I really resent that remark about government workers, Tim.
Before you go bashing government workers,
consider these tidbits:
"
Consider these tidbits:
The size of the workforce is smaller today than when Lyndon Johnson was president, yet there are about 110 million more Americans now".
Big names come together for Public Service Recognition Week - The Washington Post
[COLOR="Blue"]Public employees have had to play a lot of defense lately.
At the state level, conservative
governors and legislatures have made a pinata of employee unions. In Washington, federal workers have seen a stream of proposals to freeze their pay and cut their retirement.
On Tuesday, it was time to play offense, and a high-powered team took the field.
Five top-level Obama administration officials gathered to praise federal employees and mark the annual Public Service Recognition Week during a town hall program, held in a building named for a man known for his put-downs of government. Showing their appreciation were Secretaries Kathleen Sebelius of Health and Human Services, Shaun Donovan of Housing and Urban Development, and Ray LaHood of Transportation; General Services Administration head Martha Johnson; and John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management.
One big take-away from the meeting for Max Stier, president and chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service, which organizes the annual recognition week, was the importance of having agencies’ top leadership focus on talent issues.
“If we don’t have leadership in government investing in the workforce, nothing else will succeed,” Stier said. (The Washington Post has a content-sharing relationship with the Partnership for Public Service.)
The town hall was one of a number of events and proclamations happening around the country this week. Missing this year, because of the budget crunch, are the booths and displays that federal agencies have often set up on the National Mall.
The rotunda of the Ronald Reagan Building turned out to be a fine setting for a capacity crowd of federal workers who heard the officials praise their lot. In addition, the partnership released a letter from more than a dozen administration officials demonstrating their appreciation for government employees.
The program began with a video from first lady Michelle Obama, whose concern for federal workers has been demonstrated by her visits to more than 20 agencies and bases since her husband took office.
“Folks like you devote your lives, and sometimes risk your lives, to serve this country, often with little fanfare or recognition,” Obama said on the video. “Your work is vital, and it’s worthy of the passion that you show.”The size of the workforce is smaller today than when Lyndon Johnson was president, yet there are about 110 million more Americans now.
In the past 10 years, 100,000 federal civil servants have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Since 1992, 2,965 federal civil servants have been killed while on duty, including 24 in war zones. “Their sacrifice is just as dear” as the sacrifices by those in the military.
Its easy to take cheap shots at government workers. However, you are also taking cheap shots at outr nation's heros. You see, 30 percent of the government’s new hires last year were vets. Furthermore, according to John Berry, Director of teh Office of Personnel Management, hiring of vets increased by 2,000 last year compared with the year before, even as overall hiring dropped by 11,000; and 25 percent of civil servants are veterans.
So go ahead and take your cheap shots. Just as info, we have suggested changing the way our budgets are handled. That is not new. We asked for a mere 5% of the money saved to be carried over to the next year's budget (not for awards) with a cap on the max allowed for carry over (and a multi-year review to make sure our projected budgets were on target). However, Congress has other ideas since they handle the money and appropriations.
Enjoy your freedom...Many of us "government employees" helped ensure that you still have it.