EMAILS - #15 "Scrap Yard"

To: Friend 1
From:
Subject: Re: Fwd: Fwd: Scrap Yard


If only we could harness the hot air from elections, right?!     ; >
B


"Since the end of the Cold War, the Department [of Energy] has focused on

* environmental clean up of the nuclear weapons complex,
* nonproliferation and stewardship of the nuclear stockpile,
* energy efficiency and conservation, and
* technology transfer and industrial competitiveness."
     http://www.energy.gov/about/origins.htm         


e.g. "The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, providing more than 40 percent of total funding for this vital area of national importance.[2]
"The Office of Science directs funding for the scientific research via the following Program Offices:
• Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR)
• Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
• Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
• High Energy Physics (HEP)
• Nuclear Physics (NP)
• Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Energy


Origins & Evolution of the Department of Energy
http://www.energy.gov/about/origins.htm

"The origins of the Department of Energy can be traced to the Manhattan Project and the race to develop the atomic bomb during World War II.... Following the war, Congress engaged in a vigorous and contentious debate over civilian versus military control of the atom. The Atomic Energy Act of 1946 settled the debate by creating the Atomic Energy Commission.... to maintain civilian government control over the field of atomic research and development....

"In response to changing needs in the mid 1970's, the Atomic Energy Commission was abolished and the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 created two new agencies: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to regulate the nuclear power industry and the Energy Research and Development Administration to manage the nuclear weapon, naval reactor, and energy development programs.

".... The Department of Energy, activated on October 1, 1977, assumed the responsibilities of the Federal Energy Administration, the Energy Research and Development Administration, the Federal Power Commission, and parts and programs of several other agencies.
.... The Department undertook responsibility for long-term, high-risk research and development of energy technology, federal power marketing, energy conservation, the nuclear weapons program, energy regulatory programs, and a central energy data collection and analysis program.

"Over its two decade history, the Department has shifted its emphasis and focus as the needs of the nation have changed. During the late 1970's, the Department emphasized energy development and regulation. In the 1980's, nuclear weapons research, development, and production took a priority. Since the end of the Cold War, the Department has focused on environmental clean up of the nuclear weapons complex, nonproliferation and stewardship of the nuclear stockpile, energy efficiency and conservation, and technology transfer and industrial competitiveness.

"Today, the Department of Energy contributes to the future of the nation by ensuring our energy security, maintaining the safety and reliability of our nuclear stockpile, cleaning up the environment from the legacy of the Cold War, and developing innovations in science and technology.


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----- Forwarded Message -----
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Sent: Fri, 08 Oct 2010 09:05:40 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Fwd: Scrap Yard


Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night."

So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job.

Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planning department and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one person to do time studies.

Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department and hired two people: oneto do the studies and one to write the reports.

Then Congress said, "How are these  people going to get paid?" So they created two positions: a time keeper and a payroll officer, then hired two people.

Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So they created an administrative section and hired three people, an
Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a  Legal Secretary.

Then Congress said, "We  have had this command in operation for one year and we are $918,000 over budget, we must cut back." So they laid off the night watchman.

NOW slowly, let it sink in.

Quietly, we go like sheep to slaughter.

Does anybody remember the reason given for  the establishment of
the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY..... during the  Carter Administration?

Anybody?

Anything?

No?

Didn't think so!

Bottom line. We've spent several hundred billion dollars in support of an agency....the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember!

Ready??
It was very simple..and at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate.

The Department of Energy was instituted on 8/04/1977,
TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.

Hey, pretty efficient, huh???

AND NOW IT'S 2010 -- 33 YEARS LATER -- AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS "NECESSARY" DEPARTMENT IS AT $24.2 BILLION A YEAR. IT HAS 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES; AND LOOK AT THE JOB IT HAS DONE! (THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD AND SAY,

"WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?")

33 years ago 30% of our oil consumption was foreign imports. Today 70% of our oil consumption is foreign imports.

Ah, yes -- good old Federal bureaucracy.

NOW, WE HAVE TURNED OVER THE BANKING SYSTEM, HEALTH CARE, AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY TO THE SAME GOVERNMENT?

Hello!! Anybody Home?


NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER!