We've Become a Nation of Takers, Not Makers

Discussion in 'Freedom and Liberty' started by GreenTeaBlend, Apr 1, 2011.


  1. GreenTeaBlend

    GreenTeaBlend Monkey+

    Excellent article in today's Wall Street Journal by Stephen Moore. Here's a short excerpt from the full article:

    "...Surveys of college graduates are finding that more and more of our top minds want to work for the government. Why? Because in recent years only government agencies have been hiring, and because the offer of near lifetime security is highly valued in these times of economic turbulence. When 23-year-olds aren't willing to take career risks, we have a real problem on our hands. Sadly, we could end up with a generation of Americans who want to work at the Department of Motor Vehicles..."
     
  2. Ivan

    Ivan Monkey++

    i dont think that seeking government employ is sufficient grounds for being labeled a 'taker', there is nothing stopping a .govvie from being productive and contributing to society.

    the government as a whole is unproductive, sure. but it aint a monoculture. the .govviewho delivers my mail isnt the same nature as the .govvie who files form B into database 3 from 9 to 5. nor is he the same one who "represents" me in our alleged democratic institutions either.

    edit: cleaned up this post. really made a botch of it
     
  3. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    A lot of us "Government Workers" consider ourselves quite productive. The vast majority are. As with ANY industry or workplace, there are those in management who are leeches on the system, and exist in numbers beyond what is really needed. Too many of today's young seem to think they can step from College right into a management level position without 'starting in the mailroom' like their Daddies did. That pervades Private as well as the Public Sector employment.
     
    Tracy likes this.
  4. Drumbo

    Drumbo Monkey+

    Bottom line: Free Enterprise produces and makes money. Government, even if it produces (e.g. delivers the mail), does not make money. It takes, it gives; it wastes - but, it doesn't make money. You mention the postal service - there's a real money pit. The Postal Service reported a net loss totaling $8.5 billion in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 2010. That compares to a loss of $3.8 billion in 2009. It's a black hole!

    Hand the mail (or the space program, or Amtrak or you name it) to the private sector and someone will figure a way to make a profit at it or it will fail as it should. Government does not compete - it simply grows. As of March 2011 more people in the US are employed by government than by the private sector. That is unsustainable. Wake up!
     
    Tracy, BTPost, Mountainman and 2 others like this.
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