Even a non-political publication like American Archaeology sees the threat of the Bush administration.
The following excerpts are from an article not available online. The article documents the Bush administration’s efforts to privatize everything — the end of public service. Searching for ”efficiency,” Bush would have every civil servant replaced with Wal-Mart employees making less than minimum wage. mjh
The Potential Threat of A-76
A Bush Administration Initiative Could Have Grave Consequences For Public Archaeology.
by Elizabeth Wolf
Circular A-76, first drafted during the Eisenhower Administration and revised by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) over the years, is the government’s vehicle for conducting public-private cost comparisons. President Bush says A-76 “competitive sourcing” promotes government efficiency and gets the most bang for the taxpayer’s buck even if the jobs ultimately stay in the public sector. …
The manner in which the A-76 process was initiated took a heavy toll on the morale of the [Southeast and Midwest Archaeological Centers’] staffs [mjh: and their budgets and time].
Competitive sourcing is the most controversial component of the President’s five-part Management Agenda. [It is seen by some] as a bald attempt to shrink the civil service and reduce government accountability to American citizens.