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If Derek were to rephrase the question as, "How many of you would like to work in government some day?", I would bet almost all 50 hands would go up. The reason

If Derek were to rephrase the question as, "How many of you would like to work in government some day?", I would bet almost all 50 hands would go up. The reason for it is that in Singapore, many regard a government job as one with the highest job security, best pay and benefits. Our cabinet ministers are paid millions a year[1]. Obama's allowance is about what a fairly low official would be paid. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Singapore#Remuneration http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Singapore#Remunerati...

cheez 15y ago
Oh my goodness... How do you feel about that?
- ryan-allen 15y ago
  I suppose it depends on how good a job they do.
rdouble 15y ago
In America (and the UK), government jobs are also the ones with the highest job security, best pay and benefits. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-04-federal-pay_N.htm http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-04-federal-pay_N... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8501369/Workers-in-the-public-sector-are-more-than-40pc-better-off.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8501369/Workers-in-...
- ry0ohki 15y ago
  And yet, perhaps because of the reasons mentioned, having a Government job is in many ways an embarrassment in this country.
  - iqster 15y ago
    I'm curious if people have done the math on Govt jobs ... especially with respect to pensions? Whenever I've looked into it, I've felt some disbelief. Many govt employees in the US and Canada have defined benefit pension plans ... I sometimes think I'll never be able to save half that much because of my low-risk savings/investment style. I've never considered such jobs personally because I don't feel it is what I want out of life. As I get older, I do wonder whether I am just being a fish missing the larger world of opportunities :)
  - localhost3000 15y ago
    Wait - Are you talking about the US? If so, how is having a government job an embarrassment? Gosh, it must be so shameful to work for the White House, the FBI, the Treasury, Homeland Security, the Military, the CIA, the Senate, the Justice Department, the Supreme Court...What sap would ever want to be president? /sarcasm Even the USPS has more impact than the vast majority of SV startups...combined. Just sayin'.
    - quanticle 15y ago
      What sap would want to be the guy at the DMV counter that has to deal with a 20 year old computer system and loads of irate customers who want their tabs renewed right this minute? What sap wants to be the guy at the post-office counter at 11:30 pm on April 14th? Do you really think that TSA screener wants to feel you up/look at naked pictures of you when you go through the airport queue? There are plenty of crappy jobs in government, just like in the private sector. Romanticizing it doesn't do anyone good.
      - localhost3000 15y ago
        I agree wholeheartedly - there are plenty of jobs that suck in any industry and, likewise, there are plenty of jobs to be proud of. The blanket statement that "in this country, government jobs are embarrassing" is extremely unfair and, well, ignorant. p.s. I do not work for the Gov't.
        ry0ohki 15y ago
        I was speaking as a former government worker who loved his job. I'm not trying to put down government workers, it's just a fact that unless you are in something "flashy" like the FBI or CIA most people in the USA think you are not very ambitious for settling into a civil service career. You don't often hear people dreaming about being postal workers.
    - astine 15y ago
      I do work for the US government. Government jobs, even the good ones, combine all the worst parts of working for a large multi-national with all the worst parts of working in academia. You have reams of bureaucracy and even simple things can take months or years to accomplish, while at the same time advancement happens based almost entirely on seniority and politics. For GS positions, the pay is good and the job security is second to none, but the entire system is almost constructed to sap away your motivation.

cheez 15y ago

Oh my goodness... How do you feel about that?

ryan-allen 15y ago
I suppose it depends on how good a job they do.

rdouble 15y ago

In America (and the UK), government jobs are also the ones with the highest job security, best pay and benefits. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-04-federal-pay_N.htm http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-04-federal-pay_N... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8501369/Workers-in-the-public-sector-are-more-than-40pc-better-off.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8501369/Workers-in-...

ry0ohki 15y ago
And yet, perhaps because of the reasons mentioned, having a Government job is in many ways an embarrassment in this country.
- iqster 15y ago
  I'm curious if people have done the math on Govt jobs ... especially with respect to pensions? Whenever I've looked into it, I've felt some disbelief. Many govt employees in the US and Canada have defined benefit pension plans ... I sometimes think I'll never be able to save half that much because of my low-risk savings/investment style. I've never considered such jobs personally because I don't feel it is what I want out of life. As I get older, I do wonder whether I am just being a fish missing the larger world of opportunities :)
- localhost3000 15y ago
  Wait - Are you talking about the US? If so, how is having a government job an embarrassment? Gosh, it must be so shameful to work for the White House, the FBI, the Treasury, Homeland Security, the Military, the CIA, the Senate, the Justice Department, the Supreme Court...What sap would ever want to be president? /sarcasm Even the USPS has more impact than the vast majority of SV startups...combined. Just sayin'.
  - quanticle 15y ago
    What sap would want to be the guy at the DMV counter that has to deal with a 20 year old computer system and loads of irate customers who want their tabs renewed right this minute? What sap wants to be the guy at the post-office counter at 11:30 pm on April 14th? Do you really think that TSA screener wants to feel you up/look at naked pictures of you when you go through the airport queue? There are plenty of crappy jobs in government, just like in the private sector. Romanticizing it doesn't do anyone good.
    - localhost3000 15y ago
      I agree wholeheartedly - there are plenty of jobs that suck in any industry and, likewise, there are plenty of jobs to be proud of. The blanket statement that "in this country, government jobs are embarrassing" is extremely unfair and, well, ignorant. p.s. I do not work for the Gov't.
      - ry0ohki 15y ago
        I was speaking as a former government worker who loved his job. I'm not trying to put down government workers, it's just a fact that unless you are in something "flashy" like the FBI or CIA most people in the USA think you are not very ambitious for settling into a civil service career. You don't often hear people dreaming about being postal workers.
  - astine 15y ago
    I do work for the US government. Government jobs, even the good ones, combine all the worst parts of working for a large multi-national with all the worst parts of working in academia. You have reams of bureaucracy and even simple things can take months or years to accomplish, while at the same time advancement happens based almost entirely on seniority and politics. For GS positions, the pay is good and the job security is second to none, but the entire system is almost constructed to sap away your motivation.