Diversity and Aviation

Recently, LWG posted:

I worked in government for more than a decade. Many appointments were
made simply because of the race or sex of the person involved. Many
of those hired were utterly imcompetent. In an office environment,
especially in ordinary government functions, imcompetence can be
tolerated, perhaps even glorified.

I disagree that "incompetence can be tolerated...", it happens, and people
have to deal with it. But, it has *always* happened, whether it be the son
of the owner that runs the company under or the MBA that made a few
critical bad decisions with the same result. It is not an issue of race or
gender.

The OP started out on the wrong foot by using language which
generates more heat than light, but I don't think anyone could argue
that the only the best qualified people should be employed in
positions crucial to public safety, such as ATC positions.

Ideally, everyone in a position crucial to public safety should be the
best qualified. However, that has never been the case, and is not likely
to ever be the case. People are selected for positions for many reasons,
only a few have to do with their actual competence or readiness for the
job at hand.

Neil

I agree with you. I think I could have said it better, perhaps
"incompetence can be accommodated..."

The difference here is that when the son runs the family business into the
ground, it's their loss. When incompetent government employees run things
into the ground, they get promoted. The American taxpayer is the only
resource which is indefinitely extensible. Oil, the oceans and atmospheric
ozone are all finite and fragile. However, my power to pay for everything
from B-2's to lapdances for the homeless to urine-drenched crucifixes has no
limit.


" I disagree that "incompetence can be tolerated...", it happens, and
people
have to deal with it. But, it has *always* happened, whether it be the son
of the owner that runs the company under or the MBA that made a few
critical bad decisions with the same result. It is not an issue of race or
gender.

The problem is the arrogance of those newly annointed with power is
breathtaking. In our metropolitan government, we had the minority managers
fire white males, and then have the unbridled temerity to tell them that was
the only reason they were being let go. I did give them a few points for
candor.

Of course there were the inevitable lawsuits. But not only did the
taxpayers get to pay the salaries of the managers who made the racist
decisions, they got to pay the salaries of the unqualified employees who
were hired by the government, as well as the salaries of the government
lawyers defending the action, and the fees of the lawyers representing the
white male employees, and the damages awarded to employees who were
victimized by this conduct. Government employment is the very antithesis of
the free market, which is why our Founding Fathers intended to keep the
federal government so small.

Ideally, everyone in a position crucial to public safety should be the
best qualified. However, that has never been the case, and is not likely
to ever be the case. People are selected for positions for many reasons,
only a few have to do with their actual competence or readiness for the
job at hand.

Neil