The problem of what? We seem to be at an equilibrium, non-federal government offers neither the compensation nor the work environment to attract people who have better options. Maybe you can make an argument for civic duty, but that runs into the same problems as working for a company that's "changing the world" but not treating you very well. It just seems like a recipe for burnout, except the tech experience you accumulate probably won't be as good. No?
"wouldn't be caught dead" is pretty strong language to be using when you're only suggesting that compensation isn't as good as it could be, which I'd have to disagree with anyway. Outside of SV startup funbux, the salaries, insurance, and retirement benefits I've seen for public sector postings have been at least competitive with other local business.
I think the real issue is the "work environment" aspect you're talking about. The public sector jobs I've worked have not been keen to chase resume-padding fads and have generally much preferred sensible and simple solutions to the complicated over-engineering that is commonly fetishized of our industry.
Anyway, my point about you being the problem is that you're unwilling to put up with whatever you see as the inadequacies of working for local government. You wouldn't be caught dead doing so, in your own words. You care far more about your own personal wealth enrichment than your community, so is it any wonder you end up with a government that isn't any good?
I didn't write the original comment, so I didn't say I "wouldn't be caught dead". But I'm skeptical that the choice is between "personal wealth enrichment" and "[my] community". It's far from obvious to me that working for local government means working for "[my] community", especially in my rather scandal-plagued city. Instead, working for my local government seems like it would force me to work with/for people with very different ethics who are nonetheless way better at playing the political power game, and who often don't care about tech to boot. That sounds bad.
> I didn't write the original comment, so I didn't say I "wouldn't be caught dead".
Fair enough, I wasn't paying attention.
> It's far from obvious to me that working for local government means working for "[my] community", especially in my rather scandal-plagued city.
How do you think it is that governments get this way? It's because the people who care about the community don't take part, so it is left to the people who want to exploit it.
The problem of what? We seem to be at an equilibrium, non-federal government offers neither the compensation nor the work environment to attract people who have better options. Maybe you can make an argument for civic duty, but that runs into the same problems as working for a company that's "changing the world" but not treating you very well. It just seems like a recipe for burnout, except the tech experience you accumulate probably won't be as good. No?