These facts signal the brain drain and loss of the best and brightest that the federal government faces. While Light might be right that political reform is critical to restoring pride in public service, members of the National Treasury Employees Union believe that fair wages are equally if not more important. The federal government's inability to pay a competitive wage for key jobs is legendary. The gap between private-sector and federal wages is consistently measured at between 20 percent and 30 percent. Moreover, Light is also right that downsizing and bureaucrat bashing have taken their toll.
Administrations come and go.
Congresses, too, come and go. Yet, the spirit of public service is something that we should not let go. The government may not be perfect, but there is accountability to the American public. The importance of this accountability should not be ignored. It should not be overlooked that what often passes for bad government is, in reality, bad contracting.