Today I went to get a library card. Seems simple enough.
I took the long walk around the park, listening to a talk radio podcast, enjoying a sunny Southern Mississippi afternoon.
It was 4:07 PM local when I walked in and asked politely to apply for a Library Card.
I had my Military ID card, a copy of my orders, along with another half dozen forms of ID on my person.
The librarian decided that the sweaty airman didn't have the right "documents". I needed "proof" of where I was living.
She didn't ask for my driver's license, or any official document, instead I had to walk back home and grab a hand written PO Box from on base, something that I could have easily made in my sweet RV trailer.
What I saw from her was that it was near closing time, and she didn't want to do anything.
What she probably doesn't understand is that the reason have such a low opinion of public employees is because of exactly what she did, using the little bit of power she had to make my life harder instead of just doing her job once - which in reality would have made her life/job easier since I made sure to stay right up until 5 pm (closing time), even though she turned the lights out at 4:50.
I saw the same thing at state agency when I worked there, folks who were great people, but when they were having a bad day or dealing with a difficult customer, they would use there little bit of power to make that person's day, and by extension life/job, harder just because they could. It isn't about customer service, it's about being unhappy in a job, and exercising the little power they have to impress the customer with their lack of power.
So how do we remedy this?
First and foremost by down sizing government. Can you or I affect the size of the Federal Government? Absolutely not. That said we can affect our towns and counties. Show up to city council and/or county commision meetings. If they aren't committed to down sizing, run or volunteer your buddy to run. When the economic crash happens, and it is going to happen whether in 6 months, 6 years, or 20 years, it's inevitable; it'll make it that much easier for your community to adapt and overcome.
I took the long walk around the park, listening to a talk radio podcast, enjoying a sunny Southern Mississippi afternoon.
It was 4:07 PM local when I walked in and asked politely to apply for a Library Card.
I had my Military ID card, a copy of my orders, along with another half dozen forms of ID on my person.
The librarian decided that the sweaty airman didn't have the right "documents". I needed "proof" of where I was living.
She didn't ask for my driver's license, or any official document, instead I had to walk back home and grab a hand written PO Box from on base, something that I could have easily made in my sweet RV trailer.
What I saw from her was that it was near closing time, and she didn't want to do anything.
What she probably doesn't understand is that the reason have such a low opinion of public employees is because of exactly what she did, using the little bit of power she had to make my life harder instead of just doing her job once - which in reality would have made her life/job easier since I made sure to stay right up until 5 pm (closing time), even though she turned the lights out at 4:50.
I saw the same thing at state agency when I worked there, folks who were great people, but when they were having a bad day or dealing with a difficult customer, they would use there little bit of power to make that person's day, and by extension life/job, harder just because they could. It isn't about customer service, it's about being unhappy in a job, and exercising the little power they have to impress the customer with their lack of power.
So how do we remedy this?
First and foremost by down sizing government. Can you or I affect the size of the Federal Government? Absolutely not. That said we can affect our towns and counties. Show up to city council and/or county commision meetings. If they aren't committed to down sizing, run or volunteer your buddy to run. When the economic crash happens, and it is going to happen whether in 6 months, 6 years, or 20 years, it's inevitable; it'll make it that much easier for your community to adapt and overcome.
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