Tilting at windmills

Washington Monthly, April, 2008 by Charles Peters

Meritocracy, Washington-style

Another government problem often bemoaned in this column was recently confirmed by David M. Walker, the retiring head of the GAO, who told the Washington Post's Stephen Barr that 85 percent of civil service pay raises "have nothing to do with performance. Zippo."

A Washington hero

In a city where government employees are not always as dedicated as one would wish, it is heartening to learn about Martin Bennett, a retired inspector for the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Aware how understaffed the agency is, with only ninety inspectors for the entire country, he keeps on doing his job on an unofficial volunteer basis. When the Wall Street Journal's Joseph Pereira recently caught up with him, Bennett was being thrown out of a mattress warehouse, where the owner was outraged that he had been asked for documents confirming that the bedding materials had undergone the required sanitation tests. Bennett's devotion to duty has brought about product recalls and other victories for consumers. "He's a kind of hero," says John Drengenberg of the Underwriters Laboratories Board. I agree.

First primary of 2012: Halloween 2011

On the issue of the Michigan and Florida delegates, syndicated columnist Steve Chapman has a point that makes a lot of sense to me: "Of course, the DNC could simply surrender and let those who broke the rules get away with it--thus assuring that next time, there will be primaries in December or November or October" instead of January. In case you've forgotten how insane the rush to earlier and earlier primaries has become, the New Hampshire primary used to be in March.

Don't I get to pick which opinion I like best?

EPA chief Stephen Johnson recently caved to White House pressure to reduce protections against ozone depletion that had been recommended by the agency's staff. He has also refused to comply with the Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts vs. EPA requiring him to develop a way to regulate greenhouse gases. When asked by Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein at a recent hearing why he had not complied with the court order, he cited Justice Anthony Scalia's opinion supporting his failure to act. The only trouble is, Justice Scalia's was a minority opinion.

I did not slaughter that cow

In another congressional hearing, Steve Mendell, president of Hallmark/Westland Meat Company, testified about photographs showing his employees using electric prods and forklifts to get "downer" cows off the ground. Indignant, he told members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, "They were not slaughtered, ground, or sold. They were euthanized and removed."

The committee then asked him to watch a video. It showed workers dragging a sick cow into the "knock box" where it would be slaughtered, on its way to being ground and sold.

But at least we've got spring

In order to keep up with what's going on outside the Beltway, and because I like keeping up with old friends, I regularly read my hometown paper, the Charleston Gazette. Here's a sampling of recent headlines I found troubling: "17 W. Va. Counties Violate Revised EPA Smog Limits." "$2 Billion Power Plant Has No Plan to Capture Greenhouse Gases." "Nearly Half of W. Va. Fifth Graders Are Overweight or Obese."