Readers' Comments
Total Comments: 55
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Where is the Outrage?
Total Comments: 55
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January 9, 2009
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Fire those responsible
IRS
Thu Jul 17, 2003 9:13 AM
Post Reply
fire and jail them!
Re: Fire those responsible
USCG
Thu May 6, 2004 3:33 PM
We're no worse than other agencies
USDA
Thu Jul 17, 2003 9:20 AM
Post Reply
Admittedly, there are problems with USDA's Credit Card problem, but I think the problem is widespread across all agencies. If you're gonna go off at Ag, ,let's give the other agencies the same treatment, please.
SSA doesn't have travel card problem
SSA
Thu Jul 17, 2003 9:32 AM
Post Reply
This is not true in every agency. Our agency closely monitors travel card use.
Hear! Hear!
US FIsh & Wildlife Service
Thu Jul 17, 2003 9:33 AM
Post Reply
Hear! Hear! I cannot disagree with any of Ms. Smith's outrage, only vent some of my own.
As a dinosaur who remembers the days when there were no Government credit cards, I was at first puzzled, but am now outraged, by both the Government's and the credit card company's willingness to hand out plastic like candy - without so much as a credit history check. Incredibly irresponsible behavior in a world where 5 figure credit card debt seems to be the norm!
I'm also outraged that an act of Congress mandated the use of the Government credit card, without an accompnaying mandate to provide the resources to review usage.
And, as someone who tries to work with management in dealing with employee misconduct (such as misuse of the Government credit card), I am further outraged that misuse seems to have no consequences for the culprits. When (if) caught, disciplinary action is not predicated on the Douglas factors, but on whether upper management will support the action - and, with some employees being more equal than others, this is a major problem.
Going back to the bad old days where employees traveled on their own credit cards or cash advances might not be such a bad idea.
Tip of the iceberg
USDA
Thu Jul 17, 2003 9:37 AM
Post Reply
Having worked for USDA for 25 years, the problem is much larger than just credit card misuse!
Business as usual
HHS
Thu Jul 17, 2003 9:43 AM
Post Reply
I AM outraged. But I will not lose sleep, develop ulcers or otherwise spin myself into a tizzy over this. Why? Because this is US Federal Government business as usual as far as I can see. We have been hearing of abuses for years, some more egregious than the “kiting” scheme at Agriculture revealed by the IG. And what happens? Roughly, the same thing that occurred after the first IG revelation at Agriculture – nothing of substance. What about the loss of our astronauts because nobody bothered to truly check out what damage could be done to the shuttle after mere “foam” hit a wing at high velocity? There we lost people, a far more important asset than mere money. Geez, we have seen pictures of straws through trees as a result of mere hurricane winds. Where was common sense?
Frankly, the business of government has turned into how much can be extracted from the system with little if any penalty. However, there are some of us who refuse to play that game. It is not because we have superior ethics or consciences – it is because we know the difference between right and wrong; we use common sense; we do not look for every excuse under the sun to justify our actions. For us, we take full responsibility for our actions and the buck stops here.
You know what? I would not want to live in any other country. This place is the greatest. Unfortunately, our system is in disrepair – not broken – just in need of a serious tune-up. The problem is, no one in recent history - current administration included - has the ability, backing and probably security to take this country where it needs to go. Until that happens, I believe we will see more of what the IG revealed to us recently
Hold people accountable!
USDA Forest Service
Thu Jul 17, 2003 9:46 AM
Post Reply
The problem is accountability. There is no accountability and no one in a supervisor or top management takes the action necessary to deal with problems. If there is a problem then one needs a criminal investigation by the IG, not just a Report. The Department has the all of the authority it needs to correct the problem. Misusing a credit card which is for travel to attend bartending school is a gross misuse of Government funds and the IG needs to take aggressive action. I plain simple English deal with the problem and hold people accountable!
Re: Hold people accountable!
Cabinet Department
Tue Nov 9, 2004 8:19 AM
So the harm is to the credit card company, who is no doubt making plenty of profit from the huge majority of transactions that are paid timely - otherwise the company would not be participating in the program.
That's not to say employees who abuse the program shouldn't be disciplined - they should be and very often are. But readers here won't know about discipline because of the Privacy Act.