In defense of state and federal employees...

Email Print posted by elasg 05/28/2008 07:12:55 PM EST

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Cenk had a caller yesterday that I couldn't respond to at the time, but he said something that simply can't be left unanswered.

The caller had said he was responding to Cenk 'in defense of contractors' and made the glaringly inaccurate ascertion that 'people don't want to work for the government'. 

*double take*

Since WHEN?

I am a government employee and the only comment I've EVER heard was 'man, you're lucky to have that job'.  I know plenty of people in the private sector doing my job, and few if any wouldn't come to the public sector in a second if given the chance.

Sure, there are some jobs that are better subbed out; like short term projects that require equipment we don't already have or expertise that isn't in our line of work.  But, for the vast, VAST majority of the work in my department, a private contractor would be more expensive, less secure and way less dedicated to principle and the public interest. 

I'm a forester and I protect a natural resource for the people, usually FROM the private sector who wants to exploit it.  I can't even imagine what a disaster handing over our state and federal forests to private companies would be!  Forests don't follow corporate 'business models' and if you try and operate them like one, you will end up ruining your resource - that's like lesson #1 of any forest economics text.  Only 'the people' have a long enough term interest to manage forests like they should be managed.

That's just one example, and I use it because I can attest to it, but there are tons more.  There are state jobs that should be subbed out, but there are lots that shouldn't.  It's not a 'one size fits all' solution. 

I know Cenk wasn't buying into what that guy was saying, but I had to give voice to the other side of that argument!  Public sector employees are vital and they LOVE their work!

Ariel
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In defense of state and federal employees... | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
Government work (none / 0)

Public sector workers are the last sector of the American labour force that can be described as middle-class. They are the vestige of a long-gone era, where unions and a living wage were normal. That being said, having worked in the public sector here in Canada...the workers may have it a bit too cushy in terms of job security, some simply do not work, especially for the salary they make. The great strength of the public sector, regardless of those bad apples, is that they do work that the private sector would not do or would do a bad job due to the profit motive. I know a lot of people who would love to work in the government due to job security and stable income. It is becoming increasingly preferable to the private sector that is true. 

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by Nick86 on 05/28/2008 08:41:07 PM EST

The Worst Government Job (none / 0)
Well said, elasg. But we should also note what is the worst government job these days...the one they have to advertise for over and over again and still have glaring vacancies. That is the job of enlisted soldier, sailor or marine.

by Verified1 on 05/29/2008 12:53:34 AM EST

In defense of state and federal employees... | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
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