Think about the possible benefits of CAREFULLY DIRECTED ANGER

alan

New member
I suggest that readers beg, borrow, steal, possibly even buy the 2 August, 2004 issue of Shot Gun News. Having obtained a copy, read starting at page 52, the article headlined Time To Protect War Trophies. In this regard, H.R. 3807 is mentioned. You might check it out, try thomas.loc.gov, and contact your congress critters, or should you prefer, your "elected things".

While the goal of protecting war trophies is of obvious import, I submit that even more important is the following. That significant and in my view, quite serious problems continue to exist with the ATF or as they are nowadays known the BATFE. Neither 9/11 nor anything else make acceptable, the bureaucratic bullying of the innocent, as seems to have taken place in this instance, and while nobody was physically injured, this has not always been the case, remember Kenyon Ballew, with respect to the antics of ATF. There is simply no excuse for the tactics described, as the line between mere bureaucratic impropriety and criminal acts might well have been crossed here, by government agents, or have the peoples employees, government agents are the people's employees aren't they, somehow gained immunity from the consequences of their actions.

The antics described in the article might pass muster, the smell test or such other examination as one might be inclined to use, in some Third World Dictatorship, but as I see it, there is no way in hell that anything remotely akin to what was described should ever become accepted in this country, for if it does, then the terrorists have won. By the way, I note, in conclusion, that not all terrorists are of Middle Eastern origin, any number of them are likely American born and raised, and work for us. Ultimately, do not government employees work for the people of this country, and do we, the employers, really have to piut up with such questionable actions?
 
Ultimately, do not government employees work for the people of this country, and do we, the employers, really have to piut up with such questionable actions?
To answer your questions.
1. No, they do not work for us in the manner you would like. Or, if you'd prefer, they work for us in the same way a street gang works for the businesses it protects. There may well be services provided, but they cannot be hired and fired in the conventional sense.
2. Yes, we really do have to put up with the unreasonable actions of government employees. There is nothing meaningful we can or will do.
 
Ben Swenson:

If you sir are correct, then I must say that, in reasonably polite terms, this situation sucks.

I would think that, at the very least, if we do not exert such pressures as we are able to, or act in our own SELF-INTERESTS, to obtain desired/needed changes in the law, including repeal, then we deserve the screwing that we get.
 
If you sir are correct, then I must say that, in reasonably polite terms, this situation sucks.
Yup. But an awful lot of people are satisified with the way it is, or at least apathetic enough to not do anything about it, so there is no real incentive to change.

On the up side, things could be worse.
 
Reform of government agencies is difficult, witness the attempts to change the practices of the IRS. This is taking quite some time, even though it has been brought to light that the IRS has few rules and operates on a Napoleonic justice system.
Part of this is because bureaucracies are like tumors or cancers, they just grow without reason. Like a tumor none is truely benign, if only because of the unnecessary resources they consume. With such large agencies in house culture and inertia become major impediments to change. Rivalries to other agencies, including whoever audited them and parochialism get in the way. Change needs to be managed and monitored on all levels until it becomes permenant.
Change can happen, but as with the price for democracy, constant vigilance is needed.
Carefully directed anger can show in the polls, in the voting both, and force change. Can it last? Experience tells me no.
As long as people get their fatty/(salty or sugary) foods, some alcohol, and braindead entertainment of choise you will not be able to motivate the electorate. Hope that American Idol results get mixed up because of BATFE interference, that may be your best hope.

Government employees of all countries and all ages never worked for the people of their country. They work, as stated, for the government. True bureaucrats just punch in, follow the stated rules, and prefer not to think about any consequences for their actions. Do you believe that all levels of the government of Nazi Germany was filled wih evil people, or a bunch of people who were thinking that there was nothing they could do, and they were just doing their jobs?
This attitude is not exclusive to government workers, I've seen it everywhere I've worked and been.
 
Back
Top