As I listen to yet another political speech about changing Washington, I'm starting to feel a little defensive. And I'm not even a government employee!
As a REALTOR in the Maryland suburbs of D.C., many of my clients ARE government employees, however, and they are hard-working dedicated people who chose public service over a more lucrative career. And that includes the government contractors and consultants who also put in long hours and bring incredible creativity and commitment to their work - many of them with advanced degrees, and many of them current or former military. ALL of them qualified for better-paying jobs in the private sector.
Let's be honest... it's politicians coming here from all over the country to "change" Washington who control policies such as those which failed in recent weeks. The thousands of dedicated Washingtonians and suburbanites who keep our government running on a day-to-day basis do not have the power to change anything.
It may be an understatement to say that Washingtonians don't agree on all issues all the time, but I believe most people traveling the highways and rails to work in our nation's capitol every day are good patriotic people who don't need changing. Their goal is clear, whatever their political position: working for the public good. It's their job to implement policies created by people who come here from all over the country to "change Washington," even though they ay not agree with those policies.
It would be nice to hear a major candidate or career politician from outside D.C. give credit to Washingtonians for their public service - now THAT would be a change!
I, for one, am PROUD to be a native Washingtonian and have the opportunity to live in the proverbial shadow of our Nation's monuments. I know my clients and neighbors are doing everything they can every day, within the confines of policies set by politicians, to keep us both solvent and safe.
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