The Wonderful World of Bureaucracy

In my daily commute, I often listen to this classical radio station. Yes, nothing accompanies a profanity-laden, road rage tirade like Handel. Anyway, today as I was driving along, this station was broadcasting a city-council meeting. Now, you would think that this would make for quite boring radio. However, I sat captivated as I listened to the pomp and circumstance that you would expect with a close gathering of self-important assholes.

For forty-five minutes, I listened to the minuet of back-handed insults over topics such as zoning regulations and dog leash laws. Then something occurred to me: Government by its nature is a terribly convoluted process.

Here is a perfect example. Let's say for a moment that there is a resolution being discussed, now our lawmakers have gone through the motions (not a speedy process in and of itself) and now are prepared to bring the resolution to a vote. The vote ensues, then someone discovers that they either mis-voted, or someone had mis-counted...

The simple answer is to re-vote, yes? No. Now, someone has to bring a "Motion to Reconsider." That motion has to be seconded, then the motion has to be.... you guessed it, voted on. If the vote succeeds, then we have a re-vote on the original resolution. For those keeping score at home, that is three votes, to pass or fail one resolution.

It reminds me of an unattributed quote I remember from a long time ago.
"“The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy”.