Something's been bothering me today. I heard it through the grapevine that my brother has been bad mouthing government employees again. Apparently city employees get too many benefits and shouldn't be treated as human beings or well-educated professionals. He's a civil engineer (private consultant) and work has been scarce in these parts for the last couple of years (budgets are bad), likely one of the reasons for this most recent tirade to my folks. His political views are completely opposite mine. While I'm not in love with 'big government', I do see the value in 'good' government. My brother on the other hand would pay 0$ if taxes were optional and views ALL levels of government with the same degree of disdain -- no government is good government.
As far as I'm concerned, everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but I'd like to know why government employees are considered SO MUCH LESS deserving of any respect than an engineer who is also solely dependent on tax $$$ for his livelihood. So the $$$ is drying up and I still get some benefits to go along with my public employee salary! Is this a crime? Why is this any different than the benefits package his company gives him (PLUS the bonuses that I don't get) all the while including this in the overhead that needs to be paid for when it comes time to bill all those measly government entities he counts as clients?
Anyone else have similar stories? Any suggestions for the next family gathering? I normally keep my mouth shut and just let him go on and on, but this time I am near the boiling point! Really, why should a consulting engineer view himself so much worthier? Am I crazy or is he? :-\
As far as I'm concerned, everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but I'd like to know why government employees are considered SO MUCH LESS deserving of any respect than an engineer who is also solely dependent on tax $$$ for his livelihood. So the $$$ is drying up and I still get some benefits to go along with my public employee salary! Is this a crime? Why is this any different than the benefits package his company gives him (PLUS the bonuses that I don't get) all the while including this in the overhead that needs to be paid for when it comes time to bill all those measly government entities he counts as clients?
Anyone else have similar stories? Any suggestions for the next family gathering? I normally keep my mouth shut and just let him go on and on, but this time I am near the boiling point! Really, why should a consulting engineer view himself so much worthier? Am I crazy or is he? :-\