posted on May 16, 2001 12:15:44 AM
Bush wears on Secret Service... With Bill Clinton's overextended travels and late-night s finally done with, you might think
the Secret Service would be happy campers. But nooo. Seems they're working just as hard but with less money, and agents (who cost $240,000 to train) are quitting after just a few years. "Our people are tired and that's not good," says Director Brian Stafford.
"In the business we're in you cannot be tired." What's wrong with this picture? First, President Bush not only didn't pony up the needed $45 million to hire enough agents and buy the technology to handle the job but he shorted the service $19 million needed to
police the 2002 Olympics. Result: Agents will still work 85 to 90 hours of overtime a month. They'll get paid, but the fatigue factor will be a bear. And that's not all. While Bush and his wife, Laura, are homebodies, the prez and his veep have an extended family, resulting in 20 "protectees" needing 24/7 protection. That's the largest number ever. Then there's a new ex-president and ex-first lady.
The complaint of departing agents: "What they tell us," says Stafford, "is that they don't have a life." --U.S. News, 5/14/01
posted on May 16, 2001 04:33:10 AM
When I worked at the mold making trade it was normal to work 58 hours a week. Some shops worked 72.
The men who had the easiest time doing that were the ones who had a bad marraige so they hated going home and being with the family anyway.
It was not possible to work that many hours and stay 100% alert and interested in what you are doing. After a certain point you get hazy.
If I were going to assasinate a politician (which I personally think is futile) I would sure look at hitting them when the agent protecting them was at the end of a 12 hour shift.
posted on May 16, 2001 06:11:29 AM
Try Refresher Training in Guatanamo Bay Cuba - 7 straight weeks - 6 day work week - 18 hour days.
Then, stick your hands in an air search radar that has 1.7 kv. because after drills, the damn thing broke down and you need it for air ops.
Actually, when on a ship, 18 hour days isn't all that unusual. Course, to stay sharp I took 5 Vivarin a day, and had a 3 pack a day habit.
posted on May 16, 2001 07:08:09 AM
Another occupation where it is scary to overwork them is residents in training at hospitals. If they make a mistake because of being dead on their feet the patient can be dead on their back.
When I knew air traffic controllers in Ohio one of the men would keep a shot of whisky poured in a glass by the phone. He would not answer his phone on his day off without drinking it because he could not go in and work for 24 hours after drinking and that was the only way to get his day off. (pre-caller ID)
