Which government career do you respect?

[Anti Federalist]

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.

Jingoistic, sophomoric claptrap.

Sell it to the million dead Iraqis.

 

[Truth Warrior]

An informative, relevant and valuable lesson from a Brit, no less.

Parkinson's Law
C. Northcote Parkinson

C. Northcote Parkinson is Raffles Professor of History at the University of Singapore. This article first appeared in The Economist in November 1955.

http://alpha1.montclair.edu/~lebelp/ParkinsonsLaw.pdf

 

[AisA1787]

Jingoistic, sophomoric claptrap.

Sell it to the million dead Iraqis.

"Sell it to the million dead Iraqis"? And you're calling my words jingoistic and sophomoric?

I just don't get this complete disdain for all of government. Our system of government is the reason why we're doing so well, and it can't operate without people working in it. If saying that we need to fix parts of it is jingoistic and sophomoric, then I guess I put too much faith in the first three words of the constitution.

 

[Truth Warrior]

"Sell it to the million dead Iraqis"? And you're calling my words jingoistic and sophomoric?

I just don't get this complete disdain for all of government. Our system of government is the reason why we're doing so well, and it can't operate without people working in it. If saying that we need to fix parts of it is jingoistic and sophomoric, then I guess I put too much faith in the first three words of the constitution.

Too bad that the first three words are a lie AND bullshit. "We the People" never agreed to nor approved the Constitution. We weren't even asked to.

 

[pcosmar]

"Sell it to the million dead Iraqis"? And you're calling my words jingoistic and sophomoric?

I just don't get this complete disdain for all of government. Our system of government is the reason why we're doing so well, and it can't operate without people working in it. If saying that we need to fix parts of it is jingoistic and sophomoric, then I guess I put too much faith in the first three words of the constitution.

I don't have a disdain for ALL government.

Our system of government is the reason why we're doing so well

Wrong,very wrong.
The system of government that was given by the founders has not been in existence in this country in our lifetimes.
The system we have presently is destroying the wealth that was present.
The corrupt socialist system in place is a far cry from what I could respect.

We should not even have a standing Army, let alone one that is spread around the world and killing in a country that NEVER attacked us, nor even had the means to do so.

 

[steph3n]

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.

I guess........................janitors that cleanup after those filthy congressmen.

 

[LibertyInJeopardy]

Supreme Court Justices - at least ones that defend the constitution.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080612/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_guantanamo

 

[pcosmar]

Which government career do you respect?

Coast Guard
At least in concept. Not so much the present implementation.

 

[enjerth]

An informative, relevant and valuable lesson from a Brit, no less.

Parkinson's Law
C. Northcote Parkinson

C. Northcote Parkinson is Raffles Professor of History at the University of Singapore. This article first appeared in The Economist in November 1955.

http://alpha1.montclair.edu/~lebelp/ParkinsonsLaw.pdf

I have to say, that is quite a good piece of work. It's almost comical, and I probably would have been laughing as I read it if it weren't for the fact that it's so sad, and true.

 

[Truth Warrior]

I have to say, that is quite a good piece of work. It's almost comical, and I probably would have been laughing as I read it if it weren't for the fact that it's so sad, and true.

An oldie but a goodie. Glad you enjoyed it. Parkinson wrote a book about it too.

 

[AisA1787]

I don't have a disdain for ALL government.

Wrong,very wrong.
The system of government that was given by the founders has not been in existence in this country in our lifetimes.
The system we have presently is destroying the wealth that was present.
The corrupt socialist system in place is a far cry from what I could respect.

We should not even have a standing Army, let alone one that is spread around the world and killing in a country that NEVER attacked us, nor even had the means to do so.

Yeah, well I agree that the founders' version of government started to disappear almost as soon as the constitution took effect and that its deterioration has accelerated in the last seventy years, especially since the FDR period. And I agree that we are destroying our wealth, and damaging our ability to produce wealth in the future because we're over-borrowing with no real plan to pay back (national debt, social security and medicare).

I'm just saying that we have a legal system where businesses can invest without serious fear of nationalization, and where individual rights are upheld fairly regularly (notable exceptions being those prosecuted because of the war on drugs, and people who can't afford good lawyers in general). It's not the perfect system of government, but it's one of the best on earth. It's getting worse, but it's not totally screwed yet; still fixable.

Because of my line of work, I am good friends with or acquainted with people from all over the globe - China, Russia and bordering nations, India, South American countries, and many more. And the general consensus is that America is a pretty damn good place to live, with more freedom and less discrimination than most other countries. Many of these people who come here only planning to work for a few years and then go home, decide to stay long-term because they like it so much. This leads leads me to believe we're doing something right. That's all I'm saying.

Much of our government is socialist, but not all of it. There are jobs (not necessarily "careers") in government that are necessary, even based on a strict interpretation of the constitution, not to mention jobs and careers in local government.

 

[steve005]

none

 

[Deborah K]

Border patrol!!!