[fintstone]

It depends on the government worker. I have worked for the federal government, and my wife does presently. The biggest problem I see is the the way it is akin to a union (in fact there is one). Employees almost have to start at the bottom. It is almost impossible to hire folks from outside the current workforce, so if the people inside wait long enough..they eventually move up the ladder, regardless of ability. For example, a person with no experience can start in HR as a GS-3 (high school diploma) and is eligible for promotion to a GS-5 te next year, a GS-7, the next. So in 2 years can be a GS-7 if the stars are aligned. If a person has a Masters degree in HR, they are only eligible to start as a GS-7. Of course the person with the MS is not going top take the GS-7 job. So the group considered a year later for the GS-9 level are all the high school grads..No fresh blood or outside competion ever comes in past this point..the GS-11, GS-12, GS-13, GS-14..etc...Almost all the people in the system are the folks who started at the bottom and often those who could not find anything better. Eventually due to the low competition, most of the higher graded folks are promoted well past their level of competency.