Government jobs should require better searches for best and brightest

Typically, when businesses have a job opening, they post the opening, conduct interviews, and hire the person they think has the best qualifications. But it doesn’t work that way in politics. New Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers was sworn into office yesterday, but since the election he has been working to select those who will oversee the various state departments and agencies. As is typically the case with politicians who rise to power and get to determine who they will surround themselves with, they tend to look to their buddies for help. For example, Evers selected Emelie Amundson to be the Secretary of the Department of Children and Families. Amundson had been Evers’ chief of staff at the Department of Public Instruction he used to run. She may be a fine woman, but is she the most qualified person for the job, or is Evers just looking to help a friend? Of all the cabinet heads Evers has named, only one came from outside the state of Wisconsin. Seems a bit of a coincidence. We see it at every level. In Washington, presidents typically look to reward their friends with government jobs. Is Ben Carson really the person who best understands the needs of these enrolled in the nation’s Housing and Urban Development department? Or, perhaps, are those in power seeking to surround themselves with yes men? These jobs are too important to give to just anyone as a favor, or for protection. We should start advertising these political jobs, and work to find the best and brightest, not just a yes man.