Best and the Brightest

Reader comment on: Obama's Governors Association Speech

Submitted by Fred Van Bennekom (United States), Mar 1, 2011 07:03

With all due respect to government employees, do we really want the best and the brightest to work for the government? We need that at senior policy positions, but those are lifetime careers, and in fact working in the private sector provides a good rounding experience -- such as a firm understanding of market-based decision-making -- for those who wish to spend some time working in the public sector. But would we really want, say, Steve Jobs to have taken a job in some government agency? Would his creative talents have generated the wealth of innovation working in some government agency that he has in the private sector? How about the "good enough and the bright" for public service?

And why is it the "private sector" but "public service"? Why not "private service" or "public sector"? Of course, we know the answer. It's the opposite of denigrating; it's a way of exalting.

Note: Comments are moderated by the editor and are subject to editing.

Comment on this item