Pop Culture Czars
This is a guest post by Amelia Gruber, one of my editors:
Is anyone else wondering if the writers of the NBC comedy “The Office” have taken a page from the Obama administration? Those of you who watched last night’s episode might have noticed that toward the end, when new boss Charles Minor is restoring order after Michael’s departure, he assigns Stanley to be Dunder Mifflin’s “productivity czar.” Maybe we have been too immersed in federal management issues, but this seems reminiscent of Obama’s new “performance czar” position. We hope, though, that Obama finds somebody who won’t be doing a crossword puzzle when the nomination is announced.
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Government Executive Staff Correspondent Alyssa Rosenberg takes a look at news affecting the management and operations of the massive federal bureaucracy.
Aww.. I think that's insulting to Stanley. Frankly, I can't imagine the character having the low character exemplified by Obama's selections (note, I voted for Obama, and now regret it). It's long past due for people to be asking themselves why Obama only selects those who he knows to be corrupt, who cheat on their taxes, violate labor laws, view the US as a victim to exploit to advance their ambitions.
Mary Posted Sunday, March 29, 2009 11:38 AMHaving worked in the padded office cells of the DOD, I often see similarities with the characters and situations in the Office. The TV characters are just over the top for comedy effect. In the real world, there is nothing funny about some of this stuff.
What bugs me is how identifiable the problems are and how little is done to remedy them in real life. This isn't an Obama administration issue. This is a decades old, good ole boy, business as usual trademark of the government. It transcends politics.
Robert M. Posted Monday, March 30, 2009 7:33 AMOnce the term "Czar" is used, it's over. Is there one example of a "something-Czar" that's been even remotely successful?
Erin Posted Monday, March 30, 2009 11:07 AM