| Comment Number: | OL-10509735 |
| Received: | 3/15/2005 5:28:58 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:
I oppose, without reservation, the implementation of the NSPS as it exists currently, for the following reasons: 1) The policies under which the federal government operates should be distinct from those of the private sector -- not purely for the sake of dichotomy but for the nature of the definitive contrast between the two entities. In my view, government originated and exists for the purpose of modulating the interaction between the private sector and the public in a manner the benefits both. Many elements of the private sector have been known to behave in a manner that parallels the more punitive aspects of Darwinism, not only to its employees, often in the form of self-indulgent power plays and greed; but, also to its customers in the general public, in the form of misrepresentations, scams, and the increase of large monopolies. We like to think we are part of a civilization but the specter of private sector Darwinism that the current administration could dispense is, by definition, the opposite of civilization. Granted the private sector deserves much of the credit for making our country such a wonderful nation; however, some of the more toxic philosophies of the private sector need to be held in check to protect our citizens -- especially those individuals who are the more vulnerable. A government that remains distinct from the private sector is essential. NSPS has the potential to weaken that distinction. 2) The talent and work ethic that exists in the federal government is comparable to that of the private sector, even though our salaries typically are not. Many of us have either left the private sector to join government or made the initial decision to enroll as civil servants immediately after finishing our formal education for various reasons -- often to flee or avoid some of the borderline insanity that is all too common in the private sector. The implementation of the NSPS has the potential to eliminate the essential rights and protections that we as federal employee value as part of our agreement to join the federal workforce. NSPS, with its sweeping, sudden, not stratified, and untested changes, would essentially renege on the perennial agreement between the government and its federal workers -- I can't convince myself that that's not blatantly dishonest as well as purely unethical and very contrived.. 3) Some of the facets of NSPS, such as pay pooling, and other forms of employment policy relaxation that confer more flexible power to those at the higher levels of management, have the potential to breed abuse through self-indulgent, ego-driven behavior. Additionally, cooperation and innovation among coworkers will be replaced by lack of cooperation, infighting, and possibly even sabotage -- especially by those who work on the same team and in the same pay pool. Obviously, the issues cited above depict a situation that is maybe considered a worst case scenario. Maybe not all the terrible consequences suggested in this note will happen; however, the potential for much of it to come to fruition is painfully obvious and many lives and emotional constitutions would, no doubtlessly be damaged severely. Who in their right minds would think that this the type of risk our currently civilized government should take with its people?