Is the government really the devil?

Pretty much since the beginning of time, I've been bombarded with the conservative standpoint that the government isn't doing us any favors and the less involved they are with my life, the better. I suddenly have a problem with that. Since the U.S. is in a recession and jobs are very hard to find, especially for someone with my lack of experience, I find myself asking everyone I know to help me find a job for after graduation. This has resulted in many failed attempts at impressing local HR companies, which is no surprise to me. Arnold Parrott, a previous BYU HR professor who now lives in Virginia has been the most steadfast when it comes to finding me a future, economically speaking. I have talked to him a few times via phone, and through email on numerous occasions. I spoke with him most recently this morning, at which time he informed me that in this recession, my best (and probably only) hope for starting my career in HR will be in government. He has a few contacts in D.C. and as soon as my resume is up to par, he'll be working to find me a position over there.

Can you imagine me working for the government? I know my family can't, as it will be the equivalent of going to Berkeley for my education, which I was informed would result in my being cast out of the family. I guess it's a good thing that I've always been somewhat less conservative than my family since I may need to "slip-slide to the middle" (SNL reference) of issues in the future. I'm not really sure what a government job would entail. With any luck, I'll get a chance to find out. Right now I'm just giddy thinking about living in a strange place where I have no acquaintances, let alone friends or family. Somewhat daunting, but after stagnating in Provo, I'm willing to try anything. I was just telling my roommate the other day that I wouldn't mind moving a lot for the first several years of my career since I love seeing new places. New places, here I come!

New Bloggist

I'm the first to admit that I don't have anything worth starting a blog over, but hope springs eternal, right? And the first step to eternal denial is action. Or something.

When I first heard about the recession, I wasn't too worried because hey - they've never affected me in the past, so why should they now? My only problem is that despite my searching for a month or so for both a part-time job to support myself on now, as well as something full-time to look forward to after graduation in April, I've got nothing. Luckily, I've recently made peace with the idea of living off of my parents for the rest of my life.

So why do I still show up to classes on a day-to-day basis? I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment... or I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. I have learned one important lesson from my classes this semester: I never want to be a consultant. Why? Because I don't believe in them. I think they're like witch doctors - you pay them a bunch of money and they wave their magic manicured hand over a company and all of a sudden nothing has changed, but everyone feels better about it.

If you've gotten the idea that I might be a cynic - you're probably right. But I like "realist" better.