[BlackbirdSST]

I would agree the federal workforce is bloated and needs to be pruned - starting with all the IRS new hires and the Dept of Education. I would not agree we “all” feel entitled. I feel grateful to be able to do my job and do it well. Even as a civilian for the DoD, I occasionally get put in harm’s way, and I expect nothing in return. Some things are more important than me, and it comes at a personal cost. What I don’t like is being tarred with the same brush as the deadwood.

You might be sincere and 101% truthful with your stance. The problem is, we could line up 100 deadwoods and they would all say the exact same thing. If you are open to a word of advice, start looking for work elsewhere.

The bolded part above, I doubt that. When your paycheck stops you will move on.

[USAF1985]

Everybody expects a paycheck. As a nuclear physicist, I could be making three times my salary now, but the work I do is important, and more interesting than academia. So no...I don’t expect more in return. My work is pretty specialized...so to “start looking for work elsewhere” is a non-starter. I’d rather stay where I’m valued, which you won’t get in the corporate world.
“When your paycheck stops you will move on”. I’ve got news for you, when my paycheck stops (unless it’s retirement), everyone’s paycheck in the US stops, because half the globe will become a total wasteland and everyone will be in survival mode. I’m honetstly not too worried about my paychack at that point.