RoR: Forum

And remember:

It was in JFK's 60s that we were building the Interstates.

It was in JFK's 60s when America was leading the world to the Moon.

It was in JFK's 60's when America was funding FDRs SS program.

It was in JFKs 60's when the civil rights movement addressed old sins.

It was in JFK's 60s when a nation of American youth were leaving the best schools and colleges in the world with optimism, vitality, and hope for the future. (This is the biggest indictment of 2012 of all; shame on us. What species does this to its young? In the name of what-- the real estate market in Northern VA?)

And that was in a nation in which the federal government was spending $100B/yr, not $3800B/yr.

What is inflicting this nation 50 years later, like a bloated disease from the swamps of the Chesapeake, is Crystal City clear.

regards,
Fred

Post 1

Monday, July 16, 2012 - 5:08pm

Cabinet Members Under Kennedy
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense R
Attorney General
Postmaster General

Secretary of the Interior (1849)
Secretary of Agriculture (1862)
Secretary of Commerce (1903)
Secretary of Labor (1913)
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1953; 1979)
Read more: Cabinet Members Under Kennedy — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0101258.html#ixzz20pf1Tj1K
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0101303.html

Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
(Postmaster General not in Cabinet)
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services (1979)
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1965)
Secretary of Transportation (1966)
Secretary of Energy (1979)
Secretary of Education (1979)
Secretary of Veterans Affairs (1989)
Secretary of Homeland Security (2003)

Read more: Cabinet Members Under President Barack Obama — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/us/government/cabinet-members-barack-obama.html#ixzz20pfFtGma

In some cases, cabinet departments may be downgraded in status. For instance, the Department of Navy, formerly a cabinet department, eventually merged with other departments to form the Department of Defense. In theory, cabinet departments can be dissolved as well, although this has never occurred. When the Republicans took control of Congress in 1994, one of their first agenda items was to consolidate and abolish several departments — something Republicans had been campaigning on for years. However, dismantling the Department of Education — first on the Republicans' hit list — proved to be more difficult than anticipated, and the Congress soon gave up on downsizing the cabinet.

The Department of Agriculture provides information, assistance, and subsidies to America's farmers. At the time of its creation during the Civil War, 90 percent of Americans were farmers. Today, farmers represent about 1 percent of the work force, which means that there is one Department of Agriculture bureaucrat for every three farmers in this country!
http://www.netplaces.com/american-government/cabinet-and-staff/why-are-new-departments-created.htm

Post 2

Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 7:12am

Michael:

Great observation.

"Cabinet" inflation.

If only it was just a trusted mover and shaker in an office somewhere giving the POTUS trusted advice...

Calling this expanding amoeba of bureaucracy the president's 'cabinet' is like calling the Dept of Defense his 'gun cabinet.'

regards,
Fred

Post 3

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - 2:44pm