Can you tell me a little about the United States Federal Bureaucracy? I am studying it...any info would be ok

Question

Yes Graci, and then when you reach the other dept they suggest you talk to the first one you talked to...or a new dept. lol I know exactly what you mean. Have had that happen many times.

Answer 1

It is sometimes referred to as the "fourth" branch of the government. It pervades all levels of government to some degree. Basically, it began as "public service" and has ended up as the fatted calf.

Career government officials do what they can to protect their own jobs first and foremost. If doing that helps you in some way, then you are one of the lucky ones.

The worst part of the bureaucracy is the staff members for the Congressmen and Senators. Most of them were there when the current politician got elected; and most will be there when the next one gets there too. This takes power away from the elected politician and gives it to the career staffers, who are too-heavily relied upon for advice by "freshman" legislators.

Soon the staff are dictating national "policy" by steering the "legislative intent" and how it is perceived by those who have to implement it.

Answer 2

They invented the word "RED TAPE", or as the one above me implied, they do very little except waste time and money...
Here's how it would work, say if you called a specific office looking for help, advice, etc..... : The first call you make, you give them the particulars of information you have, and you want an answer as to what you do from here. They inform you that you have called the wrong dept. or office, and give you a new number to call. Next, you call the number that you were given by the first office, now once again you explain your situation and/or problem now to the second office or department, and they reply that you once again have reached the "wrong" area for information, and they give you a third number, now, to call in order to resolve whatever your issue is. You now call the third number, explain your problem, and ask for advice or help, they kindly reply that they can not help you, but they will give you a number to call for the help that you need. It turns out that when they give you the number, it was the first number you called in the first place........back to square one....
Hopefully, I have explained this in such a way as to leave you totally confused, scratching your head, and wondering "what the hell did he just say"....... If so, I have now enlightened you as to how the American bureaucracy works, have a great day, thank you.....LMAO............
Thoroughly confused, totally angry, you slam the phone down, say an expletive, and give up. Believe it or not, the bureaucracy has worked it's magic on you.......

Answer 3

It is huge, very expensive, mostly non-productive.