[agitator]

"and government employment is going to continue to rise. In fact, more and more workers see government employment as the only "safe haven", something that pays a middle class wage and benefit, has retirement benefits, etc."

Don't forget that govt workers are rarely, if ever, fired.

[skip2myloo]

And they are NEVER held accountable for incompetence or malfeasance, not even when people die by the thousands.

The absolute, primary job of our Federal government is to defend our nation against attack. Yet, not ONE person has been held accountable for the multiple government failures that allowed 9-11 to occur.

NOT ONE !!

[NutCrackerBoy]

Don't forget that govt workers are rarely, if ever, fired.

That has got to change. Failure at any level must be "rewarded" with termination: the bureaucrats, government programs, departments. C'mon W, in your second term, please please drastically reduce government. Since Hillary is going to win in 2008 anyway, use the lame duck term to do the right thing.

It is natural for breadwinners to seek secure jobs. But the way capitalism has evolved, no particular job can be guaranteed. For professionals to enjoy the high probability of continued success, they employ greater mobility in terms of skills and location. That's just the way it is, and government service will eventually have to follow that pattern.