My dad, Dennis Senior, and my oldest brother, Dennis Junior, were both proud members of the Cleveland Police Department. Meanwhile, my mom, Marge, and my youngest brother, Shawn, were both managers of multiple Cleveland recreation centers.
The value they all brought to their jobs and the communities they served was immeasurable. They were not only loved, they were also vital. And for all the good they did and all the service they provided, they were always underpaid.
The Unfair Stereotype of Government Workers
It is rather easy and quite lazy to lump every government worker as being ineffective and inefficient. But that is precisely what is happening right now across America. The great American melting pot is under the spotlight, and every federal, state, local, and education worker in the stew is being characterized as unessential.
As if Donald Trump and Elon Musk have always only ever been productive and relevant. Take a truth pill, men, look into a mirror and get real.
Elon Musk’s Twitter Disaster
Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022 for $44 billion is widely regarded as his worst investment. The platform’s valuation has since plummeted, with Fidelity estimating its worth at $9.4 billion in late 2023, marking a 79% decline. This drop was driven by user dissatisfaction, advertiser losses, and controversial management decisions. Additionally, the $13 billion in loans used for the deal became a financial burden for banks, marking it as one of the worst merger-finance deals since 2008.
Trump’s Failed Casino Empire
Donald Trump’s worst investment is often considered to be the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City. Opened in 1990 and dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” it quickly became a financial disaster due to excessive debt and poor management. The casino filed for bankruptcy just a year later, with Trump personally guaranteeing $900 million in loans. Despite restructuring, it ultimately failed, contributing to the collapse of his broader casino empire. This failure is particularly notable because casinos are typically profitable ventures, making the loss even more striking.
The Bigger Picture: Productivity Exists Everywhere
So, I guess it might be appropriate here to say something like “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t…”, well, you get it.
But what I really want to say is that working for the government is not the same as being on the government dole. I am quite certain there are lots of unproductive workers in both the public and private sectors. Likewise, there are plenty of effective and efficient workers… and even a few geniuses. Life as we know it on planet Earth.
Can We Improve Without Destroying?
So, perhaps we can agree that the idea of a more streamlined government is a good one. And even though Bill Clinton couldn’t get it done three decades ago and it looks like Donald Trump and Elon Musk are off to a shaky (if not scary) start, perhaps it can be accomplished.
But maybe we can do it without all the slashing of workforces and disparagement of dedicated employees. Just saying, maybe we can take it down a notch or two, show a little appreciation, and try not to break everything.
