December 3, 2009

We are the grist for a political machine that does not care that we are Nevadans who feel, work hard and spend money in our communities. We have no face but the one given to us. We are invisible except at election time or during a legislative session when we become infamous, slovenly, slothful and worthless to politicians and the average citizen.

We are an easy target and screen for political and corporate shenanigans where winning is everything and state employees are disposable for their profits and power. We work hard caring for institutions and processes we did not create and are blamed when things go wrong.

"State employees are disposable"... those words were vehemently spewed from the mouth of a Nevada governor long ago because of his corruption and incompetence. It was all he could say when confronted with budget problems of his own making.  He easily characterized state employees that way and believed it. He said what people wanted to hear and what many say behind our backs now, in meeting rooms of big businesses across the state including the legislature.

Those words have great effect on us and those who despise us and believe them.  As a personal example during that time:

As an inspector just finishing an inspection of a supermarket, I was returning to my state car. While approaching it,  I noticed a woman parked next to me about to enter her car. She briefly looked up and when she saw me she let out a string of expletives, that surprised me. Not that I haven't been cussed at before.. it was just surprising. To summarize: Because I was  a state employee I was a worthless piece off shit. Then, to make her point, she slammed the edge of her car door into the side of my car making a sizable dent in it.

We went our separate ways and I was left trying to figure out what I did, except to be a state employee doing his job. Of course I reported the incident and even got the license number of the woman's car but nothing happened. She was a prominent member of a local republican party. It figures.

To businesses and politicians, we are disposable workforce to use and abuse at will. To vilify through proxy if not directly. All the ills and evil they think and do are visited on us and they are glad of it because it deflects from their transgressions and greed. Their supporters parrot their words, mimic their actions and they too are glad of it. It means they don't  have to think and respond intelligently.

”State employees are disposable".... these words have effect through lower salaries and benefits because we are not considered worthy. Yet we are still grateful because in these hard times we must  feed our families and pay our taxes and bills like everyone else.

We know another round of attacks will come from politicians and their corporate masters in gaming and mining but don't want any abuse so we keep quiet. We have to... there are no collective bargaining rights and so have little power. It's not right and unfair but life is not fair.

"State employees are disposable".... makes us easy marks for the corrupt political and economic system here in Nevada. We are a drag to the state budget's bottom line. We are everything that is bad and what is wrong. If only their were state employees, things would be better. It never ends and "they" are never satisfied.

The forces which lined up against us many years ago are more powerful now. The next Legislative session will be brutal for state employees because we will be expected to pay more for everything through jobs loss and lower salaries and benefits under the guise of efficiency and sound business principles.

The stage is already set and "they" expect little resistance. After all, who cares about second class citizens anyway? They think, "State employees need to shut the hell up and just take it."

Well, don't just take it and don't shut up!

Resist but do it quietly but determinedly. Talk amongst yourselves starting with co-workers, family, friends and in your clubs and churches. Your power is there. Talk intelligently about how to make things better and you will have allies and they will grow in number.

Though the status quo is just outside your cubicle and the building you work in, things span get better. Prevailing is a slow process but one day it will happen. Even for just a little bit and in little ways. Its starts from understanding we are not disposable, that we are human beings, competent and proud... deserving of respect and consideration. Accept nothing less.