In the fever dream that has been the GOP standard for the past 40 years, your federal government is to be feared, loathed, and neutered. That message has been hammered home by think tanks, right-wing politicians (who curiously want to destroy government, yet want to run government), and, of course, fear mongers in right-wing media. "Be afraid, always afraid" is the message. And let the invisible hand of the market control everything. 

Yet the market is only interested in money-making propositions; the less risk the better. Your federal government takes on many of the tasks that don't lend themselves to moneymaking, yet are vital for our society. Food inspection, air traffic control, weather information gathering, primary research in an array of disciplines, tracking fissile materials worldwide, etc. 

The current sdministration through both ignorance and design has done great damage to our federal government and is driving out many competent professionals. Large bureaucracies are unwieldy and inefficient, yet often produce that which is needed. Professional management and ongoing adjustment are facts of life.  

Read Michael Lewis's "The Fifth Risk" to understand the danger.

Peter Storms

Waterford