Public sector lacks savvy

Gary Crooks really whacked business in his Sunday column (May 30). It is obvious he had bad experiences with computer merchandising, customer servicing from afar, consumer contracts (fine print required by government) and bailouts.

I, too, have listened to “get out the vote” political computer calls, dealt with unresponsive government employees and pay an unseemly amount of taxes to overpaid career politicians and well-paid government workers.

How well paid? Sunday’s Spokesman carried a story “Federal workers’ pay unhurt by recession.” Federal workers’ wages went up 58 percent since 2000. In contrast, private industry workers’ pay went up 31 percent, roughly half as much. Not only that, federal civilian employees are seventh in compensation, right behind private company managers.

Like Gary, I don’t like government bailouts, but who bailed out the banks and General Motors? Well-paid politicians and a tax-evading Treasury secretary.

Gary should read “Critical Mess” in Forbes, June 7. It outlines why Illinois, New Jersey and California are near bankruptcy. Gilt-edged retirement and benefit plans engineered by public employee unions are part of the reason these states are in financial Armageddon.

Who would I like to run government? Anyone with ethics who has met a payroll and paid back a loan.

Fred Ebel

Post Falls