As a private sector employee, I make about 25% more than my state and federal employed counterparts. Because of the level I am at, my benefits packages are generally better as well. I may not have had the level of job security (as longevity of assignment) as my civil service partners, but I've used that to my benefit.

Now that their jobs are on the block, I think I've made smart choices. I have been able to go where I want, when I want. While I've had to deal with bureaucracy at every turn, it has not been nearly as bad as those sitting across the table from me.

were I to ever do work directly for the government, it would only be as a contract employee, and there would be certain terms and conditions that would have to be included in any agreement I would sign. Amazing when the government's choices are limited what they are willing to sign up for, despite their own regulations.

I think the federal government does far too much contracting business. They collect all this money, then waste most of it trying to administer projects all over the country. They should leave it to the states, and the states should leave it to the counties and cities. Instead, they levy all their taxes and assessments, then use the money to pay off their buddies and families. No one complains because they see all these roads and bridges and schools and think it's great, not realizing there would be twice as much if you cut the state and federal government out of the equation.