I never go to lunch with my FSDO representative. He comes a couple times a year - sometimes up to four.
Spends at least six hours each time. Sometimes the entire day. He asks me (no matter which compliance officer it is that comes to regulate my facility) if I’d like to go to lunch and I never take him up on it. During my repair facility’s inspection and oversight, we’re never out of ear-shot of at least one of my employees. I know full well what little "practicalities" and secrets can lead to.
I think there must have been some really enjoyable lunches in the last ten years or so (despite some good intentioned financial legislation), between various government regulators and a plethora of banking and financial officers. You know, those meals where the tab for five people is over $500.00 and a "C" note is left for the tip?
Those must have been some heady times. The perception was that ‘The American Dream’ was the high-performance economic engine that would never blow up and drove every conceivable purchase from the latest SUV to Mom’s new $50,000 kitchen upgrade.
Now the party is definitely over and proverbial piper has come with your tab. BTW: That was the best speech George W. Bush has or will ever give, last night.
