Rockism 101 discussion

Being in the military for 17 years (Air Force National Guard, from time to time I have had a run in or two with state department people they have come off as being completely soulless and very much in the business of creating work where there is no work needed to be done.

Does anyone else have a different viewpoint?

How Much Does the State Department Cost Tax Payers?

The Department of State's Financial Report, (approved by Secretary Clinton on 15 November 2010) showed that the DoS cost the American taxpayer $27.4 BILLION For the fiscal year 2010. Revenues of $6.0 billion reduced total net cost to $21.4 BILLION. This breaks down to $165.90 a year for each resident of the United States.

The Department of State's 'independent auditors' are Kearney & Company who in 2010 found "material financial reporting weaknesses" in the DoS 2009 financial statements. Their audit noted significant deficiencies, of controls in relation to financial reporting and budgetary accounting, and of compliance with a number of laws and provisions relating to financial management and accounting requirements.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_S...

So my question is, what EXACTLY does the State Department do that is worth $21.4 BILLION a year?

Can whatever it is they do be done for substantially less?

My experience with basically EVERY single person I have ever met who works for the State Department is that they are completely soulless. They have a callousness and they seem to act more like programmed robots than humans. I'm sure they believe that kind of demeanor is a neccesary trait in order for them to be successful at foreign relations/diplomacy, etc, but what I really can't stand is their smugness, arrogance and air of self-importance.
In all honesty, we don't need to spend 22 $BILLION a year on diplomatic relations. I have seen first hand that a very large portion of their time is spent "creating" the illusion that their jobs are neccesary and important and that the world would blow itself up if they weren't on the case - which of course is utter bullshit.

With that said, the spending they do is just a drop in the bucket compared to DoD spending and compared to the tax dollars our government spends on corporate contractors. But I think it is important to raise awareness and go after lesser spending departments like the DoS because that gets the ball rolling. And putting pressure on depeartments like the DoS will get them on board to putting pressure on departments like the DoD. RIght now there is sort of this brotherhood, where DoS folks won't get on board with cutting DoD funds because they know that they (the DoS) is also ripe for cut backs - since the DoS has many of the same fraud, waste and abuse as the DoD. So they (the DoS) is afraid to straighten up and point the finger at the DoD - but that would all change if the finger is FIRST pointed at them (the DoS)

The idea is that cutting the DoS will lead to cutting the DoD. Ideally diplomacy and military go hand in hand. Both have to be cut - if you cut one without the other that will cuase bad blood, friction, etc. And with the bi-partisan atmosphere in DC more bad blood is not what is needed.

You are sounding like one of those "End of Times" creepers Robb. There is neither a diplomatic or military solution to 'massive increases in scarcity'...The solution is part prevention and part innovation in science and technology.