| Comment Number: | OL-10509569 |
| Received: | 3/15/2005 4:16:25 PM |
| Subject: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| Title: | National Security Personnel System |
| CFR Citation: | 5 CFR Chapter XCIX and Part 9901 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
It would seem that NSPS will accelerate the errors begun with FERS until Civil Service is destroyed (as hard as that may seem to do). FERS began the process of uncoupling the "golden handcuffs" of the CSRS, under which a very significant benefit of Government employment required on to stay and retire. Under FERS, the benefits (admittedly reduced) are mostly transferable. Therefore the threshold cost of leaving has been greatly reduced, resulting in a much more mobile workforce who will leave in greater numbers (taking their "corporate" knowledge with them). NSPS is "thought" to be a solution. If one can offer greater rewards, one could "theoretically" entice better performers to stay. Also, others seeing the real benefit of superior performance would have incentives to higher levels of performance. The reality is one is still talking about the Government, where "superior performance" is synonymous to "political expediency". In the Government, far too often, those giving superior service to the public, taxpayers, and warfighters are marginized, overlooked for promotion, and disciplined on spacious notions. Stepping out of line is a serious career stopper. The fact obvious to the Government worker, as opposed to manager/supervisor, is that the reward to good work is more work and no good deed goes unpunished. NSPS' glaring fault is that the same managers who are incompetent now will be in charge with unchecked and unappealable force (power). They will gladly use it in direct proportion to their level of incompetence. Why? The Dilbert Principle exclaims that the truly incompetent are promoted to management where they can do less damage. NSPS is about to change that rule. In as much as I have over 30 years CSRS experience, I will be one of those escaping when the system becomes wholly intolerable. The constant "tinkering" of HQ managers is presently a major annoyance. As more and more competent personnel flee the arbitrary and capricious management actions/ratings, the burdens on those remain can only increase. That will accelerate burnout and retirements. Now, if that is what the plan truly is, then NSPS is genius. After the corporate knowledge has fled, what happens? Those remaining will clearly see that the rewards, promotions and raises, go to those whom management loves. And management loves: "Yes, Sir!" "Can Do". Sometimes the truth is: That's not possible with the resources allocated, that software does not work, or those guns don't shot straight. But those folks do not get raises or promotions. If one thought bureaucratic dodges were common now, wait until NSPS has worked it magic! Risk taking will not be rewarded. Those favored will be the ones who have kept their heads down while echoing management's notions of self importance. The promotion of incompetence will accelerate! What is subsidizes, increases. The dismantling of DoD will not be seen until the disease has advance to unhidable dimensions! The new NSPS must be pronounced a success, and by fiat, so it will. The truth will not out until multiple DoD failures, scandals, and warfighter losses make further hiding of the mess impossible. However, the cure will be more of the same! More authority will be granted the incompetent boobs that created the problems. America may survive. But our enemies will take advantage. The cost will be horrific. And it is all so stupid! I would have liked to do a proper analysis with facts and figures, but I haven't the time, money, or inclination. Intuition is my strong suit (INFP). And the truth is that the decision has been made. The juggernaut cannot be turned. The cost is foreseeable, but no one has the intelligence or will to admit that NSPS will not work. The Emperor has no clothes!