[Superman]

I have to tell you my reaction to Mikester's post. It lead off with a nasty right hook that pissed me off. This business about gubmint workers being lazy. Like Bob, I worked in government for a time, so it is easy for me, and him, to tell the difference between ignoramuses, and folks who have personal knowledge of who gets paid from my tax dollars. There are lazy people everywhere. But by and large, what you'll find if you look, is that exactly the opposite of your lead-off remark is true. The pay and benefits are not that attractive, frankly. State workers are routinely paid less than their private-sector counterparts. My state deliberately, admittedly, targets 80%. They do pay studies, and they increase state workers pay, sometimes up to 80% of market. Then inflation eats that down between wage studies. Also, some of the folks I worked with there, I would gleefully pair up wiht private-sector counterparts in a head-to-head competition, and grab a bag of popcorn. Some of those state workers are butt-kickers. The reason they forego higher pay, the reason they work there, is precisely the reason you reject. They believe in their mission. Trust me when I tell you that when I went from the private sector to the public, it was enormously more satisfying to know that I was doing more than making money for me and a business owner. I was helping people, and that is a horrible addiction. I've still got that jones, though I am a consultant now.

Then, the rest of Mikester's post read like Shakespeare. Perfect. Agree completely. Bravo. Hit the nails on the head. I couldn't agree more. Accountability is important and lacking. Government accounting and budgeting processes are insane. But here's the kicker:

It's YOUR gubmint. If you're listening to conservative talk show radio, and whining about how gubmint is "them," then you're part of the problem, instead of being part of the solution.