What EXACTLY is "red-tape"?

Question

Why does the term apply when referring to bureaucracy?

What EXACTLY does it MEAN TODAY in the 21st Century?

Answer 1

I believe (although I've never been told or looked it up) that it refers to when access is made very difficult to the public or organisations by those in power, particuarly concerning and incident etc of embarrassment or stinging truth that may be trying to be covered up.

Answer 2

Wikipedia says (plus an awful lot more to which the link is below):
The origins of the term are obscure, but it alludes to the 17th and 18th century English practice of binding documents and official papers with red tape and were popularized in the writings of Thomas Carlyle protesting against official inertia with expressions like "Little other than a red tape Talking-machine, and unhappy Bag of Parliamentary Eloquence." To this day most barristers' briefs are tied in a pink coloured ribbon known as Red Tape. Traditionally, Vatican official documents were also bound in red cloth tape.
Enjoy :)

Answer 3

Red Tape is there to stop people acting in a fraudulent manner. It is to protect that which needs protecting.
If there were no red tape there would be anarchy. Too much red tape and it becomes ridiculous. Ridiculed, hated by everyone trying to get on with life!

Answer 4

Lawyers Folders and Files are bound/sealed with Red Tapes and Pink Tapes.

So when decisions become long and involve lots of papers there are a lot of red tapes to untie and re-tie.

Answer 5

when something that needs to get done gets caught up in the bureaucratic process where a lot of paperwork or approvals are required to get something done; the thing is said to caught up in "red tape"

essentially it the process between the beginning and the end of something. (getting a loan for example. the process from the time you fill out an application until the time you get the loan, all that is "red tape")

Answer 6

in times past all the legislation to be put before the sovereign was tied with red tape, and a delay was then due to the red tape not being removed whilst in the queue awaiting the sovereign's ascent.

Answer 7

They are the rules and regs that used to be highlighted with the red tape on typewriters !!

Answer 8

The files that are bound with red tape.

Like the old style.

Answer 9

Its the little rules and regulations that have to be overcome put simply.