Political Quotes

“for the last two decades, our Federal employees seem to be handy scapegoats for anything that goes wrong with Government. Whenever anyone on this floor mentions ``those Federal bureaucrats,'' the syntax is generally pejorative and the reference, unflattering. The collective term ``bureaucracy'' is uttered in the same tone of revulsion reserved for former leaders of the ``evil empire.'' So it was refreshing to read an editorial in last Saturday's Times- Argus, which serves our State capital of Montpelier, VT. The editorial simply reminds us that many victims of the Oklahoma City bomb explosion were ``our friends, neighbors, brothers, and sisters who work for the Federal Government.'' It seems to needful reminder in these times to be a little more respectful of the effort we get every day from millions of these men and women who work for us in every capacity, from guarding our national security to protecting our rights as citizens, from fighting crime to enforcing public health and safety standards, from exploring space to cleaning up our air and water here on Earth. I ask that this editorial be reprinted in the Congressional Record. I am not suggesting that criticism of Government operations is off limits. I am only asking that it be fair. The hundreds of Federal workers in my State of Vermont, are among the most dedicated and hard working men and women, in public or private life, in our country. Let us stop careless impugning of their professional integrity.”