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That question is given new meaning with the following story about candidates running in Rhode Island for a job they want to eliminate.
It's kind of like Rand Paul running for Education Secretary, if it were an elective position.
AP:
Robert Healey Jr. is running for Rhode Island lieutenant governor -- not to excel in the position, but to eliminate it altogether. He lampoons the office as a $1 million waste of taxpayer money, a "useless appendage" of state government whose sole reason for existence is for its occupant to step forward if the governor dies or can't serve. "We're cutting programs left and right, and yet we need an office for a million dollars a year to advise people," Healey said. "I'd rather spend the million dollars feeding people."
Healey founded his own political party and named it the Cool Moose. He has twice run unsuccessfully for the position but believes his message might hold extra resonance at a time of anti-incumbent fervor and resistance to big government. A lawyer and former cheese shop owner, he cuts a distinct picture with a long-flowing beard and curly hair that falls below his shoulders. His campaign website shows a cartoonish image of him, modeled on the iconic photograph of John Lennon in a sleeveless "New York City" T-shirt, with the words, "Imagine No Lieutenant Governor ... It's Easy if You Try."
His improbable idea might be dismissed as just a clever conceit, but the state Republican Party has co-opted the message by running its own candidate on the same platform. "There are no duties," said Heidi Rogers, 44, a small business owner and GOP candidate for the job. "I did my research on that and found that really there are no duties with that office except to wait for the governor to become incapacitated or die." ... Forty-three states have elected lieutenant governors. In West Virginia and Tennessee, the position is assigned to the leader of the state Senate. Some governors and legislatures, including in Louisiana and Wisconsin, have proposed eliminating the office, but most states seem to recognize an inherent value in having a designated deputy at the ready in case of emergency... ."
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Can this position be turned into kind of reserve position to which they can be called on but not maintain a big office or staff and receive pay when they have not yet called on? Or can they take on other interim tasks that actually needs to be done within their administration (like the Vice President does)?
However, in general, if Republicans nowadays claim the government does not work, can not work, never has worked and will never work, why would anyone vote for them to go work for the government? You've told us yourselves that you're going to do a bad job...
Wait, they've always done a bad job in the past three decades. They've performed exactly as they told us they would. But we keep putting them back there.
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"Will you tell those dumba**es at the tea party to stop asking questions about birth certificates while I'm on the camera?" - Colorado Republican tea party supported candidate.
I think republicans believe they are there to keep the Government from governing!
Republicans.
Or wait. That's not a job, is it?
I'm not sure if the fine civil servants in Bell, Ca. were Repubs or Dems, but I am sure that the citizens of Bell ALL agree that those civil servants we not worth the money. If only we could get the Ca. legislature as a whole to go to a part time schedule - and reduce their pay and staff appropriately.
Spanky part time lawmakers, I don't know about that.
last night i was struck by the fact that the police chief in bell makes over 400 thousand a year. they compaird his money to the police chiefs in chicago, atlanta and he had them both beat by 150 thousand a year. the city manager was making 800 thousand a year, the mayor of chicago makes about 280 thousand. 280 thousand to run a city of 3million and balance a city budget of nearly 10 billion. the police force is about at 12thousand. everytime i see that story i'm just amazed. and the tax payers are on the hook for there pentions.
Bell is obviously an extreme example, but add up the salary, benefits and perks that go to the Ca. legislature every year. Now do the same for all local gov., various quasi boards like school, water, fire and utility districts and the amounts are staggering.
There is no need for them to be there, fully staffed all year around. In fact if we cut them back to 3 or 6 months, they might have to actually work while they are there.
What's really sick about the Bell city council, city mgr. and police chief is the fact that 25% of the citizens of that city live BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
The city mgr. made almost $800K per year. I have lived in Bell/Maywood. My guess is that anyone would be hard pressed to find more than a dozen single-family homes valued at $800K within the City limits. The citizens of Bell are right to demand their resignations.
Bell, CA, is an extreme example of bad politicians run amok. I do wonder how they could raise their salaries to such outrageous amounts with no one asking "what the heck is this?" How could the mayor and other elected politicians not know these salaries? That just seems crazy. Here, the city administrator's salary gets published in the paper along with all the other high-level staff jobs. I know because last year our long-time administrator took another job. The paper was full of complaints about the slightly higher wage of the one they recruited.
Speaking of the pensions of the Bell, CA crooks...
I would LOVE to know how much the Federal Government pays out in pensions to all ex-congressmen. Hell, recinding that would probably balance the budget.
Look what they get in health care and some of these people voted against health care reform? I'll take their pension plan any day. Most of these people are millionaires.
Looks like Mr. Healey just finished burning a big fat one in that photo.
I was thinking the same thing!!!!
To funny.
Oh dear, another clueless Tea Bagger advocating anarchy.
Just like cooperation’s we should eliminate redundant and nonessential positions in government. A governor is replaceable and a state can run without a governor in place for a short time period. Just look at Texas as an example. If the governor of Texas went to the big pasture, no one here would miss him.
Texas could go to the big pasture and nobody would miss it.
Awh Adler...Texas already is the big pasture...talk about being in the crapper. Texas has been that way since the carpetbagging Bush family settled here years ago.
Add Hairspray Perrys' idea of secession, and the "Mission is Accomplished"! LOL
Its ok to Pick on Texas politics, but don't mess with a Texan. Even imported ones.
@Salt Grass:
What about exported ones? :P
As in Tom Delay?
You caught me on that one, Salt Grass. The best laugh I've had today!
Domenico:
I thought that was your picture on this post...just kidding.
What an exciting off year election, election period, with all the loony tunes coming out of the woodwork. Apparently Healey has nothing else to do. He is either unemployed or very rich in order to have the time to run. What about money? Does he realize that these days it takes lots of money to run for any political office? But, hey if he splits the Republican vote why not?
Not a bad idea. Elimiinating the Lieut. Governor position. If something happens to a Governor let the Secretararies of State step in until a new Governor can be elected.
In fact, all States (and local governments) need to do a serious review of positions that do not contibute much and that could be elimnated. State and Local Governments tend to be top heavy anyway. Kind of like those city roadway crews one passes where you see two people doing the work while five or more others are standing around picking their noses and watching.
CA, Tuscaloosa, AL
your last statement is completely right, a city like chicago can save million by privitizing there construction work by bidding all there work out. I'm a construction estimator and i get sick when i see city crews that number 5 guys, 1 superintendent, 1 formen 2 workers(plumbers) and 1 laborer. in the real world that number would be 3. no supertendent and no formen full time at that site and the work will get done in half the time because the company that won the bid is in this to make money and get the job done a city crew is not conserned about how long it takes, lets face it they work for the city.
I agree there are some jobs like replacing streets and bridges that can be contracted but day to day things, it would be more costly.
My town has city services for things like snow removal, filling pot holes, fixing sewer drains but they contract out resurfacing streets, bridge repair, etc. It works quite well. In fact, our town budget gets an award nearly every year from some big group for excellence in governance and financial management.
Texas has a plan to go. Texas has a plan to secede from the union.
To get back to the issue at hand, I think we need to take a good, hard look at the Defense budget.
I know it's a political third rail, but if we're spending many times more than the next country (People's Republic of China), then something tells me that we're doing it wrong.
The defense budget is how Republicans fund their job stimulus program. Without the defense budget, the retirees of the military, FBI, CIA and NSC would be un-employed.
Just find out who is GEO Transport.
No you di'nt. Right in my wheel house. Wow! If I ran for office, what would I cut?
- Privatize Amtrak. If people want to ride it, have them pay for it instead of the Federal government subsidizing a consistent per passenger money loser. That saves a cozy $40 billion right there.
- Shift educational spending back to the states. That saves a cozy $107 billion a year, or about $900 for every U.S. household.
- Privatize our highway system. It can become a pay for usage system similar to what parts of Europe are doing. That saves a cozy $91 billion a year, or about $770 for every U.S. household.
... I'm just getting started ...
Thus far I've saved the average household almost $1700 a year in taxes. Who would like to pay $1700 less in taxes? Who wants to pay more.
If I have the "libbies' besides themselves and shaking with hate towards me. The job well done.
Cicero
Cicero, libbies love you, they pity you for your ignorance and lack of common sense. But since Democracy takes all kinds of people with varied ideas and view points to thrive liberals welcome even idiots and fools because they truly believe in real democracy not democracy of the well healed only and the rest be damned.
Thanks for your contribution.
back at 'ya slick.
And you have no intelligent response. Other than a personal attack. Using the word "idiots" does not serve you well.
All companies have streamlined.This government must downsize and increase its productivity.American tax payers pay a lot and get little back because we have this throw money at it fixes it sickness.The last 2 years the administration has based everyone except gotten his own government in order.I voted for him and I am sorry but I don't even see a "Plan".How can there be any direction?
I would cut the pay of all politicians to minimum wage, then cut their campaign donations, then cut their vacation days, and then I'd cut their hair and make them all bald so they would quit wasting tax dollars on hair pieces and hair color.
Then I would cut all subsidies to corporations, people, and organizations making over $100,000 a year. then I would cut the military budget. All of the companies doing business with the military would be audited and anyone that was ripping off the taxpayers/government would receive the Death Penalty for treason!
I would cut everything the democrats have forced on this country.
BUT here is a great site the republican whip has going for the american public.
http://www.republicanwhip.house.gov/YouCut/
Why do we still have partisan bickering? Some say blame the Dems. Others say blame the Repubs. I say throw them ALL out and start anew. People will complain we need "experience" to run the government. I ask you, what has "experience" gotten us? We need honest, everyday citizens. The very people who feel the full impact of our governments actions. We feel overwhelmed by everything that is going wrong and powerless to stop. WE THE PEOPLE...need to unite, for the common good. You can bet that the deficit would be halved in the first year if this were to come to past. Honesty, integrity and compassion for all citizens should be our motto.
Keep writing.
Cut Taxes, Salaries, forbid Unions at Federal and State level. Aid to foreign countries, The number of immigrants that enter the country.
Also review how many employees the Government have and reduce it