[coldtea]

>Doing something out of a sense of duty should not require a vow of poverty along with it

The wages offered are hardly poverty - just not competitive with the private sector.

Besides, "doing something out of a sense of duty", when duty meant something, has also often meant doing it for free, or even doing it on one's own dime, and it absolutely meant accepting a pay cut.

[evilduck]

If you are a GS-5 (typical entry level government roles, 5 rungs up from the actual bottom of the pay scale, since it's literally impossible to get applicants for a GS-1 role if you tried) and support a family of four you are currently at 2023 rates within 3 digits of income from the poverty line.

If we push it lower how are we not expecting that to require poverty? What legion of people in the US do you reckon even have "their own dimes" to spend on being full time volunteer public servants and can afford to serve from a sense of duty? Retirees?