An Emerging Oxymoron

Reason has a great article up titled Class War: How Public Servants Became Our Masters. If “public servant” wasn’t already an oxymoron it has become one. Next time you’re playing golf with a 38 year old “retired” public servant who parked in a handicapped spot without fear of ticket or tow think of this article.

People who are supposed to serve the public have become a privileged elite that exploits political power for financial gain and special perks. Because of its political power, this interest group has rigged the game so there are few meaningful checks on its demands. Government employees now receive far higher pay, benefits, and pensions than the vast majority of Americans working in the private sector. Even when they are incompetent or abusive, they can be fired only after a long process and only for the most grievous offenses.

It’s a two-tier system in which the rulers are making steady gains at the expense of the ruled. The predictable results: Higher taxes, eroded public services, unsustainable levels of debt, and massive roadblocks to reforming even the poorest performing agencies and school systems. If this system is left to grow unchecked, we will end up with a pale imitation of the free society envisioned by the Founders.

Socio-Political