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Tuesday, March 6, 2012

The Further Adventures of Civil Service!

Notice a pattern here?
Query; Just what inspires a burgeoning college student, swept away with the anticipation of a promising life, and with so many vocational options available, to choose the civil or social services?  What is inherently wrong, chemically, in their thought processes that compels them to make this choice?
As a historically critical example, Adolph Hitlers father was in civil service.
An extreme example, no doubt but when met with the complete apathy, bordering on anti-social behavior of the majority of people occupying the claustrophobic cubicles of many a state, federal or city building, you begin to wonder just what in their training prepares them for the thankless hum-drum existence they must endure.  Obviously that frustration is back lashed upon their unsuspecting charges.
Their are, by my experience two types of individuals occupying these edifices.  The predominant specimen is that of the aged, bureaucratically well-worn middle aged "what have I done with my life" types.  Those who clearly must collate, staple and file in their sleep.  Their relative indignant silence only briefly interrupted by short, curt inquiry's, quickly returning to their lackadaisical ministrations.  Then there's the pert, chipper fresh faced "just out of school" hopefuls, hell bent on bringing a fresh approach to the "inner workings" of the establishment.  Full with the promise of "making a difference".  Hmmmm.  Must be a mantra taught, but when the realities of their stalemated, dye-in-the-wool, redundancy becomes all to apparent to them they become specimen number one.
Sad, really. 
Obviously anyone coming into the shop yesterday and saw my eldest minding the shop, and not greeted by my handsome mug (*choke* hold on...had a hard time coughing that last line out!) figured out I was elsewhere.  Well that "Elsewhere" was another blissful trip down "Social Services" lane, as we are dealing with our 14 years old "issues".  Suffice to say that nine hours of our lives were once again thrown into upheaval in  a vain attempt to help him "see" the errors in his judgements.  I'd like very much to hold hope that he will finally "get the message" but I am certainly not taking a Polyannish approach to the whole ordeal.  Daddy Dearest will most definitely be required to sit on the boy in order to get the point across.
While there the first hour was spent in an office measuring 9 feet square, with no windows and apparently no working fan or AC.  No questions were asked while the sun shinny lady ticked away at her archaic computer, intermittently cursing it's existence and the ineffectual programs employed by her superiors. The only interruptions being when other employees came in briefly to complain about the same issues.  After about 45 minutes we signed a few papers, then waited another 15 minutes while she attempted in vain to raise someone on the inner-office phone system.  Eventually her perseverance paid off and we were ushered quickly through a labyrinth of hallways and doors to a waiting room. 30 minutes later we were greeted by another lady (this one specimen 2) who led us back through the Labyrinth to a relative position two doors down from where we originally were.  Here we endured 90 minutes of further "history" only to be informed that we would have to schedule another appointment to finish as she had another appointment coming in.
At this point I was to numb (and my ass had LONG since fallen asleep) so I acquiesced.
That couple with the 5 hours on a bus made for a WONDERFUL day!
BUT!
God willing all will be back to normal this week and I can refocus my efforts back on work!  Once I get a few repairs done, I will delve head first into some new goodies!  Have much to build and get out!  So thanks for listening to my ramblings. It was therapeutic.

3 comments:

  1. Careful, my friend. You do know at least one retired civil servant who was honored to do what he could for over 21 years in that humbling arena. Many people take the job because they honestly think they can make a difference and help their community. And a great many do. And this one is willing to compare his life's work to yours any day.

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  2. Very true sir. Duly noted. But you of all people can attest to the beuracracy inherent to the system. A System that burns through so many folks, hence the gist of my piece. No Doubt there are many good people stuck in bad jobs, however whenever I must visit these places I have never walked away feeling good about the expirience. See, I never visited YOUR department!
    (does that last suck up win me any Brownie points?)

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  3. When I began my stint in government, I was impressed with how long so many of my new co-workers had been there. Turnover in the private sector is far more rapid. My 21 years was not worthy of note. My boss retired after 40 years. His boss after 41. One does not have a job in civil service. One has a career.

    I think what you are seeing is different, though. Imagine if every customer that walked into your bike shop didn't want to be there and didn't want to deal with you, but had to. No, you're not a bad person, and you are a lot of fun, but people come to you voluntarily. What you had to do the other day you did not do by choice. And that changes the experience.

    By the way, please do tell your recently wayward son that I still think he is way cool.

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