Protecting bureaucrats at the public’s expense

Re “Court Curbs the Speech of Public Employees,” May 31

The U.S. Supreme Court decision to deny whistle-blower protection to public employees confirms what many of us already know.

As the salaries of top government bureaucrats rise faster than the price of gasoline, job protection and career advancement become everyone’s top priority.

Nonelected bureaucrats surround themselves with “yes men” loyal only to the boss, often at the expense of the very people their office was created to serve.

Enlightened employees know that submitting ideas, comments or criticisms up the chain of command is futile at best and career suicide at worst. The result? Government gets bigger, slower, less productive and more costly.

The state Legislature should restore the whistle-blower protection that the Supreme Court took away by a 5-4 vote. While shooting the messenger may protect the bureaucrat, it does not protect the public.

DANIEL J. SCHMIDT

Indio

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I’d like to express my opinion on ... whoops, I almost forgot: I’m a public employee, and the Supreme Court has ruled that I can be retaliated against by my employer should I express a thought, feeling or opinion with which it takes offense.

DAVID FRITZ

Reseda