Name your poison, I mean your president

When most Americans select a presidential candidate, or one of the two major party candidates, it isn’t done in a vacuum. It’s a positive, or negative action.

They (that is we) are either voting against a particular candidate, political party or the status quo, or they (we) are voting because we think/know/hope someone new will make things better. Or at least not let things get any worse. That’s most people. But …

If those voters happen to be federal workers, military personnel or members of their immediate families, a presidential election is also the time when they are picking their boss for the next four, maybe even eight years. Big difference.

Feds — by the nature of their jobs — vote both as citizens like the majority of us, and also as people whose work lives and whose livelihoods may depend on what the next POTUS does or attempts. If he or she has vowed to get rid of the Internal Revenue Service, eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency, downsize the Pentagon or privatize Social Security, it becomes real personal real fast.

As a generalization, it’s probably safe to say that many if not most Republican politicians feel that many if not most federal and postal workers are probably Democrats. As in let’s write them off, or kick ‘em around a little. Use the “B” (as in bureaucrat) word a lot.

As a generalization, it’s probably safe to say that Democratic politicians feel that many, if not most, federal and postal workers are probably Democrats. As in cater to them (if not actually deliver) but pretty much take them for granted.

Of the 11 states involved in the Super Tuesday primary, 10  of them are major federal centers.

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

On the Republican side, businessman Donald Trump won Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Virginia.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) took Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Vermont.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) won Oklahoma and Texas, while Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) won Minnesota.

Uncle Sam, as a civilian and military employer, has a major presence in 10 of those states. At one point, the American Federation of Government Employees (obviously a federal worker union) was the largest in the state of Oklahoma. The state is also home to major military installations, lots of U.S. Postal Service activities and operations and training for the Federal Aviation Administration. Alabama is also a major federal center and Huntsville has been called a miniature Washington, D.C. because it has so many different federal agencies. Texas is Texas, with federal activities (and people) of every kind. In big numbers. Tennessee and Georgia as well. And Virginia is fed-rich territory with one of the largest concentrations of feds in the nation. Minnesota and Colorado are important regional federal centers.

For the federal population of your state, click here (Courtesy of Janet Kopenhver of EyeOnWashington).

When compared to the average American voter, federal workers are better-educated and better paid. That’s because of the highly professional and administrative nature of federal work. After the federal government, the largest employers in America are lower-paying retail operations (like Wal-Mart) or fast food. For more on the overpaid vs. underpaid issue, click here.

The bottom line (or at least one of the bottom lines), is that federal workers and military personnel are out there. In some cases they have more of a stake in presidential elections than many other groups of workers. Many are involved in health, safety, homeland security or national defense. Many of them have a better, deeper picture of the Big Picture than a lot of us because of the differing nature of our jobs.

The message: Well, there are probably several.

For Republican politicians, the lesson might be to think twice before you take a verbal or fiscal shot at them thar bloated bureaucrats! Not only is it not right, it’s also not bright! Try a little tenderness, maybe?

For Democratic politicians, the lesson might be to stop coasting. Don’t think the endorsement of the executive board of a federal or postal union means all the members love you. Try delivering something other than kind words at a pep rally.

Just a thought …

Nearly Useless Factoid

By Michael O’Connell

Source: Guinness World Records

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