Politics ain't pretty

With no effort on my part, I have seen more of the truth about politics than I would ever care to see. If the public knew the stuff I see, they would be outraged. The more I see, the more I understand it is about controlling the money and making sure your associates can take care of themselves and make you look good in the process. Government is slow to change, not because of unwieldy bureacracy, but because those who have the ability to make change don't stay around long enough to make necessary changes. Those who know how are in a holding pattern by those who temporarily hold the power, and those who hold the power are about self-aggrandizement, so they can move on to a better appointment. It's all about improving the resume. The number of persons that I know who have jobs in name only continues to grow and I am consistently amazed. I am at a place in the state personnel system where the only way I can get a promotion is to take a job that serves at the pleasure of the governor. While more money is always a nice thing, I don't want to be subject to the whims of politicos. The truth is, however, even at my station, if the politicos want to get rid of you, it can be done; it's just a little bit more difficult than if one serves at the pleasure of the governor. This is the big disadvantage of working for the government. Every time there is an election or other movement of polticos, one never knows how it will all settle, and by the time it does settle, there is a new election. No wonder government is so slow to accomplish anything. And when federal money is involved, the pace is lethargic! It's simply amazing!