I'm sure there are some people in every industry at every job who are slackers, but I think your blanket characterization of government workers is unfair. Most of these people work MORE than 8 hour days (they have to -- there is a hiring freeze & they are having to do more than one job now) or due to budget constraints there is no money to pay overtime for hourly workers. Most of these people are also paid MUCH MUCH less than anywhere else. And most of them are taxpayers, too. Where else can you work where you actually pay part of your own salary with your taxes??? The one main benefit was supposed to be job security. You are much less likely to be laid off in government work, but you probably will never get rich at it. And also, all these people hear all day are negative comments from the citizens they serve. People seem to forget that they are just trying to do their job (and keep it). Staff members work under the direction of the commissioners or councilmembers. Maybe there should be a sort of jury duty for all residents to serve as a government employee for a month...