All across the country, there will be tributes and ceremonies recognizing the contributions of public employees to their communities.
Public employees are the stewards of the public trust.
They are the people who protect our communities, monitor our air and water, make sure that less-fortunate members of society are cared for, and help businesses large and small. They administer justice, protect employee rights, enhance communications, inspect our food and license our cars, educate our children and make the most astounding advances in medicine, science and technology. The list of services provided by dedicated public employees goes on and on. Our decision will have a dramatic impact on the future, and the choices could not be starker. Many politicians run against the very government they say they want to lead, campaigning on promises to cut the ranks of public employees, eliminate public services or turn services and tax dollars over to the private sector.