Public Servants are not Political Punching Bags!
Once again, here we are. On the brink of yet another government shutdown. Counting down the days to the end of the fiscal year for the federal government, and waiting with bated breathe to see if our elected congressional representatives will do their jobs, which in turn will allow many of us to continue doing ours.
When you work in the public sector, this is like a recurring game of political chicken where our careers and lives hang in the balance.
For many of us who work "for the government" we entered the world of civil service, not because we had lofty ideas about being government workers, living the high life often portrayed in network television's hit dramas, or being above the law of the land. No, many of us have chosen a life of public service out of our desire to do just that, serve.
People like teachers, postal workers, nurses at the veterans' hospital- these are the types of people who truly represent the public sector work force.
And unfortunately, these are the people who more often than not, when congress talks about trimming the fat from government they are referring to.
Personally, I have spent my career working in support of military members and their families in a variety of capacities. Growing up a military brat, it is important for me to give back to that community as much as possible. I feel that I am uniquely qualified to help this population since I grew up around and understand the culture. And I love what I do!
However, because of the agency I work for, we are often among the first on the chopping block when talks of cuts to government spending arise. The cuts they advertise and rally around making are rarely the ones made in practice, and so instead of a smaller, less intrusive government, what's often left is a government too small to take responsibility for its own consequences. A government that goes to war on a credit card, and expects its broken heroes to foot the bill when they return home.
Too many times, it is government workers, like myself and my coworkers, and the public we have dedicated our lives to serving that get left holding the short end of the stick when these deals are made. Deals like sequestration that calls for across the board cuts to government spending, arbitrary cuts made without impunity or reasonable consideration. Deals that call for the privatization of veterans benefits or social security. Deals that call these earned benefits, "entitlements" and the people working to provide them "entitled", "lazy", "moochers".
Even if your political stances tends to be on the more conservative end, you have to consider whether the best way to fix our national debt is by cutting the pay and benefits of the people who support our service members or ensure public safety. How then are we expected to recruit and retain qualified people for these jobs?
Even if shut down is avoided, federal employees are still more often than not the first place congress looks when it's time to batten down the hatches. Pension cuts, pay freezes, and annual increases in healthcare premiums are just some of the ways that civil servants are expected to shoulder a larger-than-our-fair-share portion the weight of fixing the problem of this nation's debt. Enough is enough.
Want to help?
Here are some ways you can get involved, and help advocate for those who serve the public:
1) Check out and share this link to see how when the government shuts down, everyone suffers!
2) You can call or email your local lawmakers, and tell them to stop playing politics with the livelihoods of our public servants, pass a budget that funds essential government services and repeals sequestration!
3) Help spread the word by sharing this post. Here are some graphics you can use to help spread the word on social media.
When you work in the public sector, this is like a recurring game of political chicken where our careers and lives hang in the balance.
For many of us who work "for the government" we entered the world of civil service, not because we had lofty ideas about being government workers, living the high life often portrayed in network television's hit dramas, or being above the law of the land. No, many of us have chosen a life of public service out of our desire to do just that, serve.
People like teachers, postal workers, nurses at the veterans' hospital- these are the types of people who truly represent the public sector work force.
And unfortunately, these are the people who more often than not, when congress talks about trimming the fat from government they are referring to.
Personally, I have spent my career working in support of military members and their families in a variety of capacities. Growing up a military brat, it is important for me to give back to that community as much as possible. I feel that I am uniquely qualified to help this population since I grew up around and understand the culture. And I love what I do!
However, because of the agency I work for, we are often among the first on the chopping block when talks of cuts to government spending arise. The cuts they advertise and rally around making are rarely the ones made in practice, and so instead of a smaller, less intrusive government, what's often left is a government too small to take responsibility for its own consequences. A government that goes to war on a credit card, and expects its broken heroes to foot the bill when they return home.
Too many times, it is government workers, like myself and my coworkers, and the public we have dedicated our lives to serving that get left holding the short end of the stick when these deals are made. Deals like sequestration that calls for across the board cuts to government spending, arbitrary cuts made without impunity or reasonable consideration. Deals that call for the privatization of veterans benefits or social security. Deals that call these earned benefits, "entitlements" and the people working to provide them "entitled", "lazy", "moochers".
Even if your political stances tends to be on the more conservative end, you have to consider whether the best way to fix our national debt is by cutting the pay and benefits of the people who support our service members or ensure public safety. How then are we expected to recruit and retain qualified people for these jobs?
Even if shut down is avoided, federal employees are still more often than not the first place congress looks when it's time to batten down the hatches. Pension cuts, pay freezes, and annual increases in healthcare premiums are just some of the ways that civil servants are expected to shoulder a larger-than-our-fair-share portion the weight of fixing the problem of this nation's debt. Enough is enough.
Want to help?
Here are some ways you can get involved, and help advocate for those who serve the public:
1) Check out and share this link to see how when the government shuts down, everyone suffers!
2) You can call or email your local lawmakers, and tell them to stop playing politics with the livelihoods of our public servants, pass a budget that funds essential government services and repeals sequestration!
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