Do We Really Need All This?

Our government was established in 1789, 223 years ago.  We are still making new laws.  How many laws do we need?  In 223 years our government hasn't gotten it right?  That sounds like failure to me.

I was reading some federal government internet sites today.  Did you know that the government spends about $10,000,000 a year to determine federal employee salaries?  Well, it is more than that really;  that's how much they spend on the study they use to determine salary scales for federal employees in various jobs around the country.  We have the Federal Salary Council that conducts the National Compensation Survey.  Cost? About ten million dollars.

A Executive Branch bureau director starts at about $120,000 per year.  That sounds fair for a starting salary.  How many bureaus does the Executive Branch have?  Good question, glad I asked it.  It is hard to say.  The Executive Branch includes the Cabinet. Below is a list of Cabinet Departments.  Each Department has a number of divisions, say bureaus.  I have included some of these under The State Department.  Each Department has a similar division, depending upon its roll in the government. 

United States Department of Agriculture

United States Department of Commerce

United States Department of Defense

United States Department of Education

United States Department of Energy

United States Department of Health and Human Services

United States Department of Homeland Security

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development

United States Department of the Interior

United States Department of Justice

United States Department of Labor

United States Department of Transportation

United States Department of the Treasury

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

United States Department of State

Under the State Department we have

Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources

Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security

Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs

Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs

Under Secretary for Management

Under Secretary for Political Affairs

Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

Permanent Diplomatic Missions

The Executive Branch also includes these agencies:

    Council of Economic Advisers

    Council on Environmental Quality

    Domestic Policy Council

    National Economic Council

    National Security Council

    Office of Administration

    Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

    Office of Management and Budget

    Office of National AIDS Policy

    Office of National Drug Control Policy

    Office of Intergovermental Affairs and Public Engagment

    Office of Science and Technology Policy

    Office of the First Lady

    Office of the Vice President

    Office of the Second Lady

    President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board

    President's Intelligence Oversight Board

    President's Intelligence Advisory Board

    United States Trade Representative

    White House Office

    White House Military Office