My father worked a government job his whole life and it gave our family real dignity โ a pension he could count on, respect in our community, and the peace of mind that no boss could fire him on a whim. That security is worth more than any private-sector bonus.
Private-sector salaries in tech, finance, and consulting now regularly outpace equivalent government pay grades within 5-7 years, and with UPS/NPS reforms even the pension safety net has narrowed โ the security gap isn't what it was a generation ago.