WARNING ALL CONSTITUENTS: BE AFRAID, BE VERY, VERY AFRAID

WARNING ALL CONSTITUENTS: BE AFRAID, BE VERY, VERY AFRAID


By Donie Vanitzian, BA, JD, Arbitrator
(c)2006


Beware California's New Way of Government


Be Careful! This is not the way it used to be. This new bureaucratic bog down affects every voter in California in dollars and cents. Things in California have changed dramatically for the worse. For example, California homeowners: Beware of Assemblymember Ted Lieu's office and staff and other Senate and Assemblymember offices.


THE YOUNG AND BRAINLESS

Lieu's office is not an isolated event and it is not an isolated government entity. Many government departments instill their young and green staff with delusions of grandeur that they are somehow "better than" those they are hired to serve. These people have come to believe that their positions are filled with "importance" to the extent they are "protected" by the government; yes they have the government behind them because they work for an Assemblyperson or Senator. This gives them the freedom to be combative, defensive, and hell‑bent in protecting their own jobs and employees at any cost ‑ even in reinterpreting what the constituent says. If they want to destroy the constituent they can do so easily, with one phone call, with one "over imagined" statement, even with one lie. So proud of themselves that they didn't take any sh*t from a VOTER one can just see that staffer when he hangs up the phone slamming the high‑fives: See! I didn't let Mrs. Schmuck get away with THAT. Never mind what that VOTER was trying to get across to that office, it now becomes more important not to "take it," whatever "it" is. Staffer flunkies are found everywhere, not just in Lieu's office, and they are per se believed before the constituent's rendition of what was and wasn't said takes place.


GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE CODE‑WORDS

I know a government agent who was on her day off trying to accomplish something in another government office. After two months of getting the run‑around and being sent from one office to another, she eventually ended up right back where she started. Her statute of limitations clock was still running and she was running out of time on a matter of compliance. This time, at the same office in front of the same incompetent clerk she made the mistake of somewhat raising her voice and questioning the incompetent clerk. Immediately several deputies arrived with guns in one hand and cuffs in another, telling her to come with them quietly or they would arrest her. Had it not been for the fact that her husband is a deputy sheriff himself, guess where she would have been taken. The reason? She questioned the clerk who was responsible for sending her on bogus escapes for two months why he LIED? Rather than answer the question the clerk signaled "the code" to the deputies indicating the woman was "disruptive" or "threatening" therefore "remove her."

In another example, the girl behind the counter said to an elderly woman in front of me in line, "Are YOU telling ME how to do MY job?" The old woman (in a walker and with a rather conspicuous hearing aid) turned around and asked a person in line, "Did you hear what she said, I didn't hear. What did she say?" Counter girl: "Are YOU making FUN of ME?" Dazed, the old woman didn't have a clue what was happening, but before she knew it, two thugs in uniform grabbed her and removed her from line. The counter girl said: "Next." As I left the building a police car was putting the old woman in the back seat.


GOADING PEOPLE INTO RAISING THEIR VOICE

The new terrorism appears to be sanctioned against innocent individuals who, out of frustration make the perilous mistake of raising their voice. Today, a "perceived" threat, real or imagined can have dire consequences ‑ yet there are no consequences for government workers who use that ability to ruin the lives of those who are forced to deal with that agency or department. Constituents (VOTERS) are placed in a situation where they must watch every word they say to any of their representatives because those answering the phone are in more powerful positions than they would have otherwise been had they been working for a used car lot where the majority should be employed today. Those answering the phone in a government office will unfortunately be ipso facto believed in what they say before the constituent gets a chance to defend himself.

Confusing or tripping‑up the caller is the new game on the block for bored employees. Double‑talking, sabotage, and get‑rid‑of‑the‑caller only brings the employee closer to collecting a paycheck and pension.


WE NEVER GOT A MESSAGE FROM YOU

Message? What message? After an hour of yes you did‑no we didn't, the question becomes: What does this mean for constituents? It may mean that his campaign donors like other elected officials, are the new breed of office workers who are brainwashed into believing that their "job" security is worth more than a constituent‑voter trying to get through to their representative. Whatever you do, don't call them what they are: CIVIL SERVANTS.

Most of the Senators and Assemblypersons' offices aren't interested in what you have to say, their agendas are set so far in advance that they can't afford being derailed by a good idea brought forward by a mere constituent ‑ or someone who is not a campaign donor. In other words, they are in their own world and not the world they have been elected to serve. Just take a look at all the re‑named highways and new holidays that occur every year. The time wasted in congress just to pay homage to a dead issue so as not to offend any particular group has cost this state billions of dollars. Meanwhile, the REAL business is dead.


HE‑SHE‑IT

Political incorrectness can get you arrested. Choose your words carefully. Most government office workers reply depends on what they THINK they heard you say, their response may hinge on your every word. The public is now dealing with a lowered mentality and the ultimate in dumbing down: "I am NOT a civil servant!! I work for the ASSEMBLYPERSON DAMMIT!! I WORK FOR DA GUH‑VA‑MINT." Across the state, when attempting to contact their representatives many people are experiencing this lack of mentality. Complaints abound. The definitions of the "usual" job descriptions have taken on incredible and farfetched new meanings. There are NO more secretaries or assistants, everyone must now have IMPORTANT sounding titles that self‑inflate egos and stroke the prowess of these new young hirees. For instance, take the title "Field Representative." Seriously, what do you think that person does? Here's how it was explained to me: he presents certifications to people that Assemblyman Lieu would have otherwise been there to hand to the recipient but didn't AND, "I attend community events." Excuse me? We now PAY a STAFF to make public appearances for the ELECTED Assemblyperson? The Assemblyman can't even be bothered to APPEAR before the people who elected him?

Constituents are now shuffled into endless loops of no return. Excuse follows excuse. Your name is now in a database of "combatants."


STUPID EMPLOYEES KEEP US IN OFFICE

The pay's not great so we are extremely fortunate to have this fantastic hardworking staff. Yes, a Senator actually said that to me in defending his staff's blatant and indefensible incompetence. He went on to say, "if it wasn't for the prestige of working here, I wouldn't have a staff." PUH‑LEEZE! These government offices have adopted the private business sector's mantra of instilling and promoting a "we" attitude in their staff. The belief is that, that assemblyperson or senator would not have been elected if it were not for THIS staff. This attitude consists of a smiling and cheerful belief that these highs school staffers are doing very important work for the People and by virtue of their involvement in that office, these school kids are equally as important as the elected official himself.

These on‑the‑payroll employees are lead to believe that they are more important than the constituent‑voters, and to accomplish that, they are made to feel special and more important than they actually are. The government accomplishes this goal effortlessly at minimal cost, by upgrading the employee's title, gifting small gratuitous tokens or accolades, or sending him on government sponsored motivational‑training seminars. Better yet, they schedule more meetings ‑‑ because meetings make those underlings feel oh‑so‑important, i.e., more important than they are. ACTING as if that employee is THAT important, the underlings are encouraged to share their genius thoughts with the office. The effects of these really important meetings and titles are accomplished effortlessly without any upgrade in salary or authority. Even without the authority, any staffer in these positions are dangerous because of the power they wield. But even though the job description hasn't changed, there are no longer any "secretaries," but there are lots of "assistants."

One arrogant staffer said, "Let me explain to you how the government works because it doesn't seem like you know." Followed by, "what did you say your name was again? Spell it."

Many complaints and even court documents refer to government employees and clerks as incompetent and accuse them of dishonesty, stupidity, dereliction of duty, and favoritism toward some and not others. One attorney in a brief, actually stated that "in order to be a federal crime and to have a crime prosecuted in federal court as opposed to state court, there has to be what is kind of a stupid word, but you know lawyers; they have to come up with stupid words to make themselves look important. And since Congress, of course, is made of primarily lawyers, all our laws are written stupidly, and no one can understand them but lawyers, and that keeps lawyers employed." I wonder if he still has his government job?

Others have said that:

"most public defenders are 'simply hacks'; assistant prosecutors are there for the 'government coffee suck in lieu of more arduous, stress‑laden and challenging work'; violent criminals are almost always poor and stupid; police officers almost always lie; most family‑related pathologies are due in large part to a 73% female working population; parents who both work outside the home are self‑absorbed and negligent; and the entire drug industry is fueled by sociopathic reckless youth from single‑parent homes."

Yes, it is true, that paragraph was filed in a brief at the court.

LISTEN AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT

Individuals must retrain themselves to listen very carefully. Understand that "Very carefully" now means:

$ Listen to every word that is spoken to you.

$ Don't interject.

* Don't assume.

$ Don't presume.

$ Don't read into it.

$ Don't ask too many questions.

$ Avoid unnecessary conversation.

$ Keep your questions at a minimum and make sure they are thought‑out in advance.

$ Ask only questions that are absolutely necessary.

$ Watch your body language as it can easily be misinterpreted. Don=t even shake your head or let your eyes wander. Stay focused. Do not nod your head in disagreement or agreement.

$ Don't give them a reason to do something to you.

$ Respond carefully, if at all.

$ When you enter a government office with a handbag, wallet, briefcase, file folder, or envelope, make sure it is empty.

$ Once those officials think you are on a fishing expedition, it's over for you. Many of these offices record every word, but even if you want a copy of that recording you won't get it.

$ Try to get their response in writing.


Know this: Sometimes it is better to cut your losses, say nothing, walk the hell away, and get outta dodge.