Fucking Bureaucracy!!! That’s all my life consists of at the moment. Today I had the joyous experience of signing on for the first time. It’s not the first time ever – I was one of “Maggie’s Millions” when I first left school – and then was obliged to experience the wonders of the YTS. But that was a long time ago – my, how things have changed.
Although things generally were pretty bad back then, you were at least treated with a modicum of respect. I cannot believe the cynical sneering attitude I have just experienced from the semi-nazis at the Fucking Job Centre! Ok, fair enough it can’t be a very nice job at times, and they must have to deal with difficult people (there were a couple of total fucking scrotes there actually), but that doesn’t mean they have to completely tar everybody with the same brush and treat everybody like total pariahs, who don’t deserve even basic human courtesy.
A little about my situation: I have just graduated from University as a mature student. I come from a very working class background – the kind of background that would I suppose, be classed as a “deprived upbringing.” After leaving school there didn’t seem to be a lot of options, so I was on the dole for a while and then the YTS as mentioned above. Since then I have worked in a succession of jobs all of which I hated. On hitting 30 and being made redundant I started to think about what I really wanted to do with the rest of my life. Somehow I ended up going to University. I’ve just finished my course and got my results, and all is good in that respect. Being a mature student is hard – not because of the studying part, but because of the living part – but it was definitely a good move.
So, here I am, having paid into the system all these years – in need of a bit of temporary help from the state. So I don’t think it’s too much to expect – for my claim to be sorted out as quickly as possible, and for the process to be conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Is that what I got? Is it FUCK!!!
I have been truly amazed, surprised and astounded at the almost unanimous incompetence, and attitude of sneering disregard for both myself and my situation that I have experienced from the staff dealing with my claim at EVERY stage of the process (and there are a lot of stages of the process too, believe me). I’m not a scrounging layabout, I wasn’t – like the bloke in front of me shouting and balling because he couldn’t get seen straight away because he was late for his appointment – and was demanding on being seen straight away because otherwise he was going to be late for his court appearance! But even if I had have been, I still should have been treated professionally, perhaps firmly – but with respect – where as in actual fact, this man was shouted back at and told to shut up!
The whole process is stressful and taxing enough as it is without being made to feel as if you’re a member of some kind of social underclass – and talk about unhelpful – you wouldn’t believe it.
Anyway, sorry for my rant – but it has done me good getting it out in the open. I knew this blogging lark would serve a purpose. Apologies in advance – but there’ll probably be more and better rants.
1 response so far ↓
Yapooza // March 28, 2008 at 10:25 am |
Too right, if this was a service that generated revenue for the government you can be sure it would be a tightly run and well managed operation.
The reluctance to hand over doll money manifests itself as incompetent workers, drastically understaffed support line centers, unhelpful automated systems and of course a thick shell of bureaucracy impenetrable to all but the most persistent/desperate of people.
Perhaps they are hoping that the nightmare imposed on anyone attempting to draw blood from their stone will further motivate them to work?
Im sure I am not alone in feeling let down by a system designed to drive the educated and skilled minds out of England.