Perhaps the most famous quotation from a U.S. inaugural address is John F. Kennedy’s: “And so, my fellow Americans: Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” It was a clarion call for a new generation to do something for their country, inspiring many to pursue careers in public service, including the Peace Corps, Volunteers in Service to America, space exploration and civic engagement focused on improving society.
Today, about 14.3% of the American workforce is made up of public servants, with fewer than 2% employed by the federal government. And yet, virtually every American citizen and business receives some kind of service from a federal worker.
Federal civil servants take care of veterans and process Social Security and Medicare benefits. They keep air travel and workplaces safe, maintain our national parks and fight wildfires. Scientists working for the National Institutes of Health research new ways to diagnose, treat and cure disease.
Civil servants at the FDA and the Department of Agriculture oversee our drugs and ensure our food is safe. U.S. Postal Service workers deliver mail all across the country, servicing areas where private companies do not, and civil engineers design and build roads and bridges – allowing Americans to traverse the width and breadth of the nation.
Farmers and ranchers benefit from agricultural programs, while the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides aid when disasters strike. Our very national security is overseen by professional civil servants whose work is a calling to serve their fellow citizens.
Public servants are unsung heroes, often making remarkable contributions to society while earning less than they could in the private sector. They are often unfairly characterized as 9-to-5 folks with little engagement or interest in their work.
The vast majority work in government because they are passionate about solving a problem – perhaps because of a personal experience – that business is not interested in addressing. “A big part of the role that the government plays in Americans’ lives is to avert disaster,” said Christopher Mark, who works for the Department of Labor and has spent a lifetime working to make coal mines safer.
Unlike politicians, government workers are rarely self-promoters and prefer to work behind the scenes. Michael Lewis’ newest book, “Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service,” highlights the amazing and consequential work of several federal employees. He assembled six well-known authors and asked them to find “the essential public servant” and shine a light on the individuals behind the scenes responsible for some of the government's most remarkable achievements. The result is a wonderful read that also educates readers about important work most of us know little or nothing about.
In January, the Montezuma County League of Women Voters, in partnership with the three county libraries, LOR Foundation and the Sunflower Theatre, announced a countywide program, “Quiet Heroes – Who Is Government?” based on Lewis’ book.
On May 1, the community is invited to the Sunflower Theatre to engage in a conversation about the book and to meet four current and retired public servants.
Panelists include Kayci Cook Collins, superintendent of Mesa Verde National Park and Yucca House National Monument; David Neely, retired after nearly 30 years with the U.S. Forest Service; Allen Farnsworth, a retired wildland firefighter who worked for the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service; and Travis Parker, an Army veteran currently serving as director of Veteran Services and county veteran service officer for Montezuma County.
Local author Chuck Greaves will moderate. Panelists will discuss why they chose public service, the challenges they have faced and the accomplishments they are most proud of. The event is free, and three copies of the book will be given as door prizes. It is our hope that attendees will leave as inspired by these stories as we were.
We hope you’ll join us May 1 – and keep an eye on these upcoming League events as well. On April 25 at 10:15 a.m. at the Cortez Library, Joe Theine, Southwest Memorial CEO, will speak on “Healthcare Delivery at SW Health: Recent Past, Present and Future.” On May 9 at 10:15 a.m., also at the Cortez Library, Kim Percell, county clerk, will present “Colorado Elections.”
Karen Sheek of Cortez chairs the Montezuma County League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization, and is a former Cortez mayor and city councilor. Contact lwvmzc@gmail.com or find the League on Facebook at https://tinyurl.com/bdcjr8pn.
