Government streamlining goes astray

THERE ARE REPORTS that some local governments allow officials at the age of 50, five years younger than the retirement age, to leave their posts and idle away the days until it is time for them to retire; some even get higher pay and more welfare. That's an abuse of power and waste of taxpayers' money, says an editorial on Southern Metropolis Daily:

After the phenomenon was first reported in cities of Loudi and Yongzhou in Central China's Hunan province, similar practices have been reported in other cities. A new phrase, "a rest before retirement" has even been coined to describe the phenomenon.

The whistle-blowers say that the local governments hope that by offering veteran officials such treatment they will leave their positions allowing them to be taken by younger colleagues. That suggests two things: there are more officials than needed and local governments are using taxpayers' money at will without any legal constraints.