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| Re: [GMCnet] Generator [message #325718 is a reply to message #325715] |
Fri, 03 November 2017 17:43   |
Richard Denney
Messages: 920
Registered: April 2010
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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I keep hearing that, but to be truthful, I haven't found it in abundance.
What I have found is corruption (very rare, but notable and occasionally
quite threatening), hostility to employees (certainly not the sole domain
of government), pompous officiousness (also not unique to the public sector
but particularly visible there), and general incompetence. The difference
is that those in the private sector who are dominated by those attributes
are often marked by a resume with a different employer every couple of
years, while they can become entrenched in government. But I have also
found dedication in the public sector only rarely seen in the private
sector, and commitment to expertise and competence rather than just making
the quarterly reports look good.
During my first public-sector career, I personally handled about 12,000
citizen complaints. (As a consultant, I received precisely zero citizen
complaints.) Lots of those were completely legitimate and I did what I
could to be responsive to those. During my time, we reduced response time
to such requests (which required field observation and often a formal
study) from months to one week, tops. But quite commonly even the
legitimate complaints were delivered with the expectation that I was an
unresponsive idiot, with a strong dose of "Do you know who I am?" It takes
a pretty committed professional to maintain a desire to be helpful under
that sort of onslaught. I find that, quite often, people undermine their
own requests by being demanding and exercising their own pomposity.
Government workers really aren't any worse that anyone else, and I for one
respond poorly to ultimatums.
I spent 2 years in research, 13 years in state and local government, 17
years as a consultant--all but three with one company and maintaining high
customer billings even when I was a corporate officer--, and now pushing 8
years as a fed. The biggest problem I see at the federal level is
persuading the best and brightest to work there in the first place, or
keeping them there if we do manage to entice them. It's not an easy
job--those coming in from engineering school spend two years moving all
over, just like in the military but without the same level of support, and
then have to take whatever assignments come along. They don't get to choose
their location first, as those entering the private sector do, unless, like
me, they come in much later in their careers when they have some bargaining
power. My job now is mostly training and advice-giving, and I spend my time
with those in state and local government helping them get better results. I
don't see myself running out of work for the foreseeable future. :)
If you want to find the infection, you'll find it in those who call up
their local council members or county supervisors and lobby for rules that
they want their neighbors to follow. They are often in real estate and
development, and thus often have close ties to those politicians, who
therefore listen and respond accordingly. The worst neighborhood nazis I
ever knew were real-estate salespeople who worked that neighborhood or who
wanted to keep their own property values high. There is a reason I live in
the country, but there are plenty of busybodies and do-gooders there, too.
Rick "deceit is part of the human condition" Denney
On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 5:38 PM, James Hupy wrote:
> There is some infectious disease that is found in government buildings.
> Doesn't make much difference whether it is City, County, State, Federal,
> Parrish, or whatever. It infects all who linger there longer than it takes
> to render truthful testimony on any subject. It turns decent, honest,
> trustworthy folks into politicians. There are lies, damned lies, and
> political statements. Particularly when it comes to sex and money. Cure?
> Beats me!
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
> 78 GMC ROYALE 403
>
> On Nov 3, 2017 2:15 PM, "Thomas Phipps" wrote:
>
>> Politicians will always find a way to pick your pocket. Distance makes
>> little or no difference. We had an expiring 1% sales tax add-on that had
> a
>> time
>> limit Set to expire last year. Instead of allowing the voters to vote on
>> extending or making it permanent(will of the voters), the County Board,
> in
>> the stealth of the night, without publishing their intent, voted as
>> executives to make the 1% permanent.
>> They did this after losing 2 out of 3 mill rates in the last election.
>> They will attempt this one again, I personally hope with the same
> results.
>> Honesty is what I expect. Deceit is what we get.
>> Tom, MS II
>> --
>> 1975 GMC Avion
>> KA4CSG
>>
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--
'73 X-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
Offlist email: rick at rickdenney dot com
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