Government at Its Best!

I don't remember the name of the city, but I heard this one today.

During this continued season of potholes, one driver who had already lost several tires due to blowouts decided to take matters in his own hands--that is, he did what a good citizen should do.  The city, claiming poverty, didn't fix the potholes on the road(s) he uses--on the way to work, in front of his house, wherever.  So, taking money from his own pocket, he filled in the potholes himself.  (I was really glad to hear this; on more than one occasion over the years, I have bought bags of cold patch and filled in large potholes on our street.)  Apparently he was thanked by a number of fellow citizens who appreciated his efforts at fixing the road(s).  

Oh, but here's where it gets interesting, crazy, or typical--of government.  (Remember, how many stories do we hear every summer of local authorities closing down kids' lemonade stands because they don't have permits!?!?!?)  A few days after the repairs, this guy gets a nasty phone call from his city (or town).  Some city wonk criticized him for fixing the road(s).  The wonk, somewhat unbelievably, said some folks called to complain that the repairs could (not that any did) damage their cars.  Hmmm......  But the potholes couldn't?

Oh, but there's more.  The Good Samaritan was then told he'd have to "undo" the repairs, to restore the road(s) to its/their previous condition.  Does that mean restore the potholes??????  Indeed, it did.  And, if he didn't, the city (or town) would and then would bill him for the work.  Let's let no good deed go unpunished.

And more......  He had to restore the road to the city's (town's) standards.  So, I guess the city (town) has standards for potholes??????

Someone should bring an auditor in to examine the gov't books.  There's not enough money to fix potholes, materials and employee time, but there is enough to restore potholes to their original axle-breaking condition?  

Is anyone really surprised by all of this?  If so, we don't really have to look any farther than "lemonade stands."  And here's another one.I pay a small city income tax.  Invariably I get a pittance of a refund and I always send in a signed note to the city to just keep my refund.  I figure it needs the few bucks more than I do; besides, in a small step in walking the walk instead of just talking the talk (as so many of our hypocrites do).  But no, I always get a refund check--often 6 or 7 months later.  It must cost the city more to process the check and for postage than the refund is.  The city is in big financial trouble, but if it doesn't want help, well......  (It reminds me of the Red Cross, always pleading for blood because of shortages.  Over the past ten or more years I'll bet I've been turned away a dozen times or more and sometimes even when I bring a second donor.  "I'm sorry, but an appointment is required." But I can't make appointments because of the fluid nature of my daily schedule.  I often don't know what I'm doing just minutes before I must do it.  In fact, more than once, including the last time, I was turned away because of no appointment.  I noted to the workers, "But there's nobody on any of the tables and only one person in line."  Nope, I still didn't have an appointment.  I've mentioned this numerous times to the folks who always call--I have a rare blood type--and nothing comes of it.  Besides, isn't the CEO of the Red Cross one of those who is compensated extremely well?  But I digress.)

I have two other things that are bothering me.  Can you imagine Obama talking "income inequality" to people who just paid anywhere from $10,000 to $35,000 a plate for dinner??????  Of course, I mentioned these kinds of people above.  And remember, this President and his family have spent more money on vacations than I have earned my entire life time, more than 50 years of work and often with two or three or more jobs.  Yeah, let's talk the talk, but when it comes to walking the walk......

This reminds me of the big talkers, supporting the increase of minimum wages and decrying "income inequality," all the while owning two or three or more residences, taking African safaris, going on vacations for three or four weeks to Europe or Australia or wherever, golfing every weekend at the most exclusive golf clubs/courses, etc.

Speaking of international vacations, why would any American opt to spend his vacation money helping the economies of, say, Commie China?  OK, I understand the rich culture and history of the place.  But, as I've blogged about companies and states that go out of their ways to do business with the ChiComs, why do we give money to support these places?  Should we talk about violations of human rights?  How about thievery of our technology?  What happens when these guys begin to take over Japanese islands?  Taiwan/Formosa?  I'm pretty sure the Chinese have zero fear of the US right now, not with this President and administration, esp this Sec of State.  

Which commandment is it that proscribes stealing, the 7th?  Well, isn't that what the Pope is calling for, in asking governments to engage in "legitmate redistribution of wealth?"  He wants gov'ts to forcibly take other people's money?  First, maybe this Pope should read Morris West's Shoes of the Fisherman, a novel of the '60s or so.  His words would ring a lot less hollow if he began to divest the church of its billions or trillions before he asked gov'ts to steal other people's money.  Besides, aren't there some other issues that this Pope should tackle before this--like the epidemic of pedophilia among priests, exclusion of women from the priesthood (It is the 21st Century after all!  And don't people criticize Muslims for still living in the 7th and 8th centuries?), illegitimate births, etc.?

I did get a nice e-mail that pointed out the problems with charter schools.  And I had the beginnings of an interesting conversation about how today's 20- and 30-year olds are more self-centered than previous generations.  (I'd actually go so far as to include my generation, but my conversation partner was just talking about our own children, adults.)  But we were interrupted and I am now, too.  Perhaps I can address these later this weekend--although it's a pretty full calendar I'm checking.