[blackdog]

Self interest should be incompatable with civil service. Self interest gives us Ivan Boesky, Michael Milken, Marc Rich, Martha Stewart etc... I do agree with you on the human nature aspect. The only catch is that public employees are supposed to be doing what is in everyone elses best interest, not theirs.

[Willie Green]

The only catch is that public employees are supposed to be doing what is in everyone elses best interest, not theirs.

Yeah, but that goes against human nature -- even though many (most ?) manage to balance self-interest with honesty and serve the public quite honorably.
But the bad apples do present the need for public vigilance.