Comment Number: OL-10511631
Received: 3/16/2005 4:26:39 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 am fully aware of the need to reward employees for performance. But I have been in the government long enough, to be equally aware, that this system will not be applied fairly or equally. At first glance how would anyone find a problem with such a system. But if you look deeper at how such a system could be eaisily abused by a single supervisor, manager or even the President himself. Will anyone challenge a supervisor that is misusing his or her authority under this system? I truly doubt this will happen at all with this new system. First of all nothing is being done about veterans protection or EEO, both have protected people that are not performing at their required level. I do not see any changes coming in this area. What I do see coming out of this system, is a system of spoils, for every supervisor, manager in government or even the Secretary of Defense. I see quotas for performance appraisals (as has been unofficially done in the past), for no other reason than to hold down direct costs or reduce government overhead costs. And I see employees having to mow some supervisors grass, paint his house or other duty that will get them ahead or keep them from losing pay. And if you do not particapate in such a spoils system, then you will be punished until you do or leave. In the past you had some protection, but now there will be no protections for those employees who do not wish to corrupt or prostitute themshelves in these ways. How do you build loyalty, character, leadership or other desirable qualities in employees abused by such a system? I don't think you will be able to recruit or keep new employees with these desirable traits once they get to know how the new government works. I have tried to teach my children to live by the golden rule, of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This new system is going to turn that rule around 180 degrees. So, I am strongly advising my family not to seek employment with the US government. The US government has not kept pace in many employment areas. For instance, Alabama is at the bottom of many list, but state employees receive better pay, benefits and retirement, that I do. And I haven't seen any drastic personnel changes implemented. In a time where, we have to worry so much about a terrorist from within, I do not see how this new system can do anything but create a breeding ground for disgruntled employees, as previous spoils systems have done. Or who knows, maybe the objective is to build a new government that works just like ENRON, WORLD COM and HEALTHSOUTH. Where the rich get richer and everybody on down must corrupt themselves, leave or go to jail. Although, we are all aware that money has bought many politicians, I don't think each individual government employee should be for sale. He or she should simply earn their pay, supervisors and managers included. It is strange how we must forget histories lessons and come full circle to repeat past mistakes. Our current system is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it is better than where we are headed.