An annoying tic in media coverage of wartime America is the equivocation of the sudden surge of interest in working for the federal government with patriotism. Much has been made of the piles of resumes for would-be sky marshals, intelligence analysts, and investigators landing on the desks of government human resource managers. Of course, this has nothing to do with patriotism and everything to do with the fact that the national security state isn’t contemplating the kind of layoffs that rock the rest of the economy. The rush for federal careers merely confirms the adage that a cushy government job is the final refuge of the scoundrel.
