Has anyone else noticed how absurd our society has become? My mother says it's the "baby boomers." Maybe that's true since little of what I see and experience seems to involve our older citizens.
Recently, I called Newsweek to ask if Mike Espy really had said, ". . . the bow finally broke . . .", or had the magazine been mistaken not to print "bough" on its "Perspectives" page. After switching me through three different offices (long distance) the woman on the line said, "Could you write that complaint in? Our policy is that you must write complaints like that down." Why didn't they just tell me that at the beginning? Is there really such a policy, or were they just hoping I'd go away? Do they even care that this mistake was printed in their magazine?
I also, just lately, called my health insurance company to complain about its incomprehensible claims form. I have a master's degree, but deciphering this form takes at least a half-hour every time I must send in a doctor's bill. The woman with whom I spoke sounded as if she thought I must be from outer space to suggest that, since Clinton's health care reform didn't pass, maybe it was time for her employer to go ahead on its own and revise the form. Must a sick person be required to get sicker trying to figure out whose social security number and birth date the company wants in three different spaces on the same form asking for that information?
Doesn't anyone really want to put out that little "extra" effort anymore that identifies a great employee trying to make the system run smoothly or better? Maybe, instead, it's just our home-grown but, now, "multi-national" corporations who don't care about their employees any more than they care about their customers that causes so many American workers to be so surly and sub-standard?
My local supermarket conglomerate is a perfect example. I've shopped there since childhood, but could this chain store begin to stock any one of about twenty items I've requested over the years? Guess again! That might prevent it from having enough shelf space for the generic "store" brands it's pushing.
I'm a heavy woman. Do you think "Plus" stores could figure out that obese women don't look good in stretch-knit, horizontally-striped, taper-legged pants and dresses? Certainly, one might suppose that, at least, they could carry all the large sizes available if they are masquerading as a "large size" store? No, folks! That would make too much sense! Well, then . . . maybe one could hope they might respond to a request from a regular, loyal shopper to stock a particular item? Don't count on it! Do they really want to sell more clothes or just raise prices to make their profits?
I guess I must admit it's not just the huge businesses. How about workmen these days? I've also had my fill of home repair contractors incapable of even submitting a reasonably-composed estimate, showing up at an agreed-upon day and time, or cleaning up their messes. I'm flabbergasted they're even able to remain in business.
I mustn't forget doctors and car mechanics. Has anyone in this country not often experienced one of these two specialties who can't seem to answer a phone, make an appointment within a reasonable time period, handle a problem in an agreed-upon amount of time once one arrives for service, or even be able to accurately diagnose in the first place?
It would be different if all this amounted to griping about unusual, rare, or unavoidable occurrences, but I seem to be encountering these situations more and more regularly.
I hear everyone talking about the government not working anymore --- the post office can't deliver the mail on time or ever, Congress is gridlocked, courts are behind schedule, and bureaucrats are rude and indifferent while concocting an unbelievable number of thoughtless and unfair regulations. All this could be, but it's apparently just another example of the rampant decay all around us.
What about non-existent cable repair, cold and stale fare at fast-food outlets, telephone holds of over five minutes, news inaccuracy and demagoguery, and "new and (NOT) improved" products that companies spend lots of money marketing but just can't seem to manage to distribute to the stores where customers could buy them?
Last --- although, sadly, I could go on forever --- what is it with the television networks these days that they can't get started with their new shows until October and these end in April, with a few reruns thrown in throughout the year at unpredictable times? Changing days and times of broadcast really helps develop a good audience share, doesn't it?
Is all of this simply a case of bad management? I thought everyone and his brother got MBAs in the '70s and '80s. Where are all these "masters" of business administration? Politicians incessantly TALK "values" today. The only values I see honored in this country are in the breech --- profit without quality in return, "I've-got-to-get-mine-no-matter-what-the-hell-its-effect-on-the-common-good" greed mentality, honesty only if there's a chance of getting caught, lower standards for rich white-collar leaders than the common Joe when it comes to what qualifies as criminal, and hypocritical rhetoric rather than personal responsibility and helpful action. Let's quit resting on our laurels and bragging that, "We're No. 1" in the world, and get working to improve these situations that are dragging down our once-superior quality of life.
Barbara Smith is an unemployed history and math teacher, possibly due to advertisements in her area for teachers with the qualification of "No Experience".