Guaranteed employment, immunity from firing layoff or downsizing, pension plans, and in-the-bag cost of living raises don’t exaclty yield the most efficient work ethics.
The government is supposed to answer to the people it’s supposed to serve. Not the other way around.
A few months ago the LA Times had an article on some of the council members who weren’t taking raises because of the budget problems. I think there 8 of the 30 that weren’t. I admire that. I still think they’re overpaid, but it’s noble if not much more.
Our democratic government jobs are really more socialist, as are the the programs for people who don’t work at all.
It’s no wonder were in debt, and there’s no housing bubble to provide a windfall of cash for them to overspend this time.