When Public Service Feels Like Private Silence: A Call for Worker-Centered Governance
Abel Martinez Abel Martinez

When Public Service Feels Like Private Silence: A Call for Worker-Centered Governance

Public service is supposed to be about people. But for many government employees, it feels like isolation in plain sight.

After a decade of federal, military, and now city work, I’ve seen how rigid structures silence frontline voices, crush morale, and erode trust. From the rise of DOGE to the failure of internal leadership, the message is clear: top-down governance is collapsing under its own weight.

It’s time we build something new—from the ground up. This piece explores how we get there, and why worker voice isn’t just a perk—it’s governance.

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Broke Government, Broke People: When the System Starves the Very Hands That Feed It
Abel Martinez Abel Martinez

Broke Government, Broke People: When the System Starves the Very Hands That Feed It

If the government is broke, what does that say about its people?

In a system where most public funding comes from taxing labor, a debt-ridden state is a clear sign the working class is underpaid and overburdened. Meanwhile, corporations reap record profits, pay minimal taxes, and receive subsidies—leaving workers and public services starved of resources. This post explores how the financial cycle between workers, corporations, and government exposes the true source of economic dysfunction: undervalued labor and unchecked extraction.

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