Thanks, GAO
Those of you who joined me the last time I guest-hosted here will remember my ongoing fascination with the reports that the Government Accountability Office releases on a regular basis. Obviously GAO studies an extraordinary range of issues, and performs a vital function as an independent investigative apparatus of government. And there is a real value to just having an established fact-of-the-matter about even the most basic issues of public service provision.
That said, I still get a kick out of their report titles, and today does not disappoint:
Hospital Emergency Departments: Crowding Continues to Occur, and Some Patients Wait Longer than Recommended Time FramesThis is obviously an important issue. But who's writing the titles to these things, Andy Rooney? I eagerly await tomorrow's report: "Airline Peanuts: Most Are Of Less-Than-Satisfactory Flavor And Quantity."
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Government Executive Editor in Chief Tom Shoop, along with other editors and staff correspondents, take a fresh look at news affecting the management and operations of the federal bureaucracy.
The GAO is nothing more than a time waster. No one reads their reports since they are written by folks unfamiliar with the field and the process. The end result is a sophomoric review that is a waste of paper. We should demand that all of their reports be posted on the web and never printed
dan m letter Posted Tuesday, June 2, 2009 5:11 PMIn response to Mr. Dan M Letter, the vast majority of reports are already published on the web without resulting in wasted paper copies. The GAO also employs a considerable amount talented people in its ranks that don't just carry higher education pedigrees, but actually do have experience in the areas in which they report. As for being a time waster, given the amount of coverage GAO's reports receive in the news and in congressional reports accompanying legislation somebody is obviously reading the reports and taking them seriously even if they sometimes chuckle at the titles.
Gov Ment Worker Posted Wednesday, June 3, 2009 10:16 AM