Submitted by Reis R. Kash, Jan 11, 2007 11:48

I was a mid-level civil service federal bureaucrat in an agency headed in every department by political appointees. During their tenure in office about 6 % of the Democrat appointees and about 1 % of the Republican appintees were fired and/or went to jail because of criminal acts committed before or during their term of office (they served at the pleasure of the president). Many if not most of the Democrats were appointed on the basis of race or gender without regard for qualifications. Republicans more frequently had qualifications appropriate to the position, but some - say 10 % - did not. Those kholding political positions were supposed to leave with the change of administration, a small percentage of those at the top were able to submerge into the agency by manipulation of regulations, this more common with the Democrats than the Republicans. Some deep South Democrats were appointed and reappointed by both parties. In some instances blatant racists - Black and White - (I am White), were retained in office by both parties. While "bureaucrat" has a bad sound in the public ear, it is my impression that only the heads of federal Departments should be of the political party of the president. Oh yes, through accretion, many permanent "civil service" beaurocrats are Democrat. Most put their personal interest and the interest of their Agency ahead of the public good and politicians use the power of the budget to lard up their constituencies by placing federal operations within their districts or retaining federal employees in their districts when not necessary. This is my view from the inside.

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