So much security to protect that largely empty USCIS office makes me wonder when government will consist of buildings with nothing inside them except security guards.

Mindy’s tribulations remind me of a customs official I worked with years ago, who delighted in inspecting and, if possible, detaining every shipment my company imported. One of his favorite games was to detain shipments of computer CRT monitors on the grounds that they were not certified to comply with federal regulations for television receivers…never mind that the monitors had no television receivers inside them and, thus, did not need to comply with those regulations. One day he got so bold as to suggest I call his boss in Washington, DC, which, of course, I immediately did. His boss promptly asked me “what idiot” had given me this run around. I did not get the last laugh from this experience — the customs official continued to be a PITA — but at least I did not have any more problems with CRT monitors.

I wish I could say that such a nightmare only happens in your area, or your state. But the exact opposite seems true. I’ve waited on a death certificate since February. After repeated phone calls and pesterings, and fully knowing that the coroner finished with the document months ago, I still can’t get it. I have legal and financial loose-ends to tie up, but I can’t until someone in the bureaucracy goes through the trouble of licking an envelope and sending a piece of paper my way.

The limits of the formerly boundless resources of the U.S. are becoming ever more clear. The easy oil and wet conditions of the 20th century are fast passing, and the prosperity they brought may well be in jeopardy. In order to avoid the draconian measures that China is facing, we need to determine and somehow manage a supportable population limit.

That is, how many people can this land support for the next 500 years at better than mere subsistence? Our poor citizens multiply significantly faster than immigrants can infiltrate, so the problem may be more one of education than immigration.

As for keeping terrorists out: The Iron Curtain of Berlin was the tightest border on the planet, and only had to circle half of one city. It did little to cut down on traffic of those determined to get in or out. There is no way to stop a determined man. How much do we want to spend on a broom to sweep back the tide?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/07/washington/07cnd-immig.html?hp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDat9zdw7Gs

How do I cope? As an often bullied child, I learned to project the idea that I am one of those whom the bully protects; an ally against all those who approach such individuals with anger and fear. It helps to get to such offices early in a shift, before the bad mood sets in.

As to the huge size of bureaucracy, read about Parkinson’s Law that states (in part) that the size of bureaucracy increases at a steady rate (generally 5-7% per year) regardless of the function or size of an organization.

So, being proactive, I called the water company to have all future bills deducted automatically (after first trying to get the $90 refunded to no avail). To make a long story short, they said that I am no longer eligible for the direct billing, since we missed a payment.

Another time I ended up paying 3000 dollars in fines for having my car insurance lapse, without my knowledge. Ya, that one stung a bit.

Okay now for the funny clips, enjoy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y05EmK66Gsk

http://img.youtube.com/vi/pDat9zdw7Gs/2.jpg

The amount of money spent on simply maintaining the bureaucracy and accomplishing nothing at all is utterly mind-boggling. All I will say is that if posts like mine have been monitored to any great length, the thick glass in front of the woman is perfectly understandable.