Right now, Laura and I are waiting as patiently as possible in the painfully slow lines of the Ohio BMV. Fortunately, I found a free WiFi network to get online while we wait!
As infuriating as it is, waiting in the lines at the BMV is a good reminder of how slow, and sometimes, inept, our government is. As we wait in line, we get to hear all the questions the BMV staff have to ask the people getting a new license or renewing something: “Are you permanent resident? Is your license under suspension or revocation? How long have you lived at your address?” And on and on and on. There is so much paperwork, so much red tape, so much bureaucracy, it is amazing that anything gets done in that place. I honestly don’t know how people can work there, in such tedious monotony.
In this BMV, there is sign, after posted sign, about how we, the paying customers, must do this and mustn’t do that. “No cell phones!” “Take a number.” “Sign in Here.” “Sit over there.” Strangely absent from all the signs is the one that should read: “We only accept cash or check.” From reading other blog posts, you’ll know that I’m a credit card guy. I find it typical that there is a sign for everything unimportant, but for something that actually matters, like the fact that cash is all they take, that isn’t up anywhere. I’d love to go in and have a bunch of services done and then want to pay with a credit card. When they say we don’t accept it, I’d politely say that they need to undo everything they just did. I know I’m evil . . .
The conclusion I came to after yet another BMV experience, and I’ve had many, as I’m sure you have too, is that I don’t trust the government to run things. In a red tape loving, bureaucracy creating, provider of the slowest service in the world, how can anyone want the federal government running our national healthcare? Just look at the lines in the BMV to understand what the government could do to the paperwork and lines in the hospital and doctor’s offices. Or just look at how long the Canadians wait to see a specialist. Competition breeds quality service and because the government’s BMV competes with no one, they couldn’t care less how fast they work. Another example is the TSA running security at the airports. They don’t compete and are slower than molasses. They are rude, slow, and incompetent.
I’ll pay someone to stand in line for me the next time I need something done at the BMV. Any takers?
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