Which government career do you respect?

[mattc2345]

I am ok with any employee who makes a fair wage as determined by the free market and not a distorted union-extorted salary.

Also, hate the system, not the people. They are just looking out for their own self-interest.

-Matt

 

[Ozwest]

Federal Scientists in the self-sufficient warfare research divisions... maybe I'm just being biased...

Easy money.

 

[mattc2345]

I always tell people that the only 3 things that government does well is wage war, deliver mail, and provide weather data. Other than that, it's useless.

I would like to modify your above 3 things down to 0.

1. Wage war: only does this well because they have the authority to do it. Like someone else said, throw enough money at something you're bound to make progress.

2. Deliver mail: Again they have the authority in the form of a government granted monopoly. They actually engage in predatory pricing in other areas where they lose money. Watch their prices carefully.
Paraphrased From Freedomnomics by John Lott:
When the USPS raised firstclass mail to 33 cents in Jan. 1999, it simultaneously reduced the price of domestic overnight express mail from $15 to $13.70 even though it was already losing money at $15. The price remained below $15 for the next 7 years.

3. Weather data: Here is a summary of the problem again from Freedomnomics:
During the 1980s private meteorology services saw a chance to make money by providing television stations with specialized forecasts that the NWS hadn't been offering. But soon after the private companies began providing this service, the NWS started giving stations the same specialized forecasts for free, thus driving the private forecasting companies out of business.

The government does not do anything well. Some might argue it collects taxes well but honestly it doesn't. There is no doubt in my mind if you gave a private company the authority to collect taxes it would do it far more efficiently.

 

[LibertiORDeth]

I'm gonna have to go with these folks... I'm a min-archist if anything, but they sure do have a cool freakin' website for national weather data so I have to give them props.

http://www.noaa.gov/

I always tell people that the only 3 things that government does well is wage war, deliver mail, and provide weather data. Other than that, it's useless.

The Post Office sucks.

 

[Indy4Chng]

The Post Office is not actually a part of the government, they are a private entity. You don't think if the Post Office went away tomorrow, UPS or FEDex couldn't do a better job of delivering your mail.

 

[mattc2345]

The Post Office is not actually a part of the government, they are a private entity. You don't think if the Post Office went away tomorrow, UPS or FEDex couldn't do a better job of delivering your mail.

Its more of a pseudo-private entity as it still has a government granted monopoly (in the constitution) in first class mail and has tons and tons of government regulations.

I think you are 100% correct in saying that FedEx or UPS could do it better. (or any other new private company)

 

[FindLiberty]

I hate 'em all in general, especially the concept of a government CAREER: Set for life. Years of experience let's 'em exploit the system to the fullest. Full retirement (that's paid by....?)

There are many JOBS behind the scenes that are necessary, good people are trying to hold the place together. I respect all those efforts (roads, water, sewer, Police, Fire), but there is also runaway waste and corruption going on in every department. Usually, the higher ups are most corrupt.

When it comes to Gubermint, it must boil down to incentives or lack there of. We would be better off if everything was non-government, free market. Everything.

The piss-poor slow, uncaring service that is inherent with any forced government activity is sickening. (I always like to compare "it" to a free market competitive business that tries to please its customers: fast food, hardware store, Computer hardware/software products, etc.)

I liked John Walker (resigned), but the GAO was/is a failure. The books are cooked.

I like Ron Paul, but most of the other congress critters are piling on new bad legislation as opposed to stripping laws down to the constitution and saving the country. They have the power to stop the destruction of the US Dollar via inflation, but instead have helped ruin it. We're all cooked.

I try to like the local police*, but they embrace new laws that increase their power and stomp on Liberty. Most of the Police support the insane war on SOME drugs or any(little)thing that will bring in more revenue via catching "violators". Red light cameras - come on - are actually a local gov competition with the local Police. *(Some of my local Police officers are really good though).

I would respect (and want to work for) the office of "clean up and shut it down". Goal: Fire everyone and transition to free market for all government services, except those explicitly stated in the constitution. Then the office closes and I'm fired too! If people want more "services" they can pay for it on their own as they use it, or start their own provider service "company" and try to run it as a business, etc.

That's my wish list. But in reality, it won't happen in time and I can see the $ bottom coming up fast (~25 years), unless something changes our path.

 

[ARealConservative]

I don't respect collectivism.

An individual in any one of thousands of government jobs can gain my respect, but they don't get it automatically based on government service.

 

[grizzums]

I don't respect collectivism.

An individual in any one of thousands of government jobs can gain my respect, but they don't get it automatically based on government service.

I'm in agreement with you.

 

[mediahasyou]

Just because your salary is paid by money extorted from your fellow citizens to do a job, certainly entitles you to no greater "respect" or merit. If anything less so.

QFT.

 

[lemnad]

The Post Office is not actually a part of the government, they are a private entity. You don't think if the Post Office went away tomorrow, UPS or FEDex couldn't do a better job of delivering your mail.

And when they decide to egage in price fixing, or merge or one buys the other out and decides to charge you a $1.50 to deliver a letter coast to coast. Do you think they will set up drop boxes in every neighborhood across the country including rural areas? How about one office in at least every city and town in the United States? Set up some type of nationwide accessible payment system? Or what happens if the market wanes due to energy costs etc. so they decide to cut costs and eliminate service from whole sections of the country that are non-profitable? Post Office is one of the very last things I would sweat.


I agree in a much smaller less intrusive government as well. And also to stay out of state business as much as possible. But there are plenty of Local and Federal agencies that are neccessary. There are just way to many and they are way to large and growing. There is no free market replacement for some services and expect it to function like we want/need it to.

Enron managed the electricity in California fantastically didn't they?

 

[lemnad]

None. Looters never have my respect. If you take looted funds, you're as guilty as the goons with the guns taking the loot in the first place.

As for 'the troops', they have taken an oath to defend the Constitution. As soon as they leave our shores to participate in undeclared wars of foreign agression, they are as guilty as any Nazi SS who was 'just following orders.'

That would be the general publics job to ensure the elected government is kept in check so it is unable to utilize the military for these types of means. The only people to blame is ourselves, our neighbors, family, friends etc. You can't blame a single gear in the machine after the entire machine was allowed to be built.

 

[nate895]

Currently, military personnel below the rank of Lt. Colonel. Under normal circumstances, it would be all military personnel, but our military is corrupt and incompetent in the brass.

 

[lemnad]

None.

Many of us, myself included (commercial fisherman for years) do dangerous and thankless work. Miners, lumberjacks and construction workers all face a higher risk of job related fatality than your average cop, most of whom die not in blazing gunfights with desperate criminals but in traffic accidents.

Just because your salary is paid by money extorted from your fellow citizens to do a job, certainly entitles you to no greater "respect" or merit. If anything less so.

You do you job for the same reason everybody else does, to make some dough.

Hopefully, what you do also has some level of enjoyment to it, I know mine does, and I consider myself lucky for that.

That being said, if you held a gun to my head and forced me to answer, I'd say fireman.

Well if your boat should ever happen to capsize or you get caught out in a storm I hope Ocean Rescue Inc. (A subsidiary of UTC) offers service in your area. Your particular area is not very cost effective so they only operate from 10-4pm and no weekends and holidays. And you may want to pick up some Sea Rescue insurance because I heard getting a helicopter airlift out of the middle of the Ocean isn't cheap.

Just giving you a hard time. But you see what I'm getting at. Some things are worth the tax dollars and really have no other way to function effectivley.

 

[LibertiORDeth]

Well if your boat should ever happen to capsize or you get caught out in a storm I hope Ocean Rescue Inc. (A subsidiary of UTC) offers service in your area. Your particular area is not very cost effective so they only operate from 10-4pm and no weekends and holidays. And you may want to pick up some Sea Rescue insurance because I heard getting a helicopter airlift out of the middle of the Ocean isn't cheap.

Just giving you a hard time. But you see what I'm getting at. Some things are worth the tax dollars and really have no other way to function effectivley.

Lol how did you end up with my old avatar?

 

[Carole]

If you focus in on different facets of government it's hard to see how individuals make up an omnipotent evil known as tyranny. Millions of Americans work for the government, thinking they are doing the GOOD thing. Many of those employed are. But like anything, too much of substanceX will kill you. If you had to choose the government career to most respect, which would it be?

I think I would choose Postal worker, followed by soldiers. Postal workers come hell or high water. It's one of those jobs I respect but would never apply for - simply too stressful. Wake up in the wee early hours of the morning (3 or 4am), hop in the car and hope to have your job done by the afternoon. People always counting on you to be on time. Risky when you can't see the corner behind you. Always the same-in, same-old. So mundane and dangerous, but someone has to do it.

Postal Workers are private industry- for several years now.

 

[Carole]

Unfortunately, local government is corrupt also.

Additioally, Agenda 21 is now giving orders from the high priest of government, interfering with the local process. Each year the locals must ban something in the city for example. The United Nations is taking over local rule.

 

[AisA1787]

None? Because the government is full of "looters"?

Really?

The government has lots of problems. But without national defense, a good legal system and law enforcement there would be much more looting, theft, murder, and rights violations. MUCH more.

Did we launch a preemptive war? Yes. Do poor people get thrown in jail more frequently than rich people? Yes. Do people get served National Security Letters? Yes. These are all problems we need to fix. America is far from perfect. But as far as I'm concerned, this is still the best place on Earth by a long shot, and it's in large part because our government does a pretty darn good job of keeping our country safe from outside aggression and helping the economy function properly by enforcing contracts, property rights, etc. I love the free market as much as anyone else, but it cannot do these things.

I find it incredible that people have the gall to enjoy the freedoms and privileges secured by our fellow citizens working in our government and then turn around and say they don't respect any government careers. Absolutely incredible and disgraceful.

 

[TurtleBurger]

I respect a lot of government careers (if it wasn't for firefighters, I might be living on the street). I don't respect the way they collect their funding or how they eliminate competition. But that is not usually the fault of the person filling the position: if you want to fight fires for a career you don't have much choice but to go to the government for employment.

 

[Anti Federalist]

Well if your boat should ever happen to capsize or you get caught out in a storm I hope Ocean Rescue Inc. (A subsidiary of UTC) offers service in your area. Your particular area is not very cost effective so they only operate from 10-4pm and no weekends and holidays. And you may want to pick up some Sea Rescue insurance because I heard getting a helicopter airlift out of the middle of the Ocean isn't cheap.

Just giving you a hard time. But you see what I'm getting at. Some things are worth the tax dollars and really have no other way to function effectivley.

I ran a number of Sea//Tow operations on the east coast.

Put my life on the line to pull off some hairy rescues, once rescuing the USCG.

I have watched Uncle Sam's Confused Group make a bloody balls up of more than few salvage and rescue operations.

But on the whole, as far as SAR is concerned, I'd put them in the same group as fireman, if you were pulling my arm to name someone.