I have spent almost half my work life in the public sector now - geez, 19 years! I must admit that I have been guilty of government bashing and even making the random sweeping statement. But, I have always done everything I can do as if I was on the other side of the counter or phone as a government worker.
Any big organization has its share of slackers and waste, but those types within government are by definition, more public. Alas, when you work in government you realize that it is easy to be a target and every day services are often taken for granted, but today my job was the perfect example of my quote, "No one wants government until they want it and then they want a lot of it, right now."
Today we had a lot of rain and were inundated with requests to "do something!" No problem, I will get the thousands of government minions under my control who have been just hanging about to get right on that...I used to have a staff of nearly 70 now I have 19. It is now my turn to ask the question I have heard daily for nearly three years - don't you know there is a recession?
I can't speak for every government agency at local, state, and federal levels, but yah, I know all too well what it is like to let 75% of staff go; people with families and mortgages. My staff has been overworked and under-appreciated by the public for three years, yet each time I ask those who remain to do more with less time, resources, and thanks, because we are proud of what we can get done, they come through.
Next time you bash government, make sure it is specific and founded in fact. If you identify a slacker and call them out, well good on you. In return for not painting us all with the same brush, those of us who work hard every day will continue to do more and over deliver those truly public services. What I hope none of us moves any further towards is the reliance and expectations of a government cum nanny state. There must needs be a balance between shared public responsibilities and individual responsibilities.
Can I get an "AMEN"??? I'm pretty sure Clark County doesn't have a giant faucet handle in the back somewhere that they can just crank to turn off the incessant rain and flooding that are a natural part of this area of the world's climate. If so, I doubt it would have gone on so long. No one likes whining - they would have acted far more quickly to stop the whining - er, raining - before now.
ReplyDeleteBesides, as we conservatives like to say, issues like this are often best handled on a local level. Got neighbors? Got a club? Got churches? Get out there and volunteer! I was trying to find out last evening if the LDS Church needed "helping hands" to fill sandbags down in Salem. So far, I don't think they do, but I would have been glad to drive down and pitch in.
But by all means, remember what John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your [local/county/state/federal government] can do for you, but what you can do for your [local/county/state/federal government]. Initiative!!!