I can’t say that I’m proud of the snark that often graces these digital pages. I just write what I think and it turns out that sarcasm is often caught up in my authentic self. I am who I am.
But I also like to think that back when I held a responsible adult job in government I acted appropriately for the position. I may have thought stuff, I may have expressed these thoughts to my closest staff, but most of my public statements were, I hope, restrained.
Can’t say that for the Trump administration. These guys act like they’re in middle school. The latest example is the new essay questions on Federal civil service exams.
Some of them are okay. For example, they ask how applicants would improve government efficiency and about their personal work ethic. Fine.
But then one question is way out of bounds. It asks how a job seeker would advance the president’s executive orders or policy initiatives. It asks applicants to “Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.” That violates every principle of a nonpartisan civil service. It’s a loyalty test pure and simple and I hope the courts will strike it down.
And here’s the question most relevant to my point about being an adult. They ask: “How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.”
On the surface that sounds like a fair question. But it’s pure snark. It’s intended to mock questions about a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion that were sometimes asked of applicants for academic positions and some corporate jobs.
Now, those questions were wrong. They were intended as litmus tests to screen out conservative applicants. And so the movement away from DEI in this form and some others is welcome. In fact, the UW abolished the use of questions related to DEI even before Trump won his second term.
But it was enough to end the use of those questions. Adding the question about the Constitution does not spring from any reverence for a document that Trump and his cronies flaunt every day of the week. It’s meant as snarky mockery of the DEI stuff.
I can get away with that here at YSDA. You’d expect your government to have a little more good judgement, a little more dignity and a lot more restraint. You’re not going to get any of that out of Trump.
What’s my commitment to the Constitution? It’s fighting Donald Trump every way I can.
Yellow Stripes & Dead Armadillos 
I’m frankly surprised there are people in the Trump administration who are still pretending to care about the constitution and America’s founding principles.
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Key word there is “pretending.”
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Mine is the same commitment to the Constitution as your’s. However, I’m also pretty sure the Big, Beautiful Bill (I call it the Big Billionaire Bonus Bill) is going to make the Constitution and our democracy into to an autocracy. PBS did a deep dive of the BBB it will add $2.4 Trillion to the deficent in the next 10 years. It will also centralize power at the federal level, reduce legal recourse and workers protection, favor commercial and corporate interests over individual rights, social programs and environmental safeguards. Plus all the other things people are talking about like 11 million losing health care over the next 10 years. Democracy is hanging by a thread right now and this bill will cut that thread as easy as a hot knife through butter.
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TDS reigns supreme on your blog Dave.
Not meaning to make you snort your beverage of choice, but which President has greater contempt for the Constitution – Biden or Trump? My temerity in even asking the question will likely cause apoplexy, but if you don’t understand the validity of the question, see my first sentence.
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I was drinking a nice glass of cabernet and now it’s snorted all over my Izod golf shirt. You cannot be serious, Thom. I’m no fan of Biden. Pardoned his idiot son for good reason and his other relatives just for good measure. Was elected to be normal and governed like Bernie Sanders. Horrible choice for veep. And yet, you really want to compare Biden to Trump? My God. The Orange One commits an impeachable offense every damn day. A loyalty test on the civil service exam is just today’s offense. Continuing to lie about the 2020 election and undermining faith in free and fair elections. Openly defying the courts and the rule of law over and over again. Pardoning grifters and mobsters just because they’ve sent him some money or said nice things about him. Yeah, Biden was a huge disappointment to me. But he’s nowhere near Trump’s league.
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Yup. DC crows about Democracy! until the Democrats turn it into “the process” at which point DC says “I don’t care so much about the process” (Not going to look it up but I think that is word for word).
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. You’re just as bad as Trump supporters that don’t see he’s often full of it.
I’m glad you caught up with the rest of us and finally realize Biden is not a good, decent man. Seems like maybe you’re finally seeing Kamala for what she is too. Baby steps. You’ll get there.
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