I don’t think it “eats them up inside”. They believe their paper pushing, 30 hour a week, 4 weeks vacation a year job is essential and feel superior as a result.
It does when they deal with their people, but they know when they are around real “makers” that they don’t understand many of the words they hear or things discussed.
Sad, really; nobody was honest with them giving them unearned diplomas, degrees, jobs, or promotions, yet they see a stark contrast between themselves and others...
A dirtly little secret that most of the public is not aware of (because the media won’t report on it) is that contractors often do the work that federal gubmint employees should be doing. The taxpayer essentially pays twice for the same “job” as many of the paper pushers can’t, won’t, or don’t know how to get the work done. And the more work the contactors do, the more the government relies on them. Of course, its a condition that the gubmint employees are quite comfortable with.
And you’re right; the gubmint types do feel superior because they view their role as “managing” contractors. This gives them a sense of power and also provides them with a convenient scape goat when things go wrong, as they often do.
The gubmint is so corrupt that nodoby even notices it anymore.