Bureaucracy? It’s a gift to us (From Thisisdorset)

Bureaucracy? It’s a gift to us

8:00am Thursday 17th December 2009 in

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JUST as you thought the expense of Christmas was becoming unbearable, Bournemouth Council offers us a financial lifeline.

You can’t offer your refuse collector a gift for battling away in all weathers to wrestle your wheelie bin on to the cart.

Nor, it should be noted, can you thank your social worker, council office and parks staff, car park employees or, Heaven forbid, show your personal or corporate largesse to the wonderful team in the council press office.

(Clearly I have deliberately left traffic wardens out of this as the last one to receive a Christmas gift from a customer is still recovering from the shock).

Of course, this is all ridiculous and nothing should stop you or me from our usual token of gratitude this week or next week.

But what is laughable is that councillors are effectively exempt from this rule as they are elected members and not employees.

This crazy world of bureaucracy has become swamped by fear.

Fear of stepping out of line, fear of not being seen as squeaky clean and fear of not following the rules.

If you want to thank someone, do it.

If they are not allowed to take it, they will politely refuse and be happy that their work is valued.

But at least don’t be afraid of upsetting the rotten apple cart...