Public Service

Some things just plain tick me off. So allow me a rant today.

The president has nominated Michael Hayden as CIA director. He happens to be a four-star general in the Air Force. He is also one of the most experienced and well-regarded managers in the intelligence community, credited with reorienting the National Security Agency after the Cold War.

But some in Congress have questioned not his credentials but whether it is proper for the CIA to be headed by an active-duty military officer. Well, I smell a "red herring" here. Since when is military service a disqualifier for advancement in government? Because he wears a blue uniform with four stars, he is less qualified than if he wore a blue suit and pink-o tie?

My gosh, it is little wonder we have so many problems finding qualified citizens willing to serve in the public sector. "Oh, he's in the military!" "Oh, she's a politician!"

And it is not only on the national scene. Let me bring it home here to Manhattan.

The city commissioners have taken a good deal of what I believe is unwarranted heat lately for the Parks and Recreation scandal. These are five decent citizens from all walks of life who give enormous time and energy to this community at no financial gain. And for that they come under fire because some city employees allegedly committed crimes? Please. Stockholders don't blister Chevron's board because some witless manager pilfers funds - the employee is fired after due process and the company moves on.

I had breakfast earlier this week with a past commissioner. He is a good and decent fellow who I greatly admire. He told me he gave it up because the whole process was just plain depressing.

We citizens need to stop using public office as a weapon to demean those with the gumption to serve, because doing that often has unintended consequences. We end up with career politicians - with neither soul nor passion - driven only by their re-election prospects. While at the same time fewer and fewer ordinary citizens take the risk of standing for public office.

Let's give Manhattan officials time to sort through this mess in an orderly way, just as companies do when facing similar situations. If they don't do it properly, then fire them after the fact. But please don't discredit the commissioners simply because they happen to be serving when others make a mistake. That's neither fair nor wise.

First published in the Manhattan Free Press, May 18, 2006.