There are few enough stories of new government initiatives actually succeeding in doign anythign useful. Look at the SLS, for instance, But here, at last, is a project that has not only succeeded, it should be emulated:
The Bureau of Land Management, which deals almost exclusively with land issues in western states, wisely is moving form Washington D.C. to Grand Junction, Colorado. Given that the only reason to be in D.C. is to be near other government agencies, and nobody *needs* to be near other government agencies to do their jobs (since we have these things called telephones, fax machines, email video conferencing, etc.), moving to where the job is actually relevant makes all kinds of sense. And so in November 2019 173 employees were told that their jobs were moving and to reply by December if they were moving with them. As of December, about 80 had replied in the affirmative. With luck, the other 93 or so have been given the opportunity to explore new career opportunities.
And here’s the best bit:
(Interior Secretary David ) Bernhardt told lawmakers he has no concerns about unfilled positions, saying BLM is hiring at the local level to backfill any vacancies.
Good. Who would be best to understand the nature of BLM issues than someone from western states?
With the Wuhan Flu force-demonstrating the utility of telecommunications and also the need for decentralizing and de-densifying governmental systems, the BLM bailing from D.C. should be only the first in the scattering of the Fed Guv. NASA headquarters? Why not Montana? Social Security headquarters? Try Nashville. Or maybe Sioux City. Leave D.C. for just four things:
1: White House
2: Congress
3: Supreme Court
4: Museums
Spread the actual governmental apparatus around the whole country. This would play merry hell with lobbying… which would be a *good* thing.
