In Defense of Public Service: How 22 Million Government Workers Will Save our Republic

by Cedric L. Alexander

"Dr. Alexander . . . brings to this book an acute understanding of both why our cherished form of government--and those who serve us in the civil service--appears to be under such unrelenting attack and how we, as citizens, should and must respond."
--from the foreword by Congressman Elijah E. Cummings

When those we elect descend into partisan tribalism, criminal malfeasance, and emulation of foreign autocracies and oligarchies, Cedric Alexander says it is the unelected apolitical "fourth branch" of government--our nation's public servants, civil servants, and first responders--who must save the nation.

Alexander, a former deputy mayor, police chief, and CNN commentator, argues that these people do not constitute a nefarious "deep state" pursuing a hidden agenda. They are the analysts, scientists, lawyers, accountants, educators, consultants, enforcers of regulations, and first responders of every kind who keep the country running and its people safe. Alexander recounts the evolution of the professional civil service as an antidote to widespread cronyism, offers examples of how it has served as a bulwark against powerful corrupting influences, and describes the role it can play in bringing our badly divided society together. To the general public, many of these 22 million people remain invisible and their contributions hidden. But now is the time to make the invisible visible.

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 21, 2020

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entirely too short, but a really engaging and optimistic read that puts paid to the asinine and paranoiac things conservatives say about the so-called Deep State.

Mostly, I just enjoyed the writing. I'm not hugely into the intricacies of government, although weird as it is to say, I am technically a civil servant. The author has a great perspective and a storied career I'm super interested in knowing more about. I might listen to his TedTalk.

One thing, though (because me). When he listed recent mass shootings (p. 105), he did not include Pulse (2016) in which 50 people were killed. It feels weird when much lower casualty mass shootings are brought up for consideration, but one that involved people who were LGBTQ and Latinx was not.

Overall, highly recommended. This book will help you argue with your garbage conservative relatives about the scary Deep State boogieman and also understand chunks of the Constitution ordinary folks don't normally deal with.

I would have read a much longer version of this. Just saying.

[Kevin Sandell · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a book for police executives, political scientists, or government historians than a layperson. After being a federal worker myself, I still didn't understand the "so what" behind this book. There were random sections about "Administrative States," police authority and legitimacy, and protecting whistleblowers. But the book lacked a central thesis, besides trying to persuade the reader that government workers are nonpartisan, hard workers.

The book didn't keep my attention and overall was meh.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bow down in front of the lazy and the entitled. And if you are not respectful enough they will go on strike: you will pay them, but they won't bother do to even the little they are doing now.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but impactful book about what Alexander calls the "fourth branch" of the American system of governance. Highly relevant and super interesting.