Before I can give you my position on government workers, I have to give you my position on government ‘work’. I find it interesting you mention your pay grade, but you do not mention what yo do for the federal government.
The great compromise of 1789 (i.e. the United States Constitution) was all about the diffusing of power and authority. The states wanted a weak federal government so tyranny would not run supreme as it did with the British monarchy. So the great compromise (i.e. a President, with a bicameral legislature, and a judiciary) allowed for the diffusing of power. Additionally, the Constitution limited what the federal government could do. If something was not explicitly listed, the federal government could not do it and the states could then choose to do it or not.
Of course, here we are 200+ years later and our government has decided to do lots of stuff it was originally never intended to do.
Now, since that has happened and government has grown, with government workers becoming more and more protected by innumerous laws, government has become a magnet for the type of people who tend towards dependency with an expectation that others owe them something.
Are you one of them? Well, maybe not, I do not know. But the more important question is, what job do you do and should the federal government even be doing that work in the first place?
The video below is of Milton Friedman, my favorite economist (yes, I have a favorite economist) discussing what the federal government should and should not do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSumJxQ5oy4
I specifically direct you to time 20 minutes, 26 seconds of the video for his opinion on what government agencies should and should not exist.
Enjoy!
JoMa
As for my position, ummmm, you're right, I didn't share it in the initial post but I have since then. I work at a military base for an air refueling squadron. I work for and with the guys and gals who fly the planes that refuel the planes other guys and gals fly. I hope that is satisfactory.
I do not work for one of the myriad of agencies that I agree contributes to the bloated federal government we now have. And without even looking at the video, I am of the opinion that the government should be in the business of providing two things; a national defense and a national currency. That's it. We'll see how that fairs with the film when I watch it.
I am of the sect that does not believe that anyone owes me anything. I get what I earn by the sweat of my brow, or in my case, by the number of gray hairs earned trying to keep the squadron's IT infrastructure running despite the Air Force's best attempts to the contrary, and boy, are they trying their darnedest to make life difficult these days!
So, do I pass the test? Do I meet your expectations or do you believe I am still one of the many unentitled that folks rail against as being a part of the bloated gubermint infrastructure? Inquiring minds want to know!