"Held hostage" a bit ingenious.  Government workers are working people too and have families just like many others.  They deserve a living wage and retirement benefits just like everyone else. If they are not making a living wage we are essentially throwing them "under the bus" with the other 99%.  That said, I know many of us have experienced government workers who seemingly do not care about how they do their job.    It is reflected in how the treat their encounters with the very people they serve.   From looking at the composition of the workforce,  it would appear to me that there is a significant discrimination (at least here on the Big Island) as to gets the job.  That said, I do not know statistically what the ethnic composition looks like.