#15 "Why Working Stiffs Feel Left Out"

A year ago New York Times writer, David Brooks, wrote an article titled "Why working stiffs feel left out".  He describes a hypothetical Ben, who has tried to do all the right things in his life.  He put himself through college; studied in a field  that led to a degree that could provide him a real job.  He graduated; got the job; worked his way up the ladder; and bought a modest house that he could afford.  He thought he was living an ethos that could be called "earned success".  Wasn't that supposed to be the American way?  Then things changed.   

I know of many employees who are just like Ben.  They got through their course work at college, started in entry level jobs and  slowly worked up the career ladder for ten, fifteen or twenty years honing their skills and gaining knowledge  in their chosen  fields of expertise.  They had an expectation that at some point they would be rewarded for all of their hard work, knowledge, skills and abilities.  They thought they had earned their "stripes" and were achieving their success the American way.  Then things changed. 

Instead, they were pushed aside.  Forced to find other careers, retire -- whatever, no one cared -- just be gone.  Other employees, some without any or very little experience -- certainly without the requisite knowledge and skills sets -- were given promotions.   These undeserved promotions were given  to opportunistic individuals who were willing to do whatever was expected of them without asking any questions or raising concerns -- in other words they were willing to go along to get along.  They have been rewarded for less than admirable behavior and achievements.  Is this " earned success" or is this the new American way?

I certainly hope not.  Is it is any wonder that our governmental institutions are not working well?  Misdeeds and wrong headed decisions are happening daily because most of current mid-level employees do not know enough to know they don't know.  Most of  the institutional knowledge left the buildings when long time workers who knew how to keep the wheels on the train, and who knew the moral, ethical and legal things to do, were replaced.  Just when we all needed them the most -- they are nowhere to be seen and are considered to be irrelevant.  Really? 

This is an injustice to not only those workers who had prepared themselves so well to take over leadership in departments, it is also an injustice to all of us taxpayers.  Is this really how we want  our own hard-earned money spent -- going to reward employees who do not now what what they are doing -- in order to please  narcissistic bosses who are busy decimating our governmental institutions?

Who will teach and train the younger workers coming into the work place?  Will they think that their supposedly "good looks and who they know," will propel them forward to a long, illustrious career?  Can our institutions last that long? 

If this is the new American way, we are all ultimately the losers for these expedient, but very bad decisions.  And is it any wonder that good,  honest "working stiffs" feel left out?  It is because they are!!!