Does anyone think that this kind of thing is any different at any other government agency? CIA, FBI, TSA? Or even HUD, or NASA?

Or even large corporate bureaucracies? A good friend just got out from under an employer that was an old-boys network that promoted incompetents and punished good employees because management worked with filtered info.

One of the reasons we need smaller government--at least that way, rogue agencies wouldn't be able to do as much damage.

You may think its a quixotic quest or label me a wacko.... but of all the current crop of Presidential wanabees Ron Paul is the only one
that is seriously talking about reducing the size and scope of the governement.

I don't agree with him on several issues, but his positions have been honest, intellectually constant and firm for years.

He may not stand a chance, but in Straw polls that require supporters to show up and vote he has won far more than any other Republican.

He raised 1.2Million in 6 1/2days last week.
All on-line with no fund rasing expenses.

Ron Paul is the only one that is seriously talking about reducing the size and scope of the governement.

Yes, and he's also living in a foreign-policy fantasy world. I want a smaller government, but I also want to win the war, and Dr. Paul doesn't even seem to think that we're in one.

Or even large corporate bureaucracies?

Yes. All that have operated for too long with too little meaningful competition.

A good friend just got out from under an employer that was an old-boys network that promoted incompetents and punished good employees because management worked with filtered info.

Because of filtered info? The info is no more filtered than they want it to be. They have their own games going.

This isn't surprising to anyone involved in the hobby rocket propellant lawsuit against ATF. For the most part it appears that the field agents are usually pretty reasonable, but the leadership are giving us fits. The lame, obtuse, desperate positions they've taken in legal arguments are really something to behold. They know we've got 'em cold on the science so they're trying to confuse with mountains of paper and B.S.