MANY BUREAUCRATS NEED A REVERSAL OF THEIR CURRENT MINDSET
|| By TAYLOR BROWN || Last Tuesday evening I attended an event with S.C. Speaker of the House Jay Lucas, House judiciary committee chairman Greg Delleney and S.C. Rep. Kirkman Finlay.
It was great to see these hardworking public servants in action. Each of these men spoke about the need to repair the damage to our state caused by the recent flooding. Most people in our state don’t know the behind-the-scenes role played by Speaker Lucas and Rep. Finlay in getting our state government moving after the Thousand-Year Flood.
Finlay called Lucas out of church on Sunday morning – after the storms had devastated so much of our State – to talk about how the state government could respond. They began demanding action from state agencies and coordinating with our congressional delegation and the governor’s office.
Finlay’s district was one of the hardest hit by the flooding – with many people suffering moderate to severe damage to their homes and businesses.
Since the flood, I have been contacted by numerous people trying to rebuild their lives – but in many cases they have been thwarted by their local, state, or federal government. These people are simply trying to rebuild their homes and businesses – trying to get their families into some type of housing. Our government, at every level, should be helping these people – not looking for bureaucratic reasons to impose greater suffering on citizens and taxpayers.
One of the worst stories I have heard is detailed here: A man whose home had been severely damaged was told he need to go to the city for a permit before he could begin repairing his home. It was his understanding that there was no fee involved for this permit; after all his family had just lost almost all their possessions. However was told by a city of Columbia, S.C. functionary: “No money, no permit, that is the way it works.”
I was appalled. Where is the basic human compassion? Finlay, who was contacted on this person’s behalf described this city minion succinctly.
“Our government, sadly, looks for reasons not to act instead of taking the right and just action,” he said.
Finlay then took it one step further, stating that “our government now engages in passive oppression of its citizens.”
That’s right, PASSIVE OPPRESSION. I for one could not agree more. We need our public employees to develop a new mindset. I know there are many truly dedicated public servants out there who are genuinely committed to bettering our state, but too often you get the feeling that far too many public employees are simply passing time.
Before he stopped speaking, Finlay gave one of the best and funniest analogies about government that I have heard.
“Government has become like the fat kid on the opposing wrestling team,” he said. “He sits on you and you have to try and get out from under him – and if you’re lucky, you avoid a face full or armpit or crotch.”
This perfectly describes how many of the flood victims must feel about their government – and how I feel about all levels of the government following such loss. For shame, South Carolina. For shame.
Taylor Brown is a 20-something Wofford College graduate who somehow got sucked into politics at an early age. She is easily won over with Rush’s fast food, wine, and spirited political arguments.
83 comments
Slow down already – the fee waiver is already in the works and it will be retroactive. It is highly unlikely that anyone who needs a permit and struggles to afford it has completed all of the remediation necessary to begin rebuilding at this point anyway. If you don’t kill ALL of the mold you’ll be rebuilding in a year or two anyway.
A journalist would have researched and found pertinent information like this. Unfortunately, what we have here is a hack trying to ingratiate herself with elected officials to provide herself with a false sense of importance. How many drinks does a fluff piece get you these days?
“Serkackaly don’t want/need goberment assistance of any fuckin kind” is what I figured she’d say…….
“keep your goberment hands off my trailer!!!!!”
“We take care of our own in this here state (as long as you ain’t some illegal alien socialist black Muslim bitch with 3 kids & no husband on welfare that is……)”
I’m waiting for her to write a piece on this Jasper Port we keep hearing so much about. It’s bound to happen. Only question is whether Davis will pay her in wine or Rush’s french fries.
City employees cannot, unilaterally, even in the interests of compassion, waive a fee. Only Council can do so, most likely by Resolution outlining the rationale, length of time a waiver would apply, etc. the city employees in question are following the law, as that decision/authority, is way above their pay grade.
More Finlay promotional efforts is my takeaway.
That depends. Many of these employees are given wide latitude in how they do their job. In other words the policy is xyz, but you are allowed to violate policy as you see fit on a case by case basis as long as you have a good reason.
Ummmm….. NO. If you were a government employee, you’d know that.
Correct! Government employees never bend the rules or policy.
Finlay has FITS on retainer to promote him as a candidate for Governor. Taylor attends all of Finlay’s “events.” Just another pay-to-play piece from the FITS propaganda machine.
Forest Acres’ building inspector, (the ONLY one they have) has taken vacation this week and any and all permit applications and inspections are on hold until he comes back. Meaning in the middle of the rebuild for peoples and offices they have to wait so he can go sip margaritas, not to mention how backed up it will be when he does come back from all the inspections bottling up while he is gone The guy from what I have seen is also a power hungry little turd hell bent on making sure people kiss his ass
They are both “power hungry little turd(s)”. I owned a small remodeling company for a few years and loathed having to pull a permit in Forest Acres because of the problems created by Lindler and McBee. Even the massive bureaucracy that Richland County/City of Columba has become was easier to deal with than those two.
there used to be two, now just the one. Forest acres is a corrupt little area. Everyone knows of the “Tree Nazi”. Heaven forbid you want to cut 80+ ft pine tree than is going to blow over in the next storm onto someone’s house. Nope some bitch got her friends all together to put her on the council to save the trees and now you cant cut shit with out proving its dead or dying. I live in the middle of FA, but my house is one that is actually in Richland County as it was never annexed into FA, so FA has zero jurisdiction over me and I can cut any tree I want. its my neighbors tree that scares me. He wanted to cut it down but got denied the permit to cut it, so if it does fall on my property I will sue the shit out of FA.
Give him a break. He could be at a conference in Sea Island or something. What do you expect him to change his vacation or something. All hands on deck my ass. That cat needs to tighten up.
absolutely he needed to either change his plans or the city needed to bring someone else in. construction on rebuilds don’t come to a halt after a natural disaster so he can get to go on “VaKay”. that “cat” needs to blow me
If the city council wants to wave permitting fees for flood repairs, that’s fine, but don’t accuse the “functionary/minion” of lacking compassion for doing his/her job. It would be easy to be so called compassionate with taxpayer’s money and not his/her own.
“If the city council wants to wave permitting fees for flood repairs, that’s fine”
You’re so gracious!
Nothing gracious or compassionate about a city employee waving permit fees.
No?
I can just see the clerk “waving” permits around.
Just like Trey Gowdy waving subpoenas with a flourish in front of the camera (as he is so fond of doing; to and fro & back and forth and especially towards the face of the person he has chosen as a target)
The EMPLOYEE doesn’t have the AUTHORITY to do that. Are you REALLY that ignorant? Actually, FINLAY is worse. He was on City Council, and he KNOWS the employee doesn’t have the authority to waive fees.
It wasn’t just what was said, it was also how it was said.
Waive?
Thanks. I’ll never forget that.
If you were wrestling against a fat kid on the opposing team, that most likely means you’re fat too.
Dumb analogy. Just like the reat of the piece.
lulz
“It was great to see these hardworking public servants in action.”
lulz
“They began demanding action from state agencies”
lulz
“Our government, at every level, should be helping these people”
lulz
“our government now engages in passive oppression of its citizens.”
lulz
What a bunch of naive rubes both inside and outside of government.
I wonder how many free drinks they gave her to write this pointless drivel?
No doubt Finlay was buying and drinking them too. Probably expensed it on his per diem .
Literally, sucking with the aid of the government teat.
Why do these conservative libertarians on FitsNews beg the gov’t to bail people out? Pull up them boot straps, losers!
Precisely, it’s one thing to ask government to get out of the way. like suspending the need for permits-
It’s another to demand “action from state agencies”.
They should be using this example as a reason to cut more government, not ask for more to “do something”.
Well, FitsNews is full of shit. When sucking at the government teat fails, go start a blog.
The “Libertarian’s” New Clothes
Well, in fairness Taylor Brown isn’t a Libertarian. She’s a Neocon through and through.
Nothing passive about the oppression around here. It’s pretty aggressive.
Your government is powerless to help you.
But when it comes to hurting you….
Insurance, people. Buy it!
That is one of the most despicable, corrupt, industries to be found in this country. We have been hornswaggled into believing we cannot live without it, yet when it comes time for them to pay, they seem to have a million and one reasons why they cannot fix or replace someone’s losses.
“Your house is too old.”
“You need flood insurance. We don’t cover water damage unless you have flood insurance.”
“You needed wind or air movement insurance for this. Sorry”
“You needed earth movement insurance for that mud slide. Sorry you don’t have that.”
… and on, and on, and on, …
I wish I believed there really was a Hell, because it would be nice to think there is a special corner of it for insurance company functionaries and upper management, who gleefully accept money from prople while telling them they are “protected”, but then slam the door in the customer’s face when they have a problem.
A happy insurance boss says to his employees, “You worked very hard this year. As a reward, I’ll give everyone a check for $5,000. If you work with the same zeal next year, I’ll sign those checks.”
————
Confucius says…
“Needing insurance is like needing a parachute. If it isn’t there the first time, chances are you won’t be needing it again
—————–
An insurance sales rep, an administration clerk and their manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a genie comes out in a puff of smoke. The genie says, “I usually only grant three wishes, so I’ll give each of you just one.” “Me first! Me first!” says the admin clerk. “I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.”
Poof! She’s gone.
In astonishment, “Me next! Me next!” says the sales rep. “I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on
the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of piña coladas and the love of my life.”
Poof! He’s gone.
“Ok, you’re up,” the genie says to the manager. The manager says, “I want those two back in the
office after lunch.”
my favorite:
—————-
A retired insurance agent, now in
his mid-70’s and about to receive anesthesia, is on the operating table awaiting surgery. He insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, should perform the operation.
The old man signaled to speak to his son.
“Yes, Dad, what is it?” asked the son.
“Don’t be jittery son, perform your best, and never forget that if it fails, if something should happen to me, your mother will live with you and your wife the rest of her days.”
I wish I believed there really was a Hell, because it would be nice to think there is a special corner of it for insurance company functionaries and upper management
==========
And I hope Carroll Campbell is roasting in it.
Can atheists claim on their insurance if it really was an ‘act of god’?
It wasn’t an act of God. It was Force Majeure. I know that doesn’t work with Pat Robertson’s claim of it being some punishment for something, may be Supreme Court Decision about gay marriage or something. But, that’s Pat up there on Batshit Mountain
I blame Santa when the cookies come up missing around Xmas. My kids believe, that’s all that matters.
:)
A father asks his 10-year-old son if he knows about the birds and the bees.
“I DON’T WANT TO KNOW!” the child says, bursting into tears. “PROMISE ME YOU WON’T TELL ME!”
Confused, the father asks what’s wrong.
“Oh, Dad,” the boy sobs. “When I was six, I got the ‘There’s no Santa speech’. At seven, I got the ‘There’s no Easter Bunny’ speech. When I was eight, you hit me with the ‘There’s no tooth fairy’ speech.
“If you’re going to tell me that grown-ups don’t really get laid, I’ll have nothing left to live for!”
Geez man, you must have one hell of a library!
I do — and one book was published in 1939 (“10,000 Jokes, Toasts and Stories” — things our grandfathers and great-grandfathers laffed about!(all clean stuff, too). I also find new items all the time, including items you guys submit. I try to save everything that’s good. My goal is to sort, edit, and print various small editions for family members appropriate for them.
Here’s an example —
————————-
A traveling salesman declared that he had the most perfect wife who ever lived. “Isn’t it
monotonous to go through life with such a paragon?” his companion asked.
“Well, I may have put it a little strong – absence makes the heart grow fonder, you know!” said the home-going husband. “If she has any little fault at all, it’s a tendency to profanity when intoxicated!”
On the other hand, a SCDOT employee died trying to help people in this storm. A lot of public workers from first responders to engineers worked overtime to rescue people, rebuild roads, fix water lines, and so much more. A little balance, please.
Is that possible from a 20-something whose goal in life appears to be to become a political hack?
I don’t know, but a useful test might be for such a person to envision a city worker repairing a broken sewer line during a flood with feces and who knows what else in the mud and dirty water around him. If that very realistic visioning exercise doesn’t produce a less judgmental perspective, then I’d agree that the case is probably hopeless.
Envisioning something would probably require a degree of empathy that seems beyond 20-somethings of this ilk and the politicians they suck up to.
And, Finley’s talking point response is even worse because he should be old and experienced enough to have a clue what public employees do to make so many things he takes for granted possible..
???
Bureaucrats aren’t public safety crews or DOT crews that actually do something. There’s a difference between the permit office and the FD, PD, Water, Sewer and Road guys out doing work. I’m pretty sure Taylor understands this. She’s talking about the “permit office” dolts who can’t seem to correctly do their jobs.
Taylor, I’m still with ya’ but help me out a little here:
1) What’s that “something” in “20-something” ?
2) How did you get “sucked into politics at an early age” ? Who did it and how old were you?
3) When did Rush’s begin serving wine, and allowing ‘spirited’ political arguments on the premises? I lived in the neighborhood off of Broad River Road for many years and we were only allowed to enjoy our burgers and banana splits….
The “wine” thing???
That’s because she’s not welcome at the Nu-Way or Ike’s here in Spartanburg any more………….
Let alone Hickory Tavern or Gerhard’s…………….
Those are some fine establishments that I frequent myself. What on earth could she have done to warrant expulsion?
Guess you need to ask her…………..
Never even been to those establishments mentioned. But bless sparklecity’s heart for thinking I have. I was always a RJ Rockers, Cribb’s bloody mary bar, and Willy Taco girl.
There’s a Hickory Tavern in Spartanburg? No sarcasm… Serious question.
1) 20-something…. Mid(ish)-twenties.
2) 4th grade “what political party do you belong to?” quiz. I was the farthest Right in my class.
3) That’s why I get my Rush’s to go… I can eat it in bed with a glass (or two) of wine.
Thanks for enlightening us! (chuckles)
PS: Taylor, you’re a good sport — I’m putting your foto on my desktop tomorrow (that’s twice in one week!)
24. You’re 24. Deal with it.
Tits or GTFO!
PLEASE exercise your civic right to vote tomorrow should you reside in Columbia’s city limits! Very important election to NOT allow Mayorhood the Council voting bloc so desperately desired. Come on Cola. town, DO NOT allow strong mayor issue to EVER resurface!
wait…..these are Republicans wanting government to help out ?? OMG
Yeah, they want FEMA money for repairing faulty failed private dams in the Gills Creek area along with free state-contracted engineering consulting services. Petty-bourgeois parasites.
The window staffers aren’t likely to have that power anyway. They probably do good to handle normal requests.
Funny things happen to folks that become “public servants”. All of a sudden civilians are the stupid ones and the public servants become magically endowed with government wisdom from on high.
Assholes forget to realize they are still a part of the community.
You, SOS, are a self-fulfilling prophesy. You really ARE stupid if you believe the employee can simply break the rules at will. What would happen to a bartender who decided to stop charging people for their drinks?
Bartenders get paid voluntarily by customers, & the boss- and if they don’t charge for drinks and have a good reason bosses let it slide as long as they are making money.(like giving a free round to a customer, or making up for a disturbance in a bar and giving everyone free drinks, all to keep customers coming back)
No one pays a government permit issuer voluntarily for any service/product. They are forced.
Also, a government employee doesn’t have to be concerned with profit as his salary is taken from others whether they perform their duties or not. The permitting office isn’t going out of business if they stop charging, they just take the money from people a different way and keep doing whatever.
Working for a private business is drastically different than working for government.
what the fuck? who was handing out FEMA checks? was that Finlay or was that the “government”?
What a laugh. Finlay was one of the worst on City Council, and worked hard to destroy public safety in Columbia…. you know, the guys who risked their OWN safety to help so many during the flood.
If the only requirement for a “building permit” is to write a check, then it’s only purpose is to collect additional, undeserved revenue from taxpayers.
“GOVERNMENT’S “PASSIVE OPPRESSION”
The faulty-dam owners had similar gripes when those meddling inspectors told them to fix their faulty dams. Fortunately DHEC never enforces anything and we end up with a kind of libertarian system. “Do want you want.”
Maybe the inspectors should have told the local government that owned dams downstream that the dams should have been upgraded to a higher standard in the event those upstream don’t carry out repairs.
Yeah, or tell the downstream homeowners to vacate the bottom floors or it’s their fault if there is any damage.
(“Do what you want,” is what I meant above.)
Maybe they should have thought about that before buying property in a potential flood zone.
Not only did they error in where they bought a house, they also erred in their faith in their local government to maintain dams instead of putting flowers in the middle roads already undersized for the town.
Shifty to the defense of Taylor (these are just for you, dear) —
————————
1) – The young reporter thought long and hard. Finally she handed the Editor the following report. “Mrs. Smith was injured in a car accident today. She is recovering in County Hospital with lacerations on her ( . )( . )”
2) – A female reporter was conducting an interview with a farmer about Mad Cow Disease. “Mr. Brown, do you have any idea what might be the cause of the disease?”
“Sure. Do you know the bulls only screw the cows once a year?”
“Umm, sir, that is a new piece of information, but what’s the relationship between this and Mad Cow?”
“And did you know we milk the cows twice a day?”
“Mr. Brown, that’s interesting, but, what’s the point?”
“Lady, the point is this: if I’m playing with your tits twice a day, but only screwing you once a year, wouldn’t you go mad, too?”
Shifty to the defense of the negative posters (just for your guys)
——————————-
There was once a young woman who, in her youth, professed her
desire to become a great writer.
When asked to define “great” she said, “I want to write stuff
that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a truly
emotional level, stuff that will make them scream, cry, howl in pain and anger!”
She now works for Microsoft, writing error messages.
Awesome, Shifty! That was just freakin’ awesome!!!!
(heh) (heh) —- just a little something to balance it all out…..
If I had to rebuild I would get out, run, from Columbia and any sphere of power it holds, i. e. water, transportation, and political. Same could be said for Richland County except for the fantastic job Sheriff Lott and his Deputies have done staying on top of this disaster.
anyone check with Alan Wilson regards price gouging “No money, no permit, that is the way it works.”