised? Evrything bush touches turns to sour milk. The whole country is in a malaise due to the right wing's totally fucking us up; even GM might file for bankruptcy. How much worse can/will it get!?
posted by Anonymous, at 10/17/2005 2:04 PM

The slogan "typhoid Mary" should be changed to "typhoid Bush".
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