The Price Of Civil Service
•
by Acacia Mason
I had a very philosophical exchange with William Duncan last night via PM and the idea that came out of the exchange is one that in the end, I thought was best shared with anyone who serves in government or a government institution such as the CAF or the newly formed Federal Service.
As a member of the CAF, it is of paramount importance that I am able to separate my political or personal views from the job I am being asked to perform. The ability to put the needs of the state ahead of your own personal agenda or political stripes, is something that I believe many of us struggle with. Let me explain...
When I served in the RL CAF, I had the distinct pleasure and at times challenge, of serving under two separate administrations. The beauty of any government institution is found in the ability of that institution to keep its members at arms length from the government. Under the administrations which I served, there were several occasions where orders would come down from HQ that I personally or politically felt were inappropriate and at times inadequate. Did I follow those orders? Without question, and without thinking twice. The role of a soldier in the military is to follow orders with unfailing faith in the system. That respect for the chain of command is paramount. There were occasions well I served in command, that I issued orders that went against my own personal or political beliefs, but I issued them anyway and expected execution of those orders by my subordinates.
In eCanada, its really no different. Although we all have our own ideas on how to govern, or who should be in power or who should be making the decisions, we all need to remember that we MUST place the needs of our country before our own. As a member of the CAF, that means you may find yourself acting on orders that contravene some beliefs or opinions that are deeply set in your belief system. You must act on them because its what you are told to do and you work for a government institution.
Earlier, I made my feelings toward our Prime Minister and government very plain. Many of you chimed in with support. However, at the end of the day, I still faithfully executed the orders that came from the Office Of The Prime Minister. When you put on a uniform, whether it is CAF or Federal Service, or any other government institution, you check your personal opinions and political beliefs at the door. There is a job to do and in the case of the CAF, lives depend on our ability to make that disconnection.
William Duncan mentioned in his PM to me that the ability to separate your duty from your politics is difficult but essential and truth be told, I could not agree with him more.
If we are to be one eCanada, healthy, strong, and free, we must be able to make that disconnection. Elections come once a month and give you the opportunity to flex your political will but once that time ends, we must be able to put that will back in the closet and go about our duty.
If institutions like the CAF are to thrive, and function as they are designed, the members need to be able to follow orders without question. They need to question their Commanders in private, not in the public space, and respect that the system works for a reason.
In short, we must be one voice, one power, and one country. Nobody ever said being a soldier was easy, and its even harder still when you are in Command, asking men and women to do things that you yourself may feel are wrong...but it is the price we pay to be a part of Civil Service and I can think of no other station that will fill you with as much honour, pride, and self respect as Civil Service does.
For me, the price will never be too high!
Yours In National Unity,
Acacia Mason
Facebook
Twitter
Discord
Comments
Acacia for Canadian Idol.
Despite your worship of statism and government control, you're okay in my books.
You're an asset to eCanada.
o7
Voted and subbed.
"When you put on a uniform, whether it is CAF or Federal Service, or any other government institution, you check your personal opinions and political beliefs at the door"
I disagree. The reality of the bureaucratic machinery is that it acts as a counterbalance to the political interests at the top. If politicians are at the steering wheel, the bureaucracy is everything else that makes the car go.
However, the organizational expectations of the CAF are not an appropriate analogue to the Civil Service. Soldiers follow orders. Bureaucrats implement policy. The difference between the two lies in the fact that a bureaucrat must, and I emphasize MUST, infuse his methods of implementation with the interests of the people at large. If severe discord exists between the people and their political leadership, the bureaucracy as a whole has the power and responsibility to effectively put the brakes on implementing any such policy.
If the bureaucracy does not maintain this sense of arms-length countervailing balance to the political leadership(thusly becoming soldiers carrying out orders), the bureaucracy becomes simply an extension of political leadership, manifesting the negative effects of partisanship, ideology and politicking all the way to the bottom of the chain in how policies get implemented. This puts political interests ahead of service delivery, which is the reverse of the goals of the civil service.
What I am saying here is that soldiers have to tow the military line of their command structure, no matter what. Bureaucrats, on the other hand, NEED to think about the nature of the decision making that went on in putting forward a policy, otherwise they cheat the Canadian people of another level of sober second thought.
I forgot to end that off with
"And that is a price I would be unwilling to pay"
Do I have the right to post this in my platoon forum?
@ Rammer
By all means, post it wherever you see fit. My work is not copyright.
Cheers.
@ Salty
I expect nothing less my friend. Your points are valid...I really should have slanted this article more heavily towards the CAF. That was more my intent. We need opinion in govt but in some govt jobs, we need unabashed commitment to orders. A politician needs to argue, a soldier can ill afford to.
Cheers
I will say, as this is tangenital, I oppose the FCS and will disband it upon my election.
Thanks Jacobi.
Great article, as always Acacia. The twin lives of soldier and politicker...