Skip to main content

Does it really take 4 men to dig a hole?

Sounds like a simple question, right?  Have you ever driven by a road construction crew and wondered why so many people are standing around doing virtually Nothing?  Driving out of my subdivision this morning, I look to my right and see 4 men 'working' on the big construction project going on right now.

Now, I could see if all 4 men had a shovel, pick ax, or other digging tool in their hands - my answer would be "Yes"...but this is what I saw:
     1 man in the hole with a shovel
     1 man in the hole watching the man in the hole with the shovel
     1 man right up out of the hole watching the man in the hole, watching the man in the hole with the shovel
 and 1 man on the other side of the street watching the man outside of the hole, watching the man in the hole watching the man in the hole with the shovel.

I'm sure there was a valid explanation why it was really taking 4 men to dig that hole, rather than just the one that was ACTUALLY digging the hole.  I may never know (I had to go to work!!!)

There are a couple of problems I see with this scenerio.

  First - We (tax payers) are paying for our road improvements, hence we are paying those workers to observe one worker doing all the work.

  Second - We (local residents) are detoured around the construction.  Not a problem.  I understand the need for the current project...in the long run, it will benefit the community.  No complaints there....the complaint is - if 1 out of 4 workers are actually working.....what does that do to the timeline?  Why is the project slated until December, when 3 out of 4 of the workers is standing around 'observing'....seems we could speed up the project by putting more of the 'workers' to work!

Now, this may have been a one time thing....but I seriously doubt it.  I have many many times seen this exact scenario on other road construction projects.  I just shake my head....  I can't imagine getting my job done with 3 people standing over me making sure it got done......

OK -back to work everyone!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Help

The Help by Kathryn Stockett My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this book. Any book that can make me laugh while I'm reading it is a quality read! I enjoyed the way the author portrayed the characters. I have images of all the characters that, really, I don't know if I want tarnished by going to see the movie. I will see the movie though.... I will risk it! My eyes have been opened about the struggles that have taken place in our history by blacks. If you read this book and do not come away with more empathy, you have no heart. View all my reviews
Post a Comment
Read more

Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?

So I was listening to NPR this morning, and they were talking about the poverty level of our country.  They stated that number of American families dipping into the poverty level is growing.  Then they asked, Are you better off than you were 4 years ago. As I pondered that questions, I realized that this question covers way more than the financial aspect of our lives.  Are we better off in our job situations.  Is our family unit as strong or stronger than 4 years ago.  Are we as happy or happier than we were 4 years ago.  A lot happens in 4 years.  To base if we are better off than 4 years ago soley on finances seems kind of shallow....  Life is so much more than debt and savings. I feel that I am better off than I was in most ways.  I have had a few down moments, but with each down, I learned how to get back up.  In the last four years I bought a new house, had a baby,  lost a job, found a job, ended a contract on that job...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lists

Lists.  Places we want to go, things we'd like to do, things we HAVE to do.  I am an occassional list maker.  I actually wish I was more consistent in my list making.  I find that I am much more productive and organized when I have things written in front of me....I can see progress as well as procrastination.  As I was thinking about lists, I realized, I probably need to make a list of the lists I need to make or keep......
Post a Comment
Read more