Those were the words of Tom Petty in his 1987 song 'Jammin' Me."
Appropriate, as a Congress of Baboons (look it up, that's what a group of Baboons is called) come slobbering back to to DC to feast on the carcass of the GSA Convention "scandal."
And, as much as I have decried the blurring of the lines between "news" and "opinion," I had to laugh at this quote from a story by Rachel Rose Hartman on The Ticket:
"Members of Congress are eager for the opportunity to stand up to government waste and abuse, perform their due diligence on the scandal and potentially position themselves to do something beyond the hearing."
Yeah...it has nothing to do with outrage and everything to do with looking good back home.
But, the GSA affair offers up another opportunity for the meetings industry (and, sadly, Las Vegas) to once again be pilloried by our government, the media and Joe and Jill Public (who are just jealous they don't get those kind of perks).
Am I defending the GSA's actions? Of course not. Over the top, in your face arrogance (which is actually kinda funny after the President blasted Vegas conventions held during the previous administration's watch). And, eight GSA managers have been fired or resigned.
OK, folks. Story's over. Nothing to see here. Move along.
But...here's a parting thought. The $830,000 spent in GSA gluttony probably created and/or supported more jobs than a similar amount of stimulus money ever did.
So, my friends outside the hospitality industry...be careful who and what you chastise. The end result may be that government employees who do a really good job at GSA decided to stay because this was a great annual perk.
And, a bunch of private sector folk got paid for working during the recession.
I may not like they way it was done...but the result may have been worth it.
And this just in...GSA has decided to cancel its April Training Conference in Vegas.
Guys...it's not about VEGAS! It's not about Conferences. It's about arrogant, out-of-touch meeting planners. And, they're gone now.
Stop cancelling meetings. It only hurts the economy.
Posted by: Bill Geist | April 12, 2012 at 11:24
My friend Meilee Anderson offered this via Facebook:
Wait a minute. Did I do my math correctly? The entire event cost $835,000 for 300 people - which shakes out at right around $2780 per person which paid for roundtrip airfare, 3 plus nights of hotel, meals, keynote speakers, a teambuilding activity and meeting room rental?
Granted, in this economic environment they would've been better off to pick a destination closer to home to cut down on the airfare expense, but is this really such a lavish event?
And those bikes were probably built and donated to a local charity who really appreciated them. I'm just guessing on the bike thing. It just doesn't seem so lavish to me.
Ahhh, Meilee...you're making too much sense.
Posted by: Bill Geist | April 12, 2012 at 21:41
This is a great post. Very informative. I can see that you put a lot of hard work on your every post that's why I think I'd come here more often. Keep it up!
Posted by: mobile spy | May 04, 2012 at 01:10