The 'Bad Big Government' brainwashing of Americans has been a success

[marmar]

By Lisa Rein and Ed O'Keefe
Washington Post Staff Writers

Monday, October 18, 2010; 12:57 AM


More than half of Americans say they think that federal workers are overpaid for the work they do, and more than a third think they are less qualified than those working in the private sector, according to a Washington Post poll.

Half also say the men and women who keep the government running do not work as hard as employees at private companies.

The critical views of federal workers - just one in seven of whom works in the D.C. area - echo the anti-Washington sentiment roiling the midterm elections, as some Americans lose confidence in their government to solve the country's problems.

Still, of those who have interacted with a federal agency employee, three in four report that the experience was positive. In addition, the survey revealed a generation gap, with younger Americans more likely to give federal civil servants positive reviews. ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/17/AR2010101703866.html?wprss=rss_business/economy

[Bragi]

1. It's been a spectacular success

Denigrating government employees is a key component to maintaining support for tax cuts for the rich and for eliminating programs that benefit middle and lower income people.

Lies about government employees are part of the big, propaganda tarball that makes America what it is today -- an ungovernable country with extreme inequalities and inadequate safety nets for those most in need.

[TwilightGardener]

2. The funniest thing is listening to military members and retirees and

civil servants bitching constantly about the federal government. Total cognitive dissonance. "Everybody and everything sucks in the government, except ME! I earn MY pay, dammit!"

[GoCubsGo]

3. I know a federal employee who bitches about government workers

"Cognitive dissonance" is a gross understatement with her. And, not surprisingly, she's a republican.

[unblock]

4. most people who work for big companies have remarkably similar gripes

this is a great example of how framing the debate actually works.

the real problem is that people complain about LARGE, WELL-ESTABLISHED INSTITUTIONS, but who ever heard of a meme about problems with large institutions?

so we complain about big government or we complain about specific problems within a big company and say that the free market will sort it out.