T&T: (no subject)

[Ted Hugger]

As the owner of a business where we operate not only in our home state, but
on a temporary basis in many states, I can tell you that you're giving
government (city/county/state/federal) employees WAY too much credit.  Time
and again, we've had to explain their own rules to them. Time and again,
we've had to deal with employees who clearly don't give a crap about you or
your issues. Employees who refuse to do any more that say "No."  Employees
who arbitrarily run their fiefdoms with an unreasoned and arrogant iron
glove.  Employees who don't even remotely begin to understand the concept
that we are their customers much less what customer service is.  I'll grant
you that there are occasion exceptions to the rule, but nine times out of
ten, we're frustrated by the norm.

The problem is a nearly total lack of accountability for their performance,
their success (or lack thereof) in executing their responsibilities, or for
department benchmarks of service and accomplishment. Seriously, when was the
last time you heard of a government worker being fired for incompetence? 

And whether we're talking taxes, zoning, fire & safety regulations, postal
regulations, permits, or licenses-even though they're often not
negotiable-the guidelines/rules/regulations are nearly always subject to the
interpretation of the person behind the counter.  Call the same office two
days in row and speak to two different folks, and you'll get two different
answers every time!

It's our tax dollars working against us.

Ted Hugger
Sequin, GB32-126

> -----Original Message-----
> From: 
> trawlers-and-trawlering-bounces+thugger=maine.rr.com at lists.sam
> urai.com 
> [mailto:trawlers-and-trawlering-bounces+thugger=maine.rr.com at l
> ists.samurai.com] On Behalf Of Jim Healy
> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 9:38 AM
> To: trawlers-and-trawlering at lists.samurai.com
> Subject: T&T: (no subject)
> 
> Candy Chapman and Gary Bell "opined:"
> 
> "Who were you planning on having an INTELLIGENT conversation 
> with, exactly?
> One of the core notions of this whole tax thread is that 
> taxes are administered by local officials, and sooooo many of 
> them are blockheads, or worse.  They seem to be pleased to 
> assess tax liability to anyone and everyone withoug seeming 
> to give much regard to federal or state statutes, and 
> particularly without any connection to common sense."
> 
> 
> 
> REPLY: I completely reject your premise.  Taxes are only very 
> rarely a negotiation; their calculation follows certain 
> rules.  I think this thread has been a serious attempt by 
> those of us participating in it to understand the rules in 
> various jurisdictions.  One rule is that the rules vary a lot 
> from locale to locale, and I appreciate Mike Maurice's 
> leadership in this area.  I also think that the vast majority 
> of "revenue office" employees are very serious people who are 
> trying to perform a very unpopular job.  I do not view them 
> as crooks.  I do not view them as blockheads.  The various 
> state legislatures may ignore each other and the feds, but 
> local office employees who we stand in line to deal with are 
> simply trying to do their jobs the best they can to apply the 
> rules as they know them.  The point is, as a participant in 
> the conversation, you also have to know the rules of the 
> game.  But today in NC, both parties don't have the rules.  
> In the case of NC, it sometimes seems like there are no 
> rules.  But of course, we all know that can't be true.  
> That's why I want them; in writing.  I can then ask 
> intelligent questions that help me understand my options and 
> how the rules apply to my situation.  Does that help, Mr. Science?
> 
> 
> 
> Some people think chemistry is a science.  Some think 
> psychiatry is a science.  And some think municipal 
> administration is a science.  The only difference is the 
> context rules.
> 
> 
> 
> Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary,
> 
> currently at Punta Gorda, FL
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