After another soul wrenching day, I finally left in tears. It only took an hour this time. It seems that no matter what I do, and no matter what paper I produce for them, they will not be satisfied. The fact that I am not a citizen has certainly been brought up to me enough times that I finally feel discriminated against. The most ironic thing is that I will be sworn in as citizen here on August 1st, in about 15 days...but that is not soon enough. Anyway, jumping through governmental hoops has become somewhat of a job description for me. And though I feel so close to the end of this horrible paper overcoming process, this “final step” seems to be a mirage, miraculously moving further from me as I take a step forward. Ironically, the ATM machine at city hall said “Enter to Exit” meaning , press enter to complete transaction. But this “Enter to Exit” is exactly how I feel- stick in an “oxy-moron-ic” circle of bullshit, humiliation and money extraction.
It was one of those really shitty days, you know exactly what I am talking about, and if you ever tried to set up a businesses or tried to get anything of value done at city hall, you know exactly how I feel. As the day was coming to the end, I had just one last thing to do- mail a form (of course with another check) to the government so that they can tax me more. Not a very difficult task in itself. All I need is : car, gas in car, post office, envelope+stamp. Done.
Got the gas in car, found a post office, pulled a ticket. At the counter I once again fell victim to nothing other than Incapable System and a Government Automaton.
I: “Hi, I would like to send this letter out, so can I please have a stamped envelope?
Automaton: No, we are out of stamped envelopes. “
I: “Really? Hmm...Ok, then can I please have an envelope and a stamp.”
Automaton: “No, we are out of envelopes, all we have is there,” - she is pointing at the rack of envelope packages in the corner
I: “So you mean to tell me that you are out of ALL stamped envelopes and ALL plain envelopes??
Automaton: Yes, all that we have is there,”- once again pointing to the reck.
I: “But how can that be? You are a Post Office??”
Automaton: Blank look
I: “Ok, ok, you know what,”- I walk to the rack and get a pack of 20 envelopes I don't need-”I'll just get these, and a full sheet of stamps ok?”
Automaton: “How many stamps do you want?”
I: “One full sheet of stamps please.”
Automaton handed me the stamps and rang up the total $10.75. I hand her the Drivers License and Visa credit card I have had since 2002. It is signed “SEE ID” in the back. Automaton examines the card. And with the words “I can't use this card” hands it back me.
I make sure the card is not expired. It's not, got another year.
I: “Why???”
Automaton: “It is not signed on the back, I can't use it”
I: “But I gave you the ID, that's better than a signature isn't it?”
Automaton: “No, I can't use it if it's not signed. It has to be signed so no one other than yourself can use it”
I: “But it IS me! You have my ID?! If someone stole the card, they could forge the signature, but I give you the ID”
Automaton: “I can't use it unless it's signed”
I: “You seriously won't use it unless I sign it will you?...”
Automaton: Blank Stare
I: “Ok, fine. Give me a pen.” - pause- “Of course you don't have a pen, that's ok, I have one.”
I put a squiggle on the back. She ran it. Paid.
Like I said, a Government Automaton, is not actually a human. Just a spine. This was explained to be by a lovely salesman at Vintage Vinyl as I purchased both CDs of Gogol Bordello, which I strongly recommend for rocking out and letting go.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Oh Wretched Bureaucracy, Strangler of Ambitious Souls, How I hate Thee...
Note to reader:
This post is for the most part emotional verbal vomit but is based on actual current events and legitimate frustrations. I realize that not everyone who works for the governmental institutions is a heartless asshole, and I have met a few great people in those offices. But I do stick to my opinion, that the majority is otherwise- pathetic and disgusting.
And here I am two shots later, wishing that when I say “shots” I don't mean shitty vodka, but in fact gun shots, righteously fired at human waste residing at city hall in attempts to make this world better, and for lack of better expression “more livable”. But alas, I speak merely of two vodka shots aiming to calm my nerves.
Bureaucracy-government by many bureaus, administrators, and petty officials (according to a dictionary).
Petty is absolutely and utterly correct. These are (for the most part, as there are some souls trapped in that building) pathetic creatures with no brains, abilities, souls or ambitions. Those losers in life, who are set to slow down, drive to insanity, drain and stop US- people of vision, talent and ambition. They will do their best to lower you, and make you feel helpless and at their command. They grin as they humiliate you, smile as they make you helplessly mad, and laugh victoriously in the face of your failure and sorrow. Because that is how they know that it is THEY who matter, THEY who decide, for THEY are the GOVERNMENT, the LAW, to which YOU must comply.
Never mind the fact that they have an IQ of a lamp post, and are the waste of the Earth.
In my opinion bureaucracy is one of the main reasons for collapses of great countries and civilizations. Due to this seemingly inevitable development and increase of bureaucracy, most great governments consume themselves and their future. These “offices” create ridiculous, unnecessary barriers with money traps at each step to control you and prevent you from seamlessly reaching your goals. And because it is only morons who want to and are fit to work in those building that are employed there, all the offices are filled with insecurities that can only be eased by your humiliation. Because you are better, smarter, younger and are capable and trying to do something with your life.
The processes and decision making become constrained and slow by creating more unnecessary steps in the process.
In my International Masters of Business Administration, one of the more interesting classes I took was Lean Production and Manufacturing- “the optimal way of producing goods through the removal of waste and implementing flow”. The class essentially taught us to identify and eliminate or decrease all “non value added steps” in any production process, be it manufacturing or business logistics, and I can tell you one thing, the government – the “almighty and great”, so “smart and clever” to set us all in line, is far from lean, nowhere close to efficient and if anything is incapable. It is just the opposite, inefficient-wasteful of time or energy (dictionary again).
So when you ask yourself, “Why is this world so fucked up? We all see the issues, why not just fix them now?”, I will tell you with certainty, that one of the main reasons is just that- bureaucracy. Because with this lovely government structure, even if someone on the top is capable and makes a good decision, the paperwork will have to go through so many mindless idiots on a power trip (the most dangerous kind of mindless idiot is that with authority), that it will either take close to forever to come in power or never even pass altogether.
And what is the reason for this? To make us feel that we “walk under the law” that we must comply or else?
The best part is that even if you do cross this river of death, you will then have to still pay your taxes thus feeding directly into its food chain. In fact, your entire life is their profit. They are like parasites set to suck you dry, while making you feel rightful and obedient. And I don't even know what kind if better at this point, the corrupt or proper...in either case you need tons of money to go through them, at least back home (in Russia and other “corrupt” governments) you can just give a handshake with the right bill in it and be on your way, here you have to somehow please a starving ego of a reject. Oh and how do they love flattery! Of course no matter how much ass kissing you are willing to do, you are always primarily dependent on someone's mood and “character” if you can even call it that.
The worst part is that no matter how much I criticize the government structure, or where they taxes are going, and no matter how much I want to stab someone with a pencil, on Monday I will be right back there, joyfully chatting with the IRS and fluttering through City Hall, smiling and kissing ass. Why? - because I just want to live my life, and am not set out to start a revolution...fuck, I am not even a citizen here yet, just an immigrant with some hopes and dreams.
Anyway, I am sleepy now, I guess the alcohol is setting in. Besides the weather now matches my mood. It is raining!
This post is for the most part emotional verbal vomit but is based on actual current events and legitimate frustrations. I realize that not everyone who works for the governmental institutions is a heartless asshole, and I have met a few great people in those offices. But I do stick to my opinion, that the majority is otherwise- pathetic and disgusting.
And here I am two shots later, wishing that when I say “shots” I don't mean shitty vodka, but in fact gun shots, righteously fired at human waste residing at city hall in attempts to make this world better, and for lack of better expression “more livable”. But alas, I speak merely of two vodka shots aiming to calm my nerves.
Bureaucracy-government by many bureaus, administrators, and petty officials (according to a dictionary).
Petty is absolutely and utterly correct. These are (for the most part, as there are some souls trapped in that building) pathetic creatures with no brains, abilities, souls or ambitions. Those losers in life, who are set to slow down, drive to insanity, drain and stop US- people of vision, talent and ambition. They will do their best to lower you, and make you feel helpless and at their command. They grin as they humiliate you, smile as they make you helplessly mad, and laugh victoriously in the face of your failure and sorrow. Because that is how they know that it is THEY who matter, THEY who decide, for THEY are the GOVERNMENT, the LAW, to which YOU must comply.
Never mind the fact that they have an IQ of a lamp post, and are the waste of the Earth.
In my opinion bureaucracy is one of the main reasons for collapses of great countries and civilizations. Due to this seemingly inevitable development and increase of bureaucracy, most great governments consume themselves and their future. These “offices” create ridiculous, unnecessary barriers with money traps at each step to control you and prevent you from seamlessly reaching your goals. And because it is only morons who want to and are fit to work in those building that are employed there, all the offices are filled with insecurities that can only be eased by your humiliation. Because you are better, smarter, younger and are capable and trying to do something with your life.
The processes and decision making become constrained and slow by creating more unnecessary steps in the process.
In my International Masters of Business Administration, one of the more interesting classes I took was Lean Production and Manufacturing- “the optimal way of producing goods through the removal of waste and implementing flow”. The class essentially taught us to identify and eliminate or decrease all “non value added steps” in any production process, be it manufacturing or business logistics, and I can tell you one thing, the government – the “almighty and great”, so “smart and clever” to set us all in line, is far from lean, nowhere close to efficient and if anything is incapable. It is just the opposite, inefficient-wasteful of time or energy (dictionary again).
So when you ask yourself, “Why is this world so fucked up? We all see the issues, why not just fix them now?”, I will tell you with certainty, that one of the main reasons is just that- bureaucracy. Because with this lovely government structure, even if someone on the top is capable and makes a good decision, the paperwork will have to go through so many mindless idiots on a power trip (the most dangerous kind of mindless idiot is that with authority), that it will either take close to forever to come in power or never even pass altogether.
And what is the reason for this? To make us feel that we “walk under the law” that we must comply or else?
The best part is that even if you do cross this river of death, you will then have to still pay your taxes thus feeding directly into its food chain. In fact, your entire life is their profit. They are like parasites set to suck you dry, while making you feel rightful and obedient. And I don't even know what kind if better at this point, the corrupt or proper...in either case you need tons of money to go through them, at least back home (in Russia and other “corrupt” governments) you can just give a handshake with the right bill in it and be on your way, here you have to somehow please a starving ego of a reject. Oh and how do they love flattery! Of course no matter how much ass kissing you are willing to do, you are always primarily dependent on someone's mood and “character” if you can even call it that.
The worst part is that no matter how much I criticize the government structure, or where they taxes are going, and no matter how much I want to stab someone with a pencil, on Monday I will be right back there, joyfully chatting with the IRS and fluttering through City Hall, smiling and kissing ass. Why? - because I just want to live my life, and am not set out to start a revolution...fuck, I am not even a citizen here yet, just an immigrant with some hopes and dreams.
Anyway, I am sleepy now, I guess the alcohol is setting in. Besides the weather now matches my mood. It is raining!
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