The recent wave of shock and disbelief among federal employees, who are now required to show respect to the president, is a spectacle to behold.
This reaction is a stark reminder of the disconnect between the expectations of public sector workers and those in the private sector. In most organizations, large or small, employees are expected to report their activities and be accountable to their superiors.
This is a fundamental aspect of employment. However, it appears that federal workers, who do not see themselves as typical employees, are thrown into a state of crisis when asked to perform tasks they find disagreeable.
According to Hot Air, the uproar among federal employees is reminiscent of a totalitarian regime, with one employee likening the situation to living under the rule of North Korea's Kim Jong-Un. "It felt like 'you will do what I say or else'" - a sentiment that seems to suggest these individuals have never worked under a superior before.
The video that sparked this discussion features a federal employee who admits that responding to an email request would not be a problem for her. However, she is offended by the mere fact that she is being asked to complete such a simple task. This reaction underscores the importance of the email request, which is not about micromanaging but about identifying potential fraud and reminding employees of their accountability to their superiors, including the president.
The president, elected as the Chief Executive of the United States of America, has the power to control the Executive Branch under Article II. Federal employees work under this branch and are therefore accountable to the president. However, many federal employees view their role in the government as permanent, seeing the president as merely a figurehead. This perception is often reinforced by media outlets, leading to a sense of entitlement and unaccountability among these workers.
The federal government, often described as a "well-oiled machine," is seen by some as an entity that operates smoothly regardless of who is at the helm. This view, however, overlooks the potential for arrogance, entitlement, and unaccountable power to corrupt the system - a situation that only those with a liberal bias could find appealing.
The lack of accountability in the federal sector is in stark contrast to the private sector. In the latter, employees are held accountable for their performance, with superiors keeping track of their work output, reader numbers, and other performance indicators. This level of scrutiny seems foreign to many federal employees.
The question arises: why would figures like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE be interested in whether federal workers are actually working? The answer lies in the shocking statistics revealed by internal data from the Department of Veterans Affairs Building Portfolio. The data shows that many government buildings are operating at a low occupancy rate, with the monthly rent for these underutilized facilities running into millions of dollars.
For instance, the VA Central Office at 810 Vermont Avenue, a 618,000 square foot building with 2,483 seats, has a monthly rent of $27.2 million. However, the average number of logins is only 387 people per month, indicating a 16% occupancy rate. Similar statistics are seen in other government buildings, revealing a gross underutilization of resources.
This lack of efficiency and accountability among federal employees is alarming. Their fear of reorganization and change mirrors the fear of a wealthy individual suddenly becoming poor. The comfort and security they enjoy in the public sector make the prospect of moving into the private sector a terrifying thought.
However, this utopia funded by taxpayers cannot last forever. The resentment towards those who foot the bill is unjustified. It's high time federal employees adapt to the realities of the working world, much like their counterparts in the private sector. Perhaps it's time for them to learn to code.
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