Posted by
Jim Sturgill on Monday, August 28, 2006 11:30:28 AM
I don't know whether the themes mentioned in my title relate, but to me the correlation is there, which is a bit scary. We as a nation continue to grapple with concerns over security at our airports and in our communities. We worry that even though measures to defend ourselves and prevent future terrorist acts have strengthened our defenses, these measures may not be enough. At the same time, I notice an increased lack of a work ethic in our population. So many American workers feel entitled to all the benefits being in the workforce entails without actually doing any work or providing any kind of service. Spend any time in a restaurant or a grocery store and see how little service you get and the response when you complain about the lack of service and you'll see what I mean. I have been to several businesses recently that not only provided poor service but didn't even care that their lack of service cost time and money for me and my organization.
How this relates to security is that the same people who don't care about serving you and performing their jobs at a high level in the retail business are the ones who take the jobs securing the airports, courthouses, and other government locations where contractors provide the security. They take no pride or initiative in their work, and therefore allow people to slip by with items restricted on flights or in government buildings. The "I don't give a crap" attitude of many people, especially in the younger generations (of which I am a member but somehow missed the day of class that said that we shouldn't provide good service), contributes to the lack of security. When it's "just a paycheck" for these people, why would they care whether they let a terrorist board a plane. They can pass the blame off on someone else, such as their boss or another co-worker. Maybe I am the only one who sees this, but if we don't hold American workers to a higher standard and encourage self responsibility, we will be faced with another situation such as the one that led to four passenger jets crashing into buildings or farm fields. Please, America, take pride in your work!