They're on the gravy train, and taxpayers are being taken for a ride.

Back in 1883, Congress passed the Pendleton Act to replace patronage with a federal civil service in which workers would be hired and paid based on merit.

There is no MERIT anymore. Scramble the letters. What you have now is a TIMER system. Workers put in time and get hefty salaries and bonuses, regardless of work quality, with virtually no risk of being fired.

Gina Farrissee, assistant secretary for human resources at the VA, told Congress that executive bonuses "are awarded only after a rigorous and diligent review." Nonsense.

The regional director overseeing the Pittsburgh VA collected a $63,000 award in 2012 shortly after six vets treated there died needlessly from legionella, an infection traced directly to poor maintenance of the facility.