Non-Elected Lifers Inside the Beltway
* Catherine Whiting’s article (Jan. 5) about “Term Limits for Those Other Politicians†was a witty reminder of a weak link in our democratic process.
A similar weakness has roots in our non-elected bureaucracy, and the Capitol teems with them.
These are bona fide CDCOs (Certified DC Occupants), folk who hustle to Washington when friends come to office and have a finger in the appointment pie.
Few are world-class specialists, but--not to worry--all know if they screw up too badly at what they are appointed to do, they’ll be transferred (up a notch, usually) to something else.
If the private sector followed this jolly folkway, we’d hire a plumber to come fix a leak, discover after a while he doesn’t know how, so be obligated to keep him on to paint the house.
WILLARD HANZLIK
Seal Beach
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