[Vwdiesel] lowering gasoline prices: a story

[Scott Kair]

    Once upon a time, the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of
the desert.  Congress said that someone might steal from it at night, so
they created a night watchman position, GS-4, and hired a person for the
job.
    Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without
direction?" So they created a planning position and hired two people, one to
write instructions, GS-12, and one person to do time studies, GS-11.  Then
Congress asked, "How do we know that the night watchman is carrying out his
tasks correctly?"
    So they created a Q.C. position and hired two people, one GS-9 to do the
overview study and one GS-11 to write the reports.  Then Congress said, "How
are these people to get paid?"  So they created the following positions:
one timekeeper, GS-9, and one payroll officer, GS-11, and hired two people.
    Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?"
So they created an administrative position and hired three people, an
Administrative Officer, GM-13, an Assistant Administrative Officer, GS-12,
and a Legal Secretary, GS-8.
    Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one year
and we are $280,000 over budget.  We must cut back overall cost."
    So they laid off the night watchman.

    - source unknown

Cheers,
 Scott Kair