All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

[Coito ergo sum]

LOLz - right, because "government" is synonymous with "easy to deal with," "reasonable" and "highly competent,".....like the Division of Motor Vehicles, the IRS, and Medicare/Medicaid....and man, those folks at SSI, they have no red tape at all! And, the people you talk to all these agencies are always polite, helpful, and ever-willing to help in a time of need...unless that time is 4:55pm, in which case, it can wait until tomorrow.

Your own opinions,

And, your statements are your own opinions.

presumably based on some people you've dealt with and a willingness to assume such stereotypes apply across the board. The "conventional wisdom of stereotypes" argument = Fail.

Based on my experience with just about every government agency that deals with the public over the course of the last quarter century, and the reported experience of others.

I know and have met more competent, dedicated and underpaid government workers than I can count.

So, your experience and attempt at a positive stereotype is valid, and my experience is just "my own opinions" = Fail. Got it.

[Svartalf]

I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".

Did you under the reagan or bush administrations?

Would you if you were French and had been subjected to our last 3 presidents' conception of 'government'?

[Ian]

I know and have met more competent, dedicated and underpaid government workers than I can count.

So, your experience and attempt at a positive stereotype is valid, and my experience is just "my own opinions" = Fail. Got it.

I work here on a daily basis. You don't.

In all fairness though... even though I think your opinions of government workers are about as informed and objective as a pile of dog vomit, I must admit that my own views are likely skewed by my experience with the sort of people I work with. I don't exactly work at the DMV.

[Ian]

I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".

Did you under the reagan or bush administrations?

No.
I think there can be some very bad/incompetent people who can get elected hired in any job, but my point is that I don't see government itself as some sort of obligatory enemy.

[Svartalf]

Too bad the people in charge so often act like they had a duty to make you see it that way.

[drl2]

All the fundie sex-fearing organizations with "family" in the name are doing a good enough job of ruining the word, thankyouverymuch.

[Santa_Claus]

I thought the US Govt was here to help...........

[Coito ergo sum]

I know and have met more competent, dedicated and underpaid government workers than I can count.

So, your experience and attempt at a positive stereotype is valid, and my experience is just "my own opinions" = Fail. Got it.

I work here on a daily basis. You don't.

You work in your particular area, not everywhere. I have dealt with a great many government agencies in my personal life, in my business life, and in my professional career. I have had to deal with government agencies on my own behalf, and on behalf of others. I know what I'm talking about.

In all fairness though... even though I think your opinions of government workers are about as informed and objective as a pile of dog vomit, I must admit that my own views are likely skewed by my experience with the sort of people I work with. I don't exactly work at the DMV.

My opinion is as objective as yours, and my opinion is, contrary to your uninformed opinion, based on quite a lot of information and experience. Hands on experience.

The reason you're pissy about this is because you work for a government agency, and take it personally. I'm not meaning to insult you personally, though.

And, the fact that you don't work at the DMV - or the EEOC - or HUD - or Medicare - or SSI - or the IRS - or other entities which deal with the public and with businesses means a lot. Perhaps in your area, things are different. In the agencies I've dealt with, the pace is very slow, to say the least. There is not a particularly acute sense of urgency, if you know what I mean.

[Coito ergo sum]

I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".

Did you under the reagan or bush administrations?

No.
I think there can be some very bad/incompetent people who can get elected hired in any job, but my point is that I don't see government itself as some sort of obligatory enemy.

For what it's worth, I don't view government as the "enemy" either."

[Robert_S]

I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".

Did you under the reagan or bush administrations?

No.
I think there can be some very bad/incompetent people who can get elected hired in any job, but my point is that I don't see government itself as some sort of obligatory enemy.

For what it's worth, I don't view government as the "enemy" either."

Who was it said "Every candidate since [Carter?] has run against Washington"?

[Callan]

I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".

I think a lot of people equate "government" with unnecessary red tape, incompetence, oppressive bureaucracy and the like. Think of the movie "Brazil."

Never seen it.

A lot of people equate "religion" with benevolence, wisdom, moral leadership and the like. Are they right?

Oh Ian, you must see Brazil, at your earliest opportunity.
It is one of the Great Movies of Our Times.
/derail

[Coito ergo sum]

I don't know - but, I just think "enemy" is a strong word. I think government tends to be overly bureaucratic - and I think that quite often government workers lack a sense of urgency that things really need to get done "today." It's more like "what doesn't get done today gets done tomorrow, no sense agonizing about it..." Things back up, and people have to wait....and wait.... and wait....in Casablanca....

[Coito ergo sum]

I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".

I think a lot of people equate "government" with unnecessary red tape, incompetence, oppressive bureaucracy and the like. Think of the movie "Brazil."

Never seen it.

A lot of people equate "religion" with benevolence, wisdom, moral leadership and the like. Are they right?

Oh Ian, you must see Brazil, at your earliest opportunity.
It is one of the Great Movies of Our Times.
/derail

Absolutely - I think it's available in full on Youtube in like 15 different installments.

It's a Terry Gilliam flick, with Robert DeNiro as Tuttle the rogue air conditioner repair man... Bilbo Baggins plays the guy in the Ministry of Information...and as I recall, Michael Palin is in there, among some other recognizable faces.

[Callan]

I don't know - but, I just think "enemy" is a strong word. I think government tends to be overly bureaucratic - and I think that quite often government workers lack a sense of urgency that things really need to get done "today." It's more like "what doesn't get done today gets done tomorrow, no sense agonizing about it..." Things back up, and people have to wait....and wait.... and wait....in Casablanca....

This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

[Coito ergo sum]

I don't know - but, I just think "enemy" is a strong word. I think government tends to be overly bureaucratic - and I think that quite often government workers lack a sense of urgency that things really need to get done "today." It's more like "what doesn't get done today gets done tomorrow, no sense agonizing about it..." Things back up, and people have to wait....and wait.... and wait....in Casablanca....

This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

I'm only a poor corrupt official.