Bureaucracy -by Openly Voluntary

“The bureaucrat insists that you may still pursue your happiness, they simply have the reasonable requirement that you apply to their board for permission to take each step in that journey.” -Ryngeaux

I am associated with several people that have lived in geographical locations that are ruled by state and county planning progressives.  I recognize that the greatest minds in the world have handed down the marching orders through Agenda 21 that will make our world a lovely and well-controlled place.  I get that progressive planners are helping spread the good word to “backward” places that continue to allow their proletariat to build buildings and create businesses unfettered.  I get it.

My musings come from a “people” standpoint today.  I am thinking of people, holding positions as government agents, who would require another person to seek permission to build a shed, a house, an office building or simply to operate a business on their own land.  How can these people awaken each day, look in the mirror and like what they see?  How can they not be incredibly depressed, embarrassed and saddened by how they treat their fellow man?

The trick is: Bureaucracy.  This person that initiates force against innocent neighbors does not see themselves as doing evil acts.  Like the agents of Mao and Hitler, they thought of themselves as brave patriots that were willing to be public servants for the good of their great country.  The individual that “arrested” a “terrorist” that clutched a Bible and an old copy of The Law and spoke out against Mao, might not have chosen to “arrest” or “provide justice” to that neighbor in the absence of bureaucracy.

This kindly police officer, who was celebrated for putting his life on the line each day to keep his village safe, was simply arresting people as directed by the rules as provided by his sergeant, who received them from his Lieutenant who got them from the chief who received them from a local committee based on a directive from their version of DHS.  This kindly red guard police officer, who also likely volunteered at a local school teaching children “good touch – bad touch” and was a very nice guy, would likely have suggested to a detractor that they speak with his Sergeant, who would have referred him on up the chain of power.

 

Those of you that have dealt with planning and zoning board understand this dynamic.  “We want to help you get this building application passed, we just have to make sure you are in compliance with section 3, Title 6, 1.a).iii3.  This section was written many years ago by a bureaucrat that traded his agreement for that law for a vote for a new library in his remote town.  The board offers that if you don’t like the “Good neighbor” section, that there are avenues that you can follow to have that rule changed.

Is it possible?  Kind of.  First though, your community newspaper will post headlines, “Businessman Jones Hates Good Neighbors.”  Then you will have to spend tens of thousands (minimum) of dollars on attorneys to submit motions, write briefs, direct consultants to conduct studies, and if you can outspend the government, in 3 to 7 years you just might have section 3, Title 6, 1.a).iii3 changed a bit, but the compromise is that the change will not completely change it away from what it originally said.

While you are spending thousands each month to fight this tiny portion of a huge library of laws, the red guard police officer, the planner, their sergeants, lieutenants and chiefs continue to receive paychecks and work only half as many hours as you do.  When you complain to them about how slowly they are moving on your project, they apologize and explain how understaffed they have been and that they wish as much as you do that they had a faster turnaround time.  Perhaps they will suggest that you help them put some political pressure on their department’s board of directors to request more funding to grow the department to better meet needs like yours.  They are given awards and appear in your community newspaper as good people, after all, they were recognized as a “Distinguished Planner” at a state convention last month.  You on the other hand get headlines like, “Jones Zombie-like Fight Against Good Neighbors Continues.”

 “The bureaucrat insists that you may still pursue your happiness, they simply have the reasonable requirement that you apply to their board for permission to take each step in that journey.” -Ryngeaux

So, what is a person pursuing their happiness to do?

I don’t know.

-Ryngeaux