Quick history quiz. Who uttered these words? God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Honestly, I’d be pleasantly surprised if even half the country knows the answer. I’d also be shocked if even a quarter of the news media does. Either that or they just don’t care. That's a quote from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. It also speaks exactly to what the federal government is and was meant to be. For the people.
To anyone who understands the role of the federal government and appreciates liberty, the coverage of the portrayed victim class of furloughed federal employees isn’t just 180 degrees out-of-touch with the role of the federal government as constructed by our founding principles, it’s offensive. Here’s a question for all who didn’t know Lincoln was behind those words. Who pays for the federal government?
If by chance you answered with “the people” - the rest of us – you're ok. Let’s take another step together. What happens if “the people” lose their jobs? If you lose your job. Will news reporters cover your plight day by day? Will Chuck Schumer and company walk down the Capitol steps with five-foot-tall images of you? Will they forego their pay to make sure you have money for your family? Who is it that these federal officials care about most, those within their ranks or the rest of us that they’re supposed to be working for? Who is it that most news media cares about most? The federal government or you?
Think about it. What’s the news media’s top priority, holding the federal government accountable to us or portraying them as victims to us when adversity strikes? Don’t get me wrong, as I’ve said from the outset, I hold no animus towards rank and file government employees impacted by this partial shutdown. But I do blame news media and related leftist interests for misrepresenting the role of the federal government. For placing the interests of those within the bureaucracy over those who pay for it.
If you’ve followed any of my previous reporting on this partial government shutdown you should be familiar with the number $15,200. That’s how much every US household pays just for federal government employees per year. As I’ve also illustrated, non-essential government employees are about 82% of the federal government and earn far more on average than the essential government employees.
Here are two more numbers for you. 1.7 million, that is the number of non-federal government workers laid off in 2018. Not furloughed for a month or so. Out of work permanently from their prior employer. How about that 7.6 million? Those are the current numbers of long-term unemployed, under-employed and marginally attached workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How many of those pictures are shown on the capitol steps?
As long as I have a voice, I’ll promise to be your advocate. Even if I’m the only one left with the perspective and willingness to say what needs to be said.
Photo by: Mark Wilson/Getty Images