Congressman Collins disparages federal employees

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins claimed during a kind of phoned-in town hall that “federal employees are lazy and stupid.” (Flagpole News, April 30, p. 5). I won’t tell you what the congressman reportedly said about bathroom breaks for federal employees; it’s too disgusting.

Here’s the thing: Extraordinary claims like that demand extraordinary evidence, but Collins offers none. It’s not my job to disprove the improbable, but let me try. I retired after 53 years working with EPA and armed forces personnel, nearly all skilled and dedicated. 

So I emailed Collins in early May asking for anything resembling evidence, but he hasn’t responded. His aide called me to say that the congressman is very busy, you see, so he may not get around to it. Perhaps Collins’ disparagement of civil servants should flow in the other direction.

Here is my email to Rep. Collins:

I read in Flagpole magazine (April 30, p. 5) that you called federal employees “lazy and stupid”. 

I retired from both the Environmental Protection Agency as an atmospheric scientist and the Air Force (over 38 years, enlisted and commissioned) and I worked 10 years for the steel industry as a laborer and as a pollution control systems designer. 

I remember very few “lazy and stupid” employees and they didn’t stay around very long. So I am confused. Please support - with hard evidence - your extraordinary (and malevolent) claim. Thank you. 

Duke Geddis

Athens 

Lt. Col. USAF (retired) 

Korea War Veteran 

EPA Atmospheric Scientist (retired)