I would just like to thank the both of you (Johnny C and Stax) in your eloquent and respectful discussion. Too often people forget there is someone else on the other side of the screen, who deserves the same common decency we would most likely give in-person. So thank you!

With that aside. I do have to disagree with Johnny. I have been honored to work at a Department of the Interior in the past. You wouldn't believe the lengths DOI goes to, to make sure tax dollars are not misspent. And most if not all DOI initiatives come from the executive branch/senate (whom are elected officials) and not the government employees themselves. I worked in the Bureau of Reclamation (deals with water and dams) and I've never worked with more humble, qualified people (mostly PHDs & scientists), who most often take a pay cut to work for the public good. Now not every agency is run like that, but making such a blanket stmt as yours mischaracterizes the ethical work of other agencies.