I liked this e-mail, from a reader:
Although in the hypothetical I’m no fan of government workers, in practice I always just see people as people.
However – every single clerk in the jury center – for days – dismissed jurors with words to the effect of “You don’t have to go back to work folks. This slip is not time-stamped and is good for the whole day off!”
Hundreds and hundreds of dismissed jurors were sent off with these words of wisdom.Must be tens of thousands over the course of a year.
I thought it a unique example of government mentality evangelizing the citizenry at large.
Most places of work don't pay you for days you have to serve on a jury, though (at least, they don't here in Delaware, maybe other states mandate time off), so it's not exactly to your advantage unless you don't care about the money (and presumably, anyone that needs a note to explain their absence probably does need the money). Again, other states may vary, but here in Delaware you practically have to pay to serve on a jury - you get a $20 per diem for food, and they only validate parking first-come-first-serve - if they run out of spots (which happens occasionally) you're stuck paying $15 a day, so your net take home is $5. All that, and they wonder why people do whatever they can to get out of jury duty.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseEvery company I ever worked for paid for jury duty and we had to turn in the timesheet. While companies cannot stop an employee from serving, they don't have to pay for it. A "financial hardship" excuse is generally accepted by the court. This results, of course in juries predominately composed of professionals and retirees.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou're not supposed to be gaining advantage by serving on a jury. You're supposed to be fulfilling your duty as a citizen and serving your country.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseClearly, the clerks should have timestamped the juror cards, and then called each juror's bosses to let them know that their workers are available. I think I'm supposed to feel outraged, but I'll go back to reading this site instead of working instead.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"I thought it a unique example of government mentality evangelizing the citizenry at large."
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EVANGELIZING? Is he questioning bureaucrats' faith? Oh, why can't we disagree without disqualifying……
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Anyone familiar with the various forms of "counseling" that soldiers get in the course of being discharged (or reservists get in the course of being returned to part-time status) has heard the detailed briefings on how to maximize your VA disability claim (always presuming that everyone will have one), with the exhortation "because you have all earned it". There is literally an evangelist flavor to some of the briefings, with the speaker attempting to whip up fervor for VA benefits among the audience.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJonah -- where is your reader located? I had the exact same experience (word-for-word) in NYC about a year ago.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt is the civil service mentality. We have all witnessed it. My favorite is the Department of Motor Vehicles where the clerks could not be more unaccommodating if they took lessons. When your job is protected and practically nothing short of shooting your supervisor can get you fired, mediocrity or worse rules the day. Its all about what you can get out of the job and now that you can put in.
Question? did you take the rest of the day off?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHere's my take: Although in the hypothetical I’m no fan of government workers, in practice I always just see them as trough feeders with position descriptions, benefits and job security. Jonah's e-mail from a reader is just a reminder that we are ill-served by almost all of them not in a military uniform.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"trough feeders with position descriptions, benefits and job security"
I agree- how about those military folks who get to retire aged 38 on full tax payer funded pensions even if they sat behind their desks for their full 20 years in wyoming supply base.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat?! "Are you serious?," to coin a phrase. Lincoln; "Those not skinning can hold a leg." Milton, "Thousands at His bidding speed, to post 'oer land and ocean. But they also serve who only stand and wait." Have you ever heard the phrase "teeth to tail ratio?" (I'm skipping the obvious lack of respect for junior enlisted troops in your post. If an officer is retired at 38 it's medically for wounds. An 18 year old enlistee hanging 'em up after 20 is only an E-4 or E-5; hardly wealth beyond dreams. I'll also skip the changes in retirement coming for today's enlistees. The "full pensions" you're thinking about are a thing of the past.)
GIs typically move every 3-4 years, every other move is overseas, and even while stationed in the States many - if not most - of them have been deployed to the sand box 6 months or more every year ever since 9/11.
Your comment is so gross and so uninformed it's borderline "report abuse."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt may be worthwhile to note that these same generous judicial authorities who sometimes 'give us' the whole rest of the day off also pay jurors $7 a day, while paying themselves hundreds of dollars an hour, starting and stopping at their own convenience, gaming the system (in important trials where big money is involved) with experts and focus groups to learn to cherry-pick favorable jurors and arguments (I actually served on such a focus group once, not knowing what it was ahead of time), and then cynically lecturing jurors on their 'civic duty' as the most important cog in our 'wonderfully fair' system.
Delaware, by the way w, sounds more generous than Houston, Texas; where the net pay seems to be minus $3/day ($7 stipend, but $10 for parking).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYeah? I wonder when was the last time Jonah Goldberg had to put in a straight 8 hour work day. (If he does, I don't see the output.)
But God forbid some factory-line peon take advantage of a once-or-twice in a lifetime opportunity to skip half a day without feeling nauseous or guilty. It'll be the ruin of our nation.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes, they'll never get a day off.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI remember that from my NYC jury days, although, if I recall correctly, they actually implied (or stated) that we *couldn't* go back to work. I did anyway.
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