Like many Americans (most, I hope), I am quite relieved that intimidation of election officials and voters appears to have backfired on the GOP. It remains to be seen whether Trump is done and whether other election denier bullies just step in to press the tactics he brought to an already toxic environment. Politicizing the career civil service is not new; I heard the term "personnel is policy" early in my own federal career, and it has become more important polarization of political parties over the last two decades. If we fail to control the practice, it will destroy capacity of the Executive Branch to competently administer any public policy.
Like many Americans (most, I hope), I am quite relieved that intimidation of election officials and voters appears to have backfired on the GOP. It remains to be seen whether Trump is done and whether other election denier bullies just step in to press the tactics he brought to an already toxic environment. Politicizing the career civil service is not new; I heard the term "personnel is policy" early in my own federal career, and it has become more important polarization of political parties over the last two decades. If we fail to control the practice, it will destroy capacity of the Executive Branch to competently administer any public policy.