Say goodbye to the lone voice of reason.......
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23223292-23109,00.html
Watchdog resigns over accountability
From correspondents in Washington
February 16, 2008 03:57am
THE head of the audit and investigative arm of the US Congress announced his resignation Friday, citing "real limitations" on what he could do.
A respected voice on fiscal matters, David Walker said he was making an early departure from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) to head a new public interest foundation.
"As Comptroller General of the United States and head of the GAO, there are real limitations on what I can do and say in connection with key public policy issues, especially issues that directly relate to GAO's client - the Congress," Mr Walker said.
He did not elaborate but Walker last year issued an unusually downbeat assessment of his country's future in a report that drew parallels with the end of the Roman empire.
He had warned that the US government was on a "burning platform" of unsustainable policies and practices with fiscal deficits, chronic healthcare underfunding, immigration and overseas military commitments threatening a crisis if action was not taken soon.
There were striking similarities between America's current situation and the factors that brought down Rome, he had said.
These included "declining moral values and political civility at home, an over-confident and over-extended military in foreign lands and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government."
"This was a very difficult decision for me," Mr Walker said Friday of his decision to leave the GAO, which he joined in November for what was to be a 15-year term of office. His resignation would be effective March 12.
He said he would become president and chief executive officer of the newly established Peter G. Peterson Foundation, which would educate and activate Americans while supporting sensible policy solutions on various issues.
"My new position will provide me with the ability and resources to more aggressively address a range of current and emerging challenges facing our country," he said.
"This move will enable me to sharpen my messages and bring focus and attention to the fiscal and other key sustainability challenges that I and others have been discussing during the past several years," he said.
Here's a recent 60 Minutes interview....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxoP_9W6FC8
Another Interview....Touching the 3rd rail -cnn-
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=I-16u9x3tfE
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23223292-23109,00.html
Watchdog resigns over accountability
From correspondents in Washington
February 16, 2008 03:57am
THE head of the audit and investigative arm of the US Congress announced his resignation Friday, citing "real limitations" on what he could do.
A respected voice on fiscal matters, David Walker said he was making an early departure from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) to head a new public interest foundation.
"As Comptroller General of the United States and head of the GAO, there are real limitations on what I can do and say in connection with key public policy issues, especially issues that directly relate to GAO's client - the Congress," Mr Walker said.
He did not elaborate but Walker last year issued an unusually downbeat assessment of his country's future in a report that drew parallels with the end of the Roman empire.
He had warned that the US government was on a "burning platform" of unsustainable policies and practices with fiscal deficits, chronic healthcare underfunding, immigration and overseas military commitments threatening a crisis if action was not taken soon.
There were striking similarities between America's current situation and the factors that brought down Rome, he had said.
These included "declining moral values and political civility at home, an over-confident and over-extended military in foreign lands and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government."
"This was a very difficult decision for me," Mr Walker said Friday of his decision to leave the GAO, which he joined in November for what was to be a 15-year term of office. His resignation would be effective March 12.
He said he would become president and chief executive officer of the newly established Peter G. Peterson Foundation, which would educate and activate Americans while supporting sensible policy solutions on various issues.
"My new position will provide me with the ability and resources to more aggressively address a range of current and emerging challenges facing our country," he said.
"This move will enable me to sharpen my messages and bring focus and attention to the fiscal and other key sustainability challenges that I and others have been discussing during the past several years," he said.
Here's a recent 60 Minutes interview....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxoP_9W6FC8
Another Interview....Touching the 3rd rail -cnn-
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=I-16u9x3tfE
