|
Police officers are not part of the public service? That seems like an unusual colloquial definition. I can see boxing out utilities workers who are doing the same thing where systems are private or privatized (e.g., bus drivers, sewer maintenance), but it seems easy to box of pretty much anyone.
Professions seem like one that could be boxed off the same way, because an accountant is an accountant whether or not they work for the government. Which lawyers get to be part of the public service? Public defenders, county prosecutors, elected attorney generals, legislators' aides, law instructors at public universities, private attorneys who do pro bono work, advocates from non-profit institutions...?
I would think that Ralph Nader thinks of himself in the public service, as would a lot of non-profit agencies. The Red Cross seems a lot like the public service.
Most public sector jobs are available in some form in the private sector, often nearly identical, although the private sector usually makes just a bit more money.
It just feels odd to be defining people out of the public service who look like they are public servants to me, some far better public servants than the folks elected into "public service."
|