This one grabbed my attention on the LTRS LANS EES (Employee Engagement Survey) post.Here's our Thursday COW:
Few people seem willing argue against the position that LANL is much worse off now under the NNSA and the for-profit Bechtel-led corporation than it was under DOE and the non-profit contract years (excepting that brief period during the Nanos-led reign of terror, naturally).
The simple fact is that NNSA has been given free reign to do with LANL whatever they choose. The real question is why? I'm betting that military industrial lobbying is the answer. And you'll never lose a bet by following the money.--Doug
27 comments:
The key to understanding this is the profound felt need to have a place to produce pits. The rising panic, the realization that without it the enterprise would have no novel throughput, no "end-to-end work" as Johnny Foster and so many others put it, and would senesce. Deterrence must not remain static or its illusions would end, like a movie that stops. If nuclear weapons became disconnected from progress and modernity they would be merely barbaric and stupid. Since they are thought to provide escalation dominance, the top cover for expeditionary forces, the ultima ratio, even if it is all smoke and mirrors, collapse of the nuclear enterprise would damage the empire, with consequences for the corporations involved. It would affect the economic, social, and political order. New modes of prosperity would be necessary, and some of today's winners might be tomorrow's losers. Worse -- oh so much worse -- it is American military power that is now the guarantor of the fractional banking system and the global reserve currency, both overall and in particular geographic struggles related to preventing certain Asian alliances and involving pipelines and the old Silk Road, e.g. Afghanistan.
At this point in imperial history there is a great deal of fear that it won't continue. Nuclear weapons reassure many parties. Los Alamos must produce them. The capability for pit production is, as Ev Beckner told me in 2007 in Best Buy in Santa Fe, "pivotal" for the future of nuclear weapons.
That is why it must be stopped.
It is my impression that LANL is not respected as a scientific institution in Washington. Not at all. Nobody sees any possible loss there. That's just a narrative for the NM delegation and LANL staff. It's a bomb lab.
12:26: "Worse -- oh so much worse -- it is American military power that is now the guarantor of the fractional banking system and the global reserve currency, both overall and in particular geographic struggles related to preventing certain Asian alliances and involving pipelines and the old Silk Road, e.g. Afghanistan."
In today's world of endless sources of information of all types and colors, it amazes me that such delusional paranoia can still exist. Stuck in the 60's?
"It is my impression that LANL is not respected as a scientific institution in Washington. Not at all. Nobody sees any possible loss there. That's just a narrative for the NM delegation and LANL staff. It's just a bomb lab."
There, fixed that for you.
Anonymous at 9/3/09 12:26 PM writes:
"It is my impression that LANL is not respected as a scientific institution in Washington. Not at all. Nobody sees any possible loss there. That's just a narrative for the NM delegation and LANL staff. It's just a bomb lab."
I believe that is a correct statement. Look at the idiots that we send to Washington on TDY assignments! Look at the idiot D students from Bechtel that are being brought in.
We are terminally screwed!
Look at the situation from the outside, say from Washington DC. The Domenici years have created an unproductive operation with some very good individuals. Everyone, however, is collecting outsize salaries and benefits. The situation is easily improved by removing ineffective staff and I daresay that they are easy to spot.
Look for the creation of a meaningful figure of merit that will help deselect. The process, of course, is much more effective with a really big RIF, based on real budgetary arguments.
If I was in charge, I'd start with people who complain on this blog.
I'm not sure what point you were trying to make, 2:57. Domenici's "guaranteed, no matter what" block funding certainly did nothing to promote efficiency, or even competence at LANL over the decades; the money came in each year regardless.
On the topic of removing ineffective staff: the NNSA-mandated changeover to a hugely inefficient, bloated, incompetent and expensive for-profit corporate contractor has resulted in the opposite. The good staff left, the ineffective ones remained.
I suspect that only poorly-run organizations fear the uncensored feedback that a blog like this one can provide. Therefore, I suspect that you are a member of the hugely inefficient, bloated, incompetent, expensive corporation that is currently running LANL (into the ground).
There, I've said it. Fire me, if you can.
BREAKING NEWS: THIS JUST IN!!!...
== White House: D'Agostino To Remain as NNSA Administrator ==
September 3, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Barack Obama announced that Thomas Paul D'Agostino, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security of the Department of Energy and Administrator for Nuclear Security of the National Nuclear Security Administration, will continue serving in his current role.
The following is a quote from the President included in today's White House press release (the full release is included below): "The dedication and talent of these individuals will be tremendously valuable to my administration as we work to tackle our challenges at home and abroad, and I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years."
www.rdmag.com/News/Feeds/2009/09/
energy-white-house-d-agostino-to-remain-as-nnsa-administ/
##################################
"You like me, you really like me!"
(Sally Field, Academy Awards of 1985)
---
Dr. Chu, President Obama and the Congress really like Tom D'Agostino. They really, really like him.
And they also really, really like NNSA and what they are doing with the NNSA labs. The re-appointment of D'Agostino as the chief of NNSA demonstrates that feeling in spades. What more is there to say? Well, how about this:
If you have any doubts about the future path of a highly dysfunctional NNSA and the broken weapons labs, you can rest assured that the path forward will be more of the same, only stronger and longer. You can take the current conditions and extrapolate them deep down into the depths of the lab's current "death spiral".
NNSA will continue their recent campaign to pour out generous amounts of glossy press releases touting the glowing success of their dysfunctional agency. Mikey will continue to exhort the staff to drink the strange tasting Kool Aid and "get with" the LANS/Bechtel for-profit management team. Costs will continue to rise, productivity will continue to plummet, executive salaries and bonuses will continue to get richer and staff morale will continue to fall lower than anyone could possibly imagine (which is a frightening thought in itself!).
This is obviously what the political establishment wants. Get use to it or find a way to escape to safety. The roller coaster is gaining speed and about to head down the hill. Tom D'Agostino's "Complex Transformation" vision is about to be allowed to proceed to Stage II. Along with this, a "take-no-prisoners" attitude seems to be forming among the royalty who run the LANL empire for their own benefit.
Online training for ladders and stairs awaits. Detach your PC keyboard and throw it away, for it is dangerous. Bring in your own hand soap and clean drinking water, for it is your responsibility, not LANS'. Report any dis-loyal employee activities to your management. Don't trust your email even for internal submissions. URL web links are dangerous and should not be used. Don't forget that as a lab employee you are always guilty until proven innocent. And most of all, remember to wear shoes that GRIP!
I have seen the lab's future. It involves full throttle PBIs, Baby!
"Everyone, however, is collecting outsize salaries and benefits." - 2:57 PM
Yeah, this sounds like one of the Bechtel managerial fuckwads who have infected the lab. I'm sure he finds his salary and bonus to be just right.
"White House: D'Agostino To Remain as NNSA Administrator" (!!!)
Dr. Chu and Pres. Obama just gave LANL and LLNL a strong message. Did you hear it? They said: "FUCK YOU!"
NNSA will be allowed to carry on with their mission of destroying what remains of the science at the weapon labs. There will be no rescue.
Carry on with the floggings, boys, until the morale finally improves.
I know it takes a lot to get through to the thick-headed people who stubbornly continue to work at LANL. But, this latest news about Obama's endorsement of D'Agostino really says it all.
RFP-2. Corporate America! PBI's baby!
That's where it's at. Don't like it?
Leave.
Hey!
To you it's *just* a bomb factory.
To *me* it's a sweet little money maker.
Being rich and powerful is good. God Bless America!
Don't like it? Leave.
9/3/09 9:23 PM
They *ARE* leaving in increasing numbers, even though the US has the worst economy since the Great Depression. That says a lot.
Most of the employees leaving are the brightest scientists who are well funded and have good credentials. They don't have to work at a declining place like LANL any longer, so they leave.
Hey, Riley, how's your Bohemian Grove bacchanal fest for the rich, privileged and stone-faced drunk going this year? And was Mikey invited to the party?
The news today that Tom D'Agostino was re-appointed to head up the NNSA is sad, indeed. I've lost all faith in the wisdom and leadership of Dr. Chu.
This is a complete disaster, Mr. Obama.
How could you reward this evil crook, this sleazy operator by reappointing him as the head of a dysfunctional agency that has been defrauding the US taxpayers and damaging the long-term security of our Nation??..
This is a complete disaster, Mr Obama.
D'Agostino gets to keep his job?
YUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!
The Anonymous contributor of the comment that provided the motivation for this post wins the bet.
Follow the money! Corporate America lives. Obama is just a small part of the picture.
I demand to see Tom D'Agostino's birth certificate! Dr. Chu needs to re-count the votes on this awful decision.
Dr. Chu is too busy shoveling humongous shit-loads of cash to the DOE energy labs to be bothered with the trivial problems out there at the NNSA labs.
You're on your own, fellas. Keep wearing those shoes that GRIP(!) and carry on with those laptop crippling efforts.
Why is this D'Agostino decision so surprising? Haven't you all figure out the routine by now? Here's a tip for the future: If you bend over very deeply and open wide the pain is lessened on insertion.
"Here's a tip for the future: If you bend over very deeply and open wide the pain is lessened on insertion."
Sounds like the guards in Afghanistan.
Did I hear someone say "bend-over". That's hot! I'll be there.
(Sir Richard Marquez)
Sure, Chu is a major disappointment.
What can one expect from a person from the Peoples' Republic of Beserkly?
Oh President Obama, thank for this "Change we can believe in".
This is either far off topic or very on topic.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of current nuclear reactors, especially fast neutron reactors, as a power source for America's energy needs?
How might LANL staff contribute to increased commercial application of nuclear driven electricity and power generation?
Eric, your question is a good one. As you may know, LANL no longer operates ANY reactors. Furthermore, the expertise to understand and operate reactors is largely with a handful of mostly retired individuals. Fortunately, we have replaced them with the FOD and they are sure to help with the mountains of paperwork, meaningless guidelines, non-value-added minutia, and other LANS essentials. Not to worry because our new Nobel-Prize-Winning energy secretary has all but killed nuclear power in this country by shutting down Yucca Mountain. Anytime you need help, you know who to call!
Eric,
Argonne is the the lead DOE lab for reactor research and design. So what little interest and funding that DOE has in advance reactor work gets grabbed quickly by ANL.
http://www.ne.anl.gov
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