Rep. Buchanan, bring it on home!

Today, Rep. Buchanan asked me, "Do you think policies [that encourage "telecommuting" in the federal workplace] are a good way to increase productivity and reduce traffic congestion?"

This is a no-brainer "Yes!"  Telecommuting has been standard practice in the private sector for more than a decade.  There is no legitimate reason for the Fed government to not get current with productivity gains that are on the table, begging to be earned.  Talk about your low hanging fruit.   Even the favorite argument against a remote workforce, IT Security has not been an obstacle for more than a decade.  

Most importantly, this is a way to increase employment opportunities for FL13.  If a job, project or task can be executed remotely, it is (largely) immaterial where the productivity is realized.   Whether or not the person performs some work "at the office" is specific to the individual and/or project/job, not the overall remote workforce policy/process/procedure.  Sure, there are exceptions.  Let's not let exceptions be the rule. 

It will be a great service to FL13 if our Representative:

1. Communicates from the floor the importance and urgency of whatever legislation and funding is required to implement (e.g., fast track)
2. Changes his own language from "telecommuting" to "remote workforce".  Telecommuting implies that the work is tied to an office/desk somewhere.  That has not been private sector practice or language for a long time. 
3. Facilitates federal remote employment in the FL13 area. 

As always, let's not let obstacles be obstacles.  Remember when our newly inaugurated President wanted to continue using his Blackberry as a means of retaining his own standard of efficiency and productivity?  The first answer from the security gurus was something along the lines of "No way.  Can't be done. Against policy." A few days later, the President was back up and running the country with the help of a hand-held device.  Obstacle, schmobstacle. 

This is a golden opportunity for Rep. Buchannan that appears to have fallen into his lap.  As my dad frequently said, "Don't grant me luck...Grant me timing."   How about setting a measureable goal of N new federal workers in FL 13 (jobs, projects, tasks, whatever) by X date?  And then do whatever it takes to make it so.  Come on, we need this!

Rep. Buchanan, what do you need from us--the unemployed and underemployed that you represent--to bring the work to FL13?

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