Opus 2026-292: Thanks for the Silent Majority

I am going to divide government employees into three categories today.  I imagine there are many more and various ways to break them down but this is what I am looking at right now.  I do not have any recent experiences to stimulate this train of thought.  It just kind of emerged.

I am thinking of dividing government employees into workers, drones and queens.  Honey bees have my apologies for the comparison.

I think the largest group of government employees are the workers.  These are those usually unnoticed men and women who show up for work on time and do their job.  We don’t notice them because when they do their job there is no reason to notice them.  I know they exist because much of what I expect to happen just happens.  When I renew my driver’s license, it arrives.  When the electricity goes out, it comes on again.  Just because we run into that clerk who has it in for us does not mean that others are not doing their best and if this was not the largest group much of what we take for granted would cease.

Then you have the drones.  When they are in a back office the work seems to find a way around them because they don’t earn their paycheck.  When they are in contact with the public they make us want to join the revolution.  You have all been there.  You can see the piece of paper they need to get you on your way but they won’t turn around and look for it.  They keep quoting a non-existent regulation or mis-interpreting the rules because they get more joy out of your frustration that a job well done.

The third group is small.  It is a blessing that they are rare.  These are the ones who are really motivated because they literally get joy out of making you miserable.  It gives their petty existence meaning to stop you cold.  In too many cases they will actually go out of their way to be violent or betray the trust placed in them.

If this last type were really common we would all be living in chaos.  As it is the disasters seem to be rare enough that most of us don’t need to worry.  If you can, report them.  If they are reachable, vote them out.  Make sure that you don’t join them because much of our safety is in numbers.

And be thankful for the ones faithfully doing their job.

homo unius libri