How one congressional staffer made a difference
Or how a guy on the Hill took on a dictator and won
It is not easy being a staffer on Capitol Hill. No, the work is not road paving or ditch digging—but it comes with plenty of stress.
A staff position is anything but secure. Unlike a civil servant, a congressional staffer is an at-will employee whether he is employed in a legislator’s office or by a committee. Staff can be fired on a whim or swept from office by an election.
The hours are unpredictable, and everyday your boss —and therefore you— deal with demands from constituents, interest groups, media, and your own party. Yet, unlike a legislator, staff cannot reap the cheers by standing before voters and stumping for policy or hammering political opponents. No, Hill staff must stay in the background and out of the news…. (Read more)