The Public Sector
Bill Schrier blogs about public service jobs, and the belief that they’re like diamonds (i.e., that they last forever):
For one thing, there’s an expectation that government is stable and long-term in its operations and its employment. It has to be. Despite the situation with the economy at large, water and electricity have to keep flowing, streets and parks need to be repaired and cleaned, 911 calls answered, cops and firefighters dispatched.
What’s missing from this analysis is the fact that technology changes. Yes, municipalities have to provide the same services year after year, but as time goes on they should become more efficient. That means employing fewer people to provide basic services.
Nice post, Sarah. There are a lot of things wrong with this person’s viewpoint. How about this one:
“Yet I’ve found most government workers are motivated not by job security or money, but by pride. They – we – are proud of the work they do, and proud to be meeting the most basic needs of the people of our communities. I’ve given employees raises and promotions, but, again and again, I’ve watched their motivations inspired not by more money, but with a kind word or e-mail of appreciation, or being recognized in front of their peers for doing a good job.”
Comment by David Stokes — May 26, 2009 @ 1:04 p.m.
Continuing from above after hitting the wrong key; if this guy thinks most government workers are motivated by the pride of public service, then he is delusional. Some types of government service have some of that: cops, prosecutors, teachers. But if he thinks the average bureaucrat is motivated more by a selfless desire to serve the community than a desite to have a stable job at a decent wage; he’s crazy.
As well as missing out of any thought of saving money on behalf of the taxpayers, his blog also misses any consideration of whether the things he lists should or should not be the role of government to provide. It also misses any remote consideration of the role of patronage and political favors in government hiring, which is funny because the St. Louis city IT department just had a scandal that relates exactly to that.
http://www.pubdef.org/2008/09/24/reed-calls-on-slay-to-fire-it-dept-head/
Comment by David Stokes — May 26, 2009 @ 1:14 p.m.