1. Improved government efficiency by putting hundreds of thousands of jobs put up for bid. This weakens public-sector unions and cuts undeserved pay raises.
2. Initiated review of all federal agencies with the goal of eliminating federal jobs (completed September 2003) in an effort to reduce the size of the federal government while increasing private sector jobs.
3. Led the most extensive reorganization the Federal bureaucracy in over 50 years: After 9/11, condensed 20+ overlapping agencies and their intelligence sectors into one agency, the Department of Homeland Security.
4. Ordered each agency to draft a five-year plan to restructure itself, with fewer managers.
5. Converted federal service contracts to performance-based contracts wherever possible so that the contractor has measurable performance goals.
If he was truly reforming the government and making it more efficient, it wouldn't cost 30% more than we he took office. And no, all that money is not going to the war effort.
No, you're right, it's not all for the war(s). But a big chunk is for the war and unprecedented homeland security measures. If you would have told me on September 12, 2001 that we'd be in the shape we are today - two wars in - I would have laughed.
Hey, I'm all for (much, MUCH) smaller government. Go ahead and eliminate the Department of Education and the IRS in the next five minutes and I won't blink an eye.
My point is that voting for Kerry (or any other naturalpeace&fresomlawgreenconstitutionlosertarianprotest candidate) because you want smaller government or want to send some limp message is like switching from beer to Everclear to avoid a hangover.
Parties are not perfect and not perfectable. Vote for the one closest to your beliefs and work from within for change and influence. Otherwise join the other Kerrynaturalpeace&fresomlawgreenconstitutionlosertarianprotest in the halls of the irrelevant.
Enjoy the hangover.