As heard on the Good Stuff with Jim Thompson

Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said that someone may steal from it at night; so they created a night watchman, GS-4, position and hired a person for the job.

Then Congress said, "How does the night watchman do his job without instruction?” So they created a planning position and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, GS-12, and one person to do time studies, GS-11.

Then Congress said, “How will we know that the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?” So they created a Quality Control position and hired two people, one GS-9 to do the studies and one GS-11 to write the reports.

Then Congress asked, “How are these people going to get paid?” So they created the following positions, a time keeper, GS-09, and a payroll officer, GS-11, and hired two people.

Then Congress asked, “Who will be accountable for all of these people?” So they created an administrative position and hired three people, an Admin. Officer, GS-13, an Assistant Admin. Officer, GS-12, and a Legal Secretary, GS-08.

Then Congress said, “We have had this command in operation for one year and we are $18,000 over budget, we must cut back our overall cost.”

So they fired the night watchman.