Al Franken Is No Longer Available (Updated)
[Guest post by DRJ]
FedBizOpps.gov, the website for Federal Business Opportunities, is putting your tax money to use:
“The purpose of this announcement is to seek qualified contractors with the capability to provide presentations for The Department of Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD), Management Meeting with experience in meeting the objectives as described herein.
The Contractor shall conduct two, 3-hour, Humor in the Workplace programs that will discuss the power of humor in the workplace, the close relationship between humor and stress, and why humor is one of the most important ways that we communicate in business and office life. Participants shall experience demonstrations of cartoons being created on the spot. The contractor shall have the ability to create cartoons on the spot about BPD jobs. The presenter shall refrain from using any foul language during the presentation. This is a business environment and we need the presenter to address a business audience.
Upon completion of the course, participants shall be able to:
• Understand the importance and power of humor in the workplace in a responsible manner
• How to use talents in a creative way that adds humor to everyday experiences
• Alleviate stress in home and the office
• Know how and why humor is important to communication
• Improve work-place relationships
• Prevent burn-out
We don’t want the Treasury and Bureau of Public Debt folks to get depressed. That’s the taxpayers’ job.
UPDATED 7/17/2009: The Treasury Department has canceled this program because it is “more of a distraction than an opportunity.” the decision came after N.D. Senator Byron Dorgan questioned it last Friday:
“Of all the agencies, the Bureau of Public Debt should know that there is very little that is funny about today’s economic conditions.”
— DRJ
Is there anything humorous that someone somewhere wouldn’t find offensive and thus require its removal from a government workplace?
Soronel Haetir (2a5236) — 7/17/2009 @ 12:05 amBeats the $700,000 the Social Security Administration just spent on a retreat for its SF Region managers at the Ritz Carlton in Phoenix. They had instruction in doing the macarana and other stress reducing dances using a audio/video system that was rented for $65,000. Oh, to be a carefree federal employee where there is plenty of money to spend on anything and everything…
in_awe (bc82df) — 7/17/2009 @ 12:31 amMy idea of humor these days is a huge dartboard in my home office with Obama and his idiot minions (Pelosi and Waxman especially) as targets. Perfect destresser.
Peg C. (48175e) — 7/17/2009 @ 3:32 amI worked for the IRS for 10 years, they were a joke.
J (5fe0a1) — 7/17/2009 @ 4:29 amLaugh? Cry? Weep for your Country! As long as the political and bureaucratic class have no respect for the people they purport to work for, we are just little CO2 emitting ATMs.
When will the outrage reach a point that even the most placid of voters stands up and says this kind of thing is not only stupid, it is ethically indefensible.
Jaime (88d0da) — 7/17/2009 @ 5:03 amI don’t understand why The Treasury Department is hiring an outside contractor when they have … JOE BIDEN!!
I mean, really! “You have to spend money to avoid going bankrupt” is one of the best knee slappers of all time and, I’m sure, a real morale booster for stressed financial managers and entrepreneurial types.
Or not…
BJTexs (a2cb5a) — 7/17/2009 @ 5:20 amIf you were searching for humor at the IRS, wouldn’t you just take a look at Tim ‘Butt-Head’ Geithner?
I don’t know why outside contractors are needed when the boss is a complete tax-skating joke.
KingShamus (4fabb2) — 7/17/2009 @ 5:45 am#1: it is permissible to make fun of white, Christian, hetero males at all times, and also to mock such females if they are presumptuous enough to run for office and/or go against the collective wisdom of the Beltway/MFM establishment.
gun owners are also, pardon the phrase, “open season”.
everyone else is a victim, and therefore, off limits.
HTH!
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 7/17/2009 @ 6:21 amAll else aside, one thing I can guarantee is that staff members who actually attend such events will have to present their most forced smiles. For any thinking person, it will not be a fun exercise.
sierra (4be1ff) — 7/17/2009 @ 6:47 amWill they be allowed to make Obama jokes?
Bob (99fc1b) — 7/17/2009 @ 7:05 amI denounce you one and all for your religionly – clingy, bible – toting, rednecky ways.
Wacists!
Dmac (e6d1c2) — 7/17/2009 @ 7:15 amInteresting, I was thinking thinking about the stimulus, er stabilization, package and wondering, “How does Wanda Sykes benefit?”
JVW (ebabe2) — 7/17/2009 @ 11:38 amI’ve updated the post. The humor program has been canceled.
DRJ (6f3f43) — 7/17/2009 @ 1:20 pm