OK. I call.

Good twist on my words. I was answering the challenge: “Not one of you that work for the private sector can even began to know what it is like to be a government employee now days…”

I said I had been in public sector 14 years; didn’t say I was still in public sector.

I left public sector after 14 years. But while I was in it, if the agency I worked for didn’t fulfill my expectations, I went looking for the greener pastures. I usually found them.

I went into private sector with an A.S. degree in a job outside my degree field. After 10 years, at age 43 (2004), I was forced to look for a new job as the company I worked for went bankrupt-a bankruptcy that was really newsworthy. Realizing I had to compete against people half my age; with twice my education; but none of my experience, I had to do something to get back into the game. I completed my Bachelor’s Degree at age 46 (2007) and received a professional certification that is recognized world-wide; I will have my Master’s in November-at age 50. I work for a good company and still commute to between FL, AL, MS, LA, and TX for my employer. If at some point I get tired of it or it ceases to satisfy me, I will go looking again. That’s how I made myself marketable. In fact, I turn down jobs a couple of times a month from prospective employers. I’m not a lawyer, doctor, or engineer, either. I found something I enjoy doing that has good job opportunities. My Dad told me once that jobs don’t always come to you, sometimes you have to go to them. I heeded the wise man’s advice-still do.

Easy? Not a day of it. Simple? I never said it was. Sacrifice? Yep. Whining? Nope. Faith? Lots of it.

“I have not worked 5 years without a pay increase…because, I took it upon myself to change jobs. I made myself marketable and sought more gainful employment. I’ve done it in public sector as well as private sector.”

You make it sound SO SIMPLE-! What if you are older (45-55) and have already invested so much time in a career? What if you actually LIKE the job you do, just hate the politics? And really?? You “made yourself marketable -14 years ago” I can see that then but…Good luck doing that during this time and age!

I’ve been in public sector-14 years to be exact. I’ve been the government employee people yell at; I’ve also been the one they turn to for help and direction. So yes, I can do the job and no, I don’t want to do it again. I don’t want to deal with the low pay and the politics, again.

I have not worked 5 years without a pay increase…because, I took it upon myself to change jobs. I made myself marketable and sought more gainful employment. I’ve done it in public sector as well as private sector.

I have no issue with people getting raises, when the employer can afford it. My issue is when those employees feel entitled, at taxpayer expense, to more of the taxpayer money when the taxpayer is already stretched out. Do we, who are not public sector employees, not get to keep as much of our money as we can, too? Or, do we owe it to you first?

Yes I’ve been to a government agency for their services; I’ve been treated well and I’ve been treated poorly. The same could be said when dealing with private sector employees, too. I’m not sure what your point is.

There was a time when working for the government or the railroad (arguably for the government, there, too) was a guaranteed lifetime income with a retirement; there was a time when getting a job like Monsanto or Champion had the same promise. Sadly, those times are over for all of us. Many employers are cutting back staff so the job task for those left gets larger, often without an increase in pay; that happened to me in my last position. Personally, i got tired of doing more work without a pay increase, so…I changed jobs-with that change, I got a raise and a better job to boot. Many employers, public and private, are cutting benefits in an effort to cut costs.

We, as employees, need to decide what our dropping point is, do we stay and deal with it or leave to find a better opportunity. My choice is always to seek the better opportunity.

So yes, there is one…me…that knows exactly how it feels to work in public sector.

Everybody wants minimal governmental interference, they just have widely differing views as to what the minimum is. In general, most want to be left alone but want to tell their neighbors what to do and not do.

We can look at other countries and see what can happen when government doesn’t limit some actions. In the Sudan, they still practice slavery. In Somalia, they praise pirates. In Afghanistan, they turn to the Taliban for judgment without having to pay bribes first. In Libya they kill black people because Moammar uses central African mercenaries to kill rebels.

We really need to limit how people are allowed to harm others.

Of course, once we get started, we get to telling them whether or not they can have a visible antenna, what they can eat, whether or not they have to have health insurance, who they can hire and fire. There’s a constant back and forth regarding what to regulate and what’s none of our business.

AND
“I am all in for supporting Constitutional bounds of government,”

It would be nice. We should try it sometime. We also need to remember the US Constitution has more limits on federal government than it does on state government; it even spells out states have any powers not ceded to the federal government.

David for maximum freedom

I’m not against taxes, just against wasteful spending by government. I’m also against the premise that the government thinks that they are entitled to my money just to give it to someone else. I’m against the premise that without government nothing would happen. I am for free market capitalism and minimal governmental interference.

I am all in for supporting Constitutional bounds of government,

Please give me time to find a place to escape.