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Government's Disadvantage
By Joe Renna
Government is at a disadvantage when it comes to recruiting quality employees. Government not only has compensation limitations but it has little flexibility in its regulations. The private sector has less restrictions and more incentives to offer. A person working for government also sacrifices privacy. He becomes more exposed professionally and personally. It's a vulnerability that is easily exploited in political power struggles. Why someone would subject themselves to such treatment is an age old question.
The nature of politics has kept some of the best and brightest
from seeking public office or choosing civil service as a career.
Patronage, nepotism and pay backs are common scenarios in government
hiring and political appointment. These practices are damaging
to the system, especially when the recruit is not qualified. President
John Kennedy created quite a stir when he appointed his 35 year
old brother Robert to the position of Attorney General. Robert
proved to have what it took to be top cop. But his story was an
anomaly.
Appointments that are not qualified systematically break down
the structure in which they are placed. The job they are assigned
to do does not get done. Their incompetence effects their supervisors
and their subordinates. Overall moral of the qualified work force
is demeaned. The effect spreads like a cancer into programs and
practices that are dubious at best.
Politician's offer no remedy for this corruption. If they have
a remedy it would have to be directed at themselves. It seems
that the only clamor for reform comes from third party candidates
who have little chance of ever getting elected. The public concedes
that this is the way the system is. It's a matter of going along
to get along.
This is a gloomy picture of our political landscape. But it doesn't
have to be accepted as such. The only reason this nonsense exists
is because of the silence of people. Truth always prevails. I
believe there are many good people that can successfully challenge
and change how political machines operate.
The strength of my beliefs are boosted by those who struggled
for freedom, justice and liberty in the past. From our founding
fathers to our grandfathers. The challenges they faced were monumental
compared to most of the issues that involve us today. The misgoverning,
I speak of, relates to the small issues. The fact that they are
small allows them to exist under the radar of the public who are
too busy working to keep track of these happenings. .
It isn't until enough instances of malfeasance accumulate that
the people are compelled to react. Reaction is usually too little,
too late. Officials overwhelmingly get reelected and everything
is forgotten. The system continues.
Taxes are raised just enough not to cause a stir. Spending increases
on projects that benefit political supporters just this side of
legal. Officials vote themselves raises and their pensions balloon.
The public as a whole asks rhetorically, "What can I do?"
The answer is "VOTE"!
Not for Nothing But...
sharing a gene-pool or bedroom with an elected official does not
qualify a person for a government job.