When Government Becomes the Boss?

When government becomes the boss, liberty becomes negotiable.

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When Government Becomes the Boss: Why Grassroots Still Matters in Idaho

As an elected official, it often feels like I’m always preparing for the next campaign. With Idaho legislators facing re-election every two years, there’s little time to catch your breath.

If someone plans to challenge an incumbent, that challenger is already filing paperwork and raising funds before the session even ends.

This cycle has become the norm—and it’s getting more expensive by the year.

In my last race, my challenger and those backing her spent an astonishing $261,226 trying to defeat me.

I was blessed to raise $65,000, thanks entirely to the unwavering support of grassroots Idahoans—hardworking men and women who believe in people over politics.

Together, we proved that trust, truth, and community matter more than big money.

The Goliath We’re Up Against

Running as a grassroots candidate in Idaho isn’t easy. One of the biggest obstacles?

The State of Idaho is the largest sole employer in the state.

More than 24,000 people are employed by state government—including thousands in public institutions like Boise State University.

That much power in the hands of one employer creates a serious problem:
Employment becomes political.

Legislators who vote against bloated budgets or new government positions often face backlash—not on policy grounds, but because they’re seen as “threatening jobs.”

That’s not accountability—that’s coercion.

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Private Sector? It’s Dwarfed by the State

• St. Luke’s Health System is the largest private employer in Idaho, with over 16,000 employees.

• Even giants like Micron Technology, based in Boise, employ only about 5,500 people in-state.

Nationally, it’s no different:

• Largest overall employer: U.S. federal government (~3 million employees)

• Largest private employer: Walmart (~1.6 million)

• Runner-up: Amazon (~1.1 million)

But this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about freedom.

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The Hidden Cost of a Government Paycheck: A Warning from History

Imagine a town where nearly everyone works for the same employer—not a company, but the government. The mayor signs their paychecks. The state decides their raises. Their livelihoods, mortgages, and children’s futures all rest in the hands of elected officials and agency heads.

Now imagine what happens when someone in that town starts asking hard question’s—question’s about spending, policies, and government growth.

Suddenly, those questions don’t just challenge ideas—they challenge incomes. A vote against a bloated appropriation isn’t seen as fiscal responsibility—it’s seen as threatening someone’s job. Dissent becomes dangerous. Speaking up gets risky.

That’s the danger when government becomes the largest employer.

Power Becomes Centralized

When the state holds the paycheck, it also holds the power.
Dependence breeds silence.
People who rely on the government for their livelihood often find themselves biting their tongues, fearing the consequences of challenging those in control.

It’s not just policy anymore—it’s personal.

Bureaucracy Grows, Efficiency Shrinks

Without the checks and balances of profit and loss, the government machine grows.
Departments multiply. Red tape thickens.
Taxpayers don’t see results—they just see the bill. And that bill gets bigger every year.

Politics Gets Personal

Inside the halls of the Capitol, votes should be guided by principle.
But when jobs are on the line, those votes become emotional.
Legislators are pressured to approve spending not because it’s right, but because saying "no" might hurt someone’s career—or cost them re-election.

The Private Sector Gets Squeezed

As government employment rises, small businesses struggle to compete.
Entrepreneurs can’t match government benefits. Innovation slows. Risk-taking dries up. And the economic diversity that makes a state strong begins to wither.

We’ve Seen This Before

History has already told us this story—many times.

🇷🇺 In the Soviet Union, nearly everyone worked for the state.
But the cost was enormous: widespread corruption, zero innovation, and eventually—collapse.

🇻🇪 In Venezuela, public jobs became tools of political control.
People were forced to trade freedom for survival.
Now they live with hyperinflation, poverty, and censorship.

🇨🇺 In Cuba, the government still dominates the workforce.
What’s left? Limited opportunity, stifled creativity, and deeply suppressed liberty.

The Fallout Is Always the Same

• Stagnant economies

• Crushing debt and taxes

• Silenced dissent

• Mass unemployment when the system fails

• Eroded creativity, ambition, and freedom

We’re not there yet. But we’re closer than we think.

When government becomes the boss, liberty becomes negotiable.
That’s why we must protect our right to question, to say no, to vote with principle, and to stand on conviction—even when it's unpopular.

Because once government controls the paycheck, it’s only a matter of time before it controls the person.

The story doesn’t have to end in collapse—if we choose a different path.

Let’s learn from history—before we’re forced to repeat it.

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The Reason I’m Sharing This With You

We must clearly understand the Goliath that stands before us.
If we do not remain vigilant, we risk walking the same road that led countries like Venezuela and Cuba into economic collapse and the loss of personal freedoms.

I will continue to stand in the gap and fight for all of us. But I cannot do it alone.

We must once again prove that it is the people—not the purse—who have the power to elect leaders who will say NO to growing government, expanding full-time positions, and reckless spending.

I’m humbly asking for your support—prayerfully, financially, and physically.
I’ll be making calls, sending letters, and reaching out here—because this mission depends on all of us, standing shoulder to shoulder.

Together, with faith and determination, we can overcome the giants and preserve Idaho’s future.

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✅ Ways You Can Help:

🖱 To donate online, click HERE
📬 Mail a check to:
Glenneda Zuiderveld for Idaho
P.O. Box 3123
Twin Falls, ID 83303

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“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
— Proverbs 29:2

Let’s not just fight for jobs—we must fight for freedom, truth, and future generations.

The grassroots still matter. The people still have the power. And with God’s help, we will not back down.