I work for Uncle Sam, and I’m proud of it

The Washington Post ^ | 10/2/2013 | Jason Ullner

[Night Hides Not]

I am a federal bureaucrat. A professional government employee. And guess what? I’m damn proud of it.

It seems that all I hear these days are the once and future leaders of our country tripping over themselves to denigrate the work we do. I’m tired of it, and I’m fed up. I don’t claim to represent anyone other than myself, but I would bet that a fair number of federal employees feel as I do.

We are lawyers, doctors, PhD students, economists, writers, electricians, construction workers, security officers and technology specialists. We are not a drain on the national economy; rather, we are a primary reason why the United States remains as great as it is.

[livius]

outside the military I have yet to meet a government worker who wasn't in it for glory, money, power or the security of a government pension.

LOL! Yes, that's been my experience, too.

I will say that the only exception has been the Park Service and a few people in State (mostly former military) that I have met over the years.

I think one reason Obama wanted to shut down the Park Service is that he realized it's the only functional agency in the US government and the only one that actually seems to have intelligent, dedicated Americans in its employ.

[C. Edmund Wright]

I’ve noticed none of the (few) gubmint workers on FR are not around lately.....

[MrB]

From my experience, government employees spend their days looking for an opportunity to deny a “civilian” the liberty to pursue happiness.

[trubolotta]

Typical elitist arrogance. I wonder what this dip s**t is worth in the private sector, if anyone would even hire someone with an ego this inflated with his own hot air.

[winner3000]

I bet the Compost wouldn’t run an editorial: “I’m a taxpayer and I am sick of being raped by the government”.

Come to think of it, any Compost reporter could have written this Oped as they already think and act like they work for the government and for Obama.

[Clump]

Ted Cruz, Clarence Thomas, Sam Alio, and Antonin Scalia are real Americans.
But otherwise you are pretty close.

[ravenwolf]

Just a bunch of names, if that is not a drain on the country then there is no drain, if the Government controls a job it costs several times what it costs if they are not involved.

14 Government overseers and one worker and the worker is not Government.

[Night Hides Not]

Yes, you are - every time you get a paycheck.

IMHO, there's one agency out there that's doing it right: the FDIC. When the bank crisis hit 4-5 years ago, they hired 1500-2000 employees (I could be wrong on the numbers), all as terms, i.e. two year contracts, with the FDIC option for two additional years.

I am one of those, and I can honestly say I've paid for my salary many times over. One example: two years ago, I was asked to do a quick forensic analysis of a borrower's tax returns in preparation for a settlement conference. Their original offer was about 40% of a property originally appraised at $40 million.

After reviewing the tax returns (I have 30+ years of tax return experience), I prepared a list of questions for my supervisor to ask, and they proved to be "uncomfortable."

Shortly after, the next offer came in above $25 million, or nearly $10 million above the first.

The federal government would be wise to follow the FDIC example: a smaller, permanent, cadre staff, hiring term workers to fill in the gaps as needed.

[rrrod]

not all are bad....just most.

[factoryrat]

I guess that they can hold their heads up high......

While standing in the unemployment line.

[tumblindice]

I Am Winston Smith. Like you, just better.

[Night Hides Not]

your bio says you’re a cpa

Thanks for reminding me I need to update it. I'm "inactive" now, and will likely never return to accounting. I also have no desire to prepare any more tax returns.

[Uncle Miltie]

"We are not a drain on the national economy"

Yes you are.

You consume 25% of what we produce for no apparent effect except the retardation of economic activity.

[dirtymac]

“We are not a drain on the national economy”

We do not do anything and accomplish nothing but we are not a drain! We are a sink hole.

[pgkdan]

We are not a drain on the national economy; rather, we are a primary reason why the United States remains as great as it is.

Har!!!!

[Farnsworth]

It’s not a question of your work, it’s the overall necessity of it. How much redundancy? How much over staffing? How many defunct and useless departments?

You, Mr. author can’t tell me, the citizen that pays your salary that there isn’t dead wood and fat to trim. If you say there isn’t then your a liar.

I personally don’t care if a large cooperation has deadwood and the reason I don’t is companies create wealth, they are what makes up the GDP. Government takes from the GDP and is a parasite sucking the life out of it’s citizens and all productive entities that are America.

[Safetgiver]

Is it the woman going into Commerce Department headquarters to support U.S. companies abroad?...Why does any private business need government help? Are we picking winners and losers again?

[Tijeras_Slim]

I’ve noticed none of the (few) gubmint workers on FR are not around lately.....

They'd have to FReep on their own time.

[familyop]

They don’t produce anything useful. They prevent others from doing so while sucking on their recirculating debt.

[hal ogen]

The great majority of government “workers” I have met in my 70 years have not been hard-working, dedicated and caring. Most couldn’t hold a job in the private sector. The guy in this article is quite the self-polishing whiner. I have some relatives like him...insufferable boors.