Government Employees and Waste: Your Tax Dollars at Work

This is my first article I have written for Associated Content, but hopefully not my last. I can't run for public office, I have a wife and three kids that expect me home every night instead of attending press briefings or caucus meetings. Hence, I am forced to offer my opinions in this sort of forum.

I do feel like I have some expertise in this area. I was a government worker for over fifteen years before being forced into the private sector due to privatization. Now, before I receive a ton of hate email, let me say that there are MANY hard working civil servants in this country....as a matter a fact, most are. However, I have witnessed my share of "dead beats" over the years that are simply in the job for the minimal paycheck or the good insurance benefits that most civil servant jobs offer.

However, that being said, let me give you an example of what I am talking about. The other day on the way to work, I witnessed something that made me do a "double take" and nearly run my vehicle off the road. As I came over the top of the hill, I saw one of our State Highway workers diligently mowing weeds along the side of the road. About 100 yards away, I saw three other State Highway workers sitting in the cab of the air conditioned truck watching and drinking coffee.
Now, any rocket scientist would wonder the same thing I was...."How many does it take to run a tractor and brushog?" Alright, I began to think about this: One person to drive the tractor and one to supervise. So basically, we have two extra people whose salary is being paid by my tax dollar. So, if these other two gentleman are making close to $30K a year and mowing season is roughly six months out of twelve, that is approximately $30K wasted (during the summer months) per one corner of the county (I would say they probably earn their money during the winter months with the snow our State sometimes receives). Our state has 92 counties, so you can do the math. I'm not even talking about health insurance benefits and retirement contributions the State makes on these two individuals!

This is absolutely ridiculous when my property taxes I'm paying are through the roof and our jails are busting at the seams with meth addicts and pedophiles. I say we lay some of the State Highway workers off during the summer months and let them draw unemployment benefits or take that vacation they always talk about but never seem to get to take. Give the offenders weedeaters and let the guy who normally drives the tractor and brushog sit in the air conditioned truck with his boss and laugh all the way to the bank. Our State would be money ahead and the meth addict or pedophile might think twice before going to the county lock-up again. If they actually had to work while they were there instead of watching "Oprah" on afternoon cable, crime might not appear so beneficial.