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S.S. execs spend $700K on Ariz. trip

Ethereal

Ethereal

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S.S. execs spend $700K on Ariz. trip - UPI.com - July 15, 2009 at 6:06 PM


PHOENIX, July 15 (UPI) -- Nearly 700 U.S. Social Security Administration executives attended a conference at a plush Phoenix hotel last week, ABC News reported Wednesday.

The purpose of the three-day conference at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel was to learn how to reduce stress from death threats made against them. It cost taxpayers about $700,000, the U.S. broadcaster said.
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[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=268q2uDOXqM&feature=related"]YouTube - Social Security Administration spends $700K on Phoenix conference[/ame]

Just staggering...
 
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Unbelievable! And I'm not referring to the temperature being 104 in the video.
 
Not surprised and not excusing it, but **** like this has gone on for several administrations.

The fact Dems and Reps alike don't stop it should say something.
 
My understanding was that the trip was a conference on administrative efficiency, and that the outcome of the conference should be leading to considerable savings in the maintenance and operation of Social Security's programs. Obviously, such a thing would be detrimental if done too often-- but if the conference leads to saving so much as half a million dollars every year, out of a multiple billion dollar program, it will have paid for itself within a year or two.
 
Korimyr the Rat said:
My understanding was that the trip was a conference on administrative efficiency, and that the outcome of the conference should be leading to considerable savings in the maintenance and operation of Social Security's programs. Obviously, such a thing would be detrimental if done too often-- but if the conference leads to saving so much as half a million dollars every year, out of a multiple billion dollar program, it will have paid for itself within a year or two.
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Even if that were true, given today's technology, this could have all been done via computer conferencing across sates and would exclude such need as to meet in posh hotel surroundings would it not? And they wouldn't have had to foot travel and hotel bills to do it.
 
Good to see the Rat again.

One question for him.

Name one instance where a Socialist/Democratic meeting has ever gone on to effect a saving to the Taxpayer.


Aint happened aint ever going to happen.

Just another junket, all the pigs at the Public trough.
 
jujuman13 said:
Good to see the Rat again.

One question for him.

Name one instance where a Socialist/Democratic meeting has ever gone on to effect a saving to the Taxpayer.


Aint happened aint ever going to happen.

Just another junket, all the pigs at the Public trough.
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Name one Fascist/Republican meeting has ever gone on to effect a saving to the taxpayer. As long as we are using generalizations like you have.
 
To be fair the commentator had to report on the gambling as if it was being paid for with part of the $700,000 and that I am sure that was not the case. It is a way however for a bad reporter to hype and sensationalize the story with innuendo. The dancing is a technique used in motivational seminars all the time to get people loosened up for participation and does not add to the cost. The cost over and above airfare, food, and lodging could have been determined if the reporter did a little home work. The cost od motivational speakers can run in excess of $50,000 per hour plus all their expenses. Trust me I know. I also know from experiences the effects which are questionable on normal people are short lived on the ones most motivated at the time. :cheers:
So the truth is bad enough without poor misleading commentary.
But then they do need to pump up those who are going to be spending the next year making the average worker's life miserable with audits. Even if it is for a short time, they can do it with a smile and leave the office at the end of the day with a smile doing the macarena on the way to the car. :rock
 
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$85/nt for the rooms and the participants ALL flew coach.

Sounds reasonable to me.
 
TheNextEra said:
Even if that were true, given today's technology, this could have all been done via computer conferencing across sates and would exclude such need as to meet in posh hotel surroundings would it not? And they wouldn't have had to foot travel and hotel bills to do it.
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The video stated that teleconferencing or internet conferencing would not have worked for their needs.
 
Korimyr the Rat said:
but if the conference leads to saving so much as half a million dollars every year, out of a multiple billion dollar program, it will have paid for itself within a year or two.
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Key word: "If".

What are the odds that it will lead to such savings? Or any savings at all?

If you were putting money down on the Vegas line on such a thing, where would you bet? That the conference will lead to savings or will not lead to savings?
 
bhkad said:
The video stated that teleconferencing or internet conferencing would not have worked for their needs.
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And I call Bull**** on that one. I've conducted many meetings via teleconferencing and with software applications that can share presentations, notes, etc, there is no reason that it wouldn't have worked for their needs.
 
bhkad said:
The video stated that teleconferencing or internet conferencing would not have worked for their needs.
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TheNextEra said:
And I call Bull**** on that one. I've conducted many meetings via teleconferencing and with software applications that can share presentations, notes, etc, there is no reason that it wouldn't have worked for their needs.
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Bloody hell......I'm having to agree with TNE--time for some alcohol.
 
TheNextEra said:
And I call Bull**** on that one. I've conducted many meetings via teleconferencing and with software applications that can share presentations, notes, etc, there is no reason that it wouldn't have worked for their needs.
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Did you watch the video news report?
 
bhkad said:
Did you watch the video news report?
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Yes, they claim they all needed to meet in person. Again, bull****.

You don't need entertainment, you don't need to meet in person, you don't need to stay in hotels, you don't need to bring family members with you.

All this could have been done via teleconferencing.
 
TheNextEra said:
Yes, they claim they all needed to meet in person. Again, bull****.

You don't need entertainment, you don't need to meet in person, you don't need to stay in hotels, you don't need to bring family members with you.

All this could have been done via teleconferencing.
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So there is never a need to gather all the members of an organization in one location for a meeting. Is that what you are saying?
 
bhkad said:
So there is never a need to gather all the members of an organization in one location for a meeting. Is that what you are saying?
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Not in person, no. You can gather them via teleconferencing. And definitely not on the taxpayers dime like this.

Are you saying they NEEDED Entertainment, they NEEDED to dance?
 
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TheNextEra said:
Not in person, no. You can gather them via teleconferencing. And definitely not on the taxpayers dime like this.
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I'd question your assertion but I haven't the ammo to back up my question so I'll leave it to someone else.
 
I'm not sure why this even made the "news", except for the fact they got such a great deal, $85 bucks a night for a four-star hotel is amazing.

Every job or group I've ever belonged to has conferences and retreats, half the time they're in Hawaii or Vegas and cost three times as much.
 
Joe1991 said:
I'm not sure why this even made the "news", except for the fact they got such a great deal, $85 bucks a night for a four-star hotel is amazing.

Every job or group I've ever belonged to has conferences and retreats, half the time they're in Hawaii or Vegas and cost three times as much.
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So it's ok to spend 700k because they got a good deal?

That makes no sense whatsoever. There is a difference between want and need. They didn't NEED this, they WANTED this.

This could have been done and for far less than 700K via teleconferencing. Yes, they wouldn't have been able to dance, but if this was REALLY about work, then they didn't need entertainment anyway.
 
TheNextEra said:
So it's ok to spend 700k because they got a good deal?

That makes no sense whatsoever. There is a difference between want and need. They didn't NEED this, they WANTED this.

This could have been done and for far less than 700K via teleconferencing. Yes, they wouldn't have been able to dance, but if this was REALLY about work, then they didn't need entertainment anyway.
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I heard Fox do a report on this a few days ago, a SS rep said this was money already in the budget.

I'd say once every year or two at most, but yes we are social creatures that need to ocassionally change it up, a couple days at a resort, meet and greet with colleagues, blow off some steam, all that stuff helps moral.

Are you the kind of person that hates someone having a birthday cake at work too? Loosen up a bit, and pull the stick from your ass.
 
Joe1991 said:
I heard Fox do a report on this a few days ago, a SS rep said this was money already in the budget.

I'd say once every year or two at most, but yes we are social creatures that need to ocassionally change it up, a couple days at a resort, meet and greet with colleagues, blow off some steam, all that stuff helps moral.

Are you the kind of person that hates someone having a birthday cake at work too? Loosen up a bit, and pull the stick from your ass.
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Fine, then change it up on THEIR OWN dime, not the taxpayers.

I don't charge the government for my birthday cake. At work we pooled money together for this sort of thing, not at the expense of the taxpayer.

You seem to think it is ok to spend taxpayers money for this.
 
TheNextEra said:
Fine, then change it up on THEIR OWN dime, not the taxpayers.

I don't charge the government for my birthday cake. At work we pooled money together for this sort of thing, not at the expense of the taxpayer.

You seem to think it is ok to spend taxpayers money for this.
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If it helps to build team spirit leading to a more productive workforce I'd say it is a good thing.
 
TheNextEra said:
Not surprised and not excusing it, but **** like this has gone on for several administrations.

The fact Dems and Reps alike don't stop it should say something.
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So that's $1000 for each person. I challenge anyone to go on a business trip like that for less.
 
Councilman said:
To be fair the commentator had to report on the gambling as if it was being paid for with part of the $700,000 and that I am sure that was not the case. It is a way however for a bad reporter to hype and sensationalize the story with innuendo. The dancing is a technique used in motivational seminars all the time to get people loosened up for participation and does not add to the cost. The cost over and above airfare, food, and lodging could have been determined if the reporter did a little home work. The cost od motivational speakers can run in excess of $50,000 per hour plus all their expenses. Trust me I know. I also know from experiences the effects which are questionable on normal people are short lived on the ones most motivated at the time. :cheers:
So the truth is bad enough without poor misleading commentary.
But then they do need to pump up those who are going to be spending the next year making the average worker's life miserable with audits. Even if it is for a short time, they can do it with a smile and leave the office at the end of the day with a smile doing the macarena on the way to the car. :rock
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This is a BS excuse. If Marines can spend seven straight months in Iraq without a single break in operations then these fat lazy dickholes can do their jobs without wasting $700,000 on making themselves feel better.
 
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