Public Servant

 

This poem is about our attitudes toward those who work for the government, and how these attitudes have changed since the mid-twentieth century.  Like everything else in life, the trend seems to be, to careen toward the extremes.  Entropy, I guess.

But this loudly-proclaimed assumption–that government workers are incompetents and are full of mercenary intent–affects humble workers, who try to do their jobs well, far from the limelight.  In addition, polluting the air with politics may require the public servant to sign on to something like a statement of faith.  Such demands for political purity are reprehensible, and often self-defeating.

To me, this devolution of trust and respect toward government plays a role in many current events, from  Senator Liz Cheney’s ouster from her leadership position, to the bizarre  phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy, to the passion of BLM protestors, in response to police brutality.

Our lack of trust in government may be well-grounded in both fact and history.  But that makes it no easier for government workers to do their jobs.

Assuming, instead, that they deserve a basic level of trust and respect, would probably prove more productive, in the long run, than hurling insults –if not projectiles– their way.

A government, trying to operate without the trust of the public is a government, hobbled on one foot.

Thanks for coming by to read.  And please, get your vaccines!

 

We’re professionals.

We’re experts in our field.

We command your full respect.

To learned reason, you must yield.

 

We are there to serve.

But not, to be abused.

Others hold the reins of power.

We walk on, the way they choose.

 

We are there to push

The paper off our desks,

Implement decisions made,

Do our jobs, as we know best.

 

We are guns for hire,

The puppets of The Man.

Our purpose is to swindle you,

To steal your stuff, as best we can.

 

We’re the Enemy.

We cannot be trusted.

The whole Machinery of State

Is broken down and busted.

 

We beg, to disagree,

And so, must be expelled.

The penalty of doing right:

To lose the right, to do it well.

 

Copyright 2021 Andrea LeDew

 

For more on government behaving badly, read The Wardrobe of Kings or Suddenly Silent.