Thoughts about what it means to go after public employees

Going After Public Employees? Really? By Gene Lyons | March 4th, 2011 |
Under ordinary circumstances, few would dispute that when a nation turns against its educators and reviles scientists as “elitists,” it’s headed downhill. Not to mention when it attacks working stiffs who drive ambulances, inspect bridges and natural gas wells, maintain sewers and water lines, put out fires, and respond to 911 calls when the sound of breaking glass is heard at 3 a.m.

Normally, President Obama’s remarks to the National Association of Governors would be considered political boilerplate. “I don’t think it does anybody any good,” he said, “when public employees are denigrated or vilified or their rights are infringed upon. We need to attract the best and the brightest to public service. These times demand it. We’re not going to attract the best teachers for our kids, for example, if they only make a fraction of what other professionals make. We’re not going to convince the bravest Americans to put their lives on the line as police officers or firefighters if we don’t properly reward that bravery.”
Even if they don’t often think about it, most people do understand that government employees do much of the basic grunt work that keeps a civilized society functioning. Think of it this way: Every hedge fund manager, investment banker, oil industry lobbyist and political consultant in the USA could be raptured to that great Republican country club in the sky to spend eternity golfing with Speaker John Boehner and the brothers Koch, and weeks might pass before anybody noticed.
http://blog.cagle.com/2011/03/going-after-public-employees-really/