Bureaucracy and the Bureaucratic Web  by Ray Wegner   

Definition of Bureaucracy by the Experts        Ray's Interpretation of Bureaucracy

Lessons Learned Regarding Bureaucracy             The Writer's Personal Encounter With the Alberta Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy As Defined by the Experts 

Before continuing  let me make some points crystal clear. Let there be no misunderstandings whatsoever. The term   ' bureaucracy '  is being used here. This word has many meanings for different people. It is often interpreted as a dirty word by many, especially here in Alberta.

Let us look first at the Random House Dictionary definition of bureaucracy; 

Bureaucracy  Govt.  1. government by bureaus, administrators, and petty officials.   2.  the body of officials and administrators, esp. of a government, or government department.   3.   excessive multiplication of, and concentration of power in, administrative bureaus or administrators.   4. excessive government red tape and routine.

Now let us look at the definition of bureaucracy from;   

The Social Web - An Introduction to Sociology by Perry and Perry from page 26:    "  When formal organizations reach large-scale dimensions - as do giant corporations, state and federal governments, and huge university complexes - they are called bureaucracies. A bureaucracy is a hierarchal system in an organization. The hierarchy depends on job specialization - or division of labour - on a set of rules and standards designed to promote uniformity, and an attitude of impersonal impartiality."

Also from page 403 of the same publication;    

"  Bureaucracy.  The type of formal organization all large-scale enterprises have. Bureaucracies include a clear-cut division of labour; a division of work into routine tasks, so employees can be easily replaced; the solving of problems by rational, rather than emotional means; and impersonality in applying rules. "

Now let's look at Readings In Sociology  by  Schuler, Holt, Gibson and  Brookover; from page 348-355, a work by Max Weber entitled Bureaucracy:   

Characteristics of Bureaucracy  "  Modern officialdom functions in the following specific manner:  

I. There is the principle of fixed and official jurisdictional areas, which are generally ordered by rules, that is, by laws or administrative regulations.    

1. The regular activities required for the purposes for the bureaucratically governed structure are distributed in a fixed way as official duties.

2. The authority to give the commands required for the discharge of these duties is distributed in a stable way, and is strictly delimited by rules concerning the coercive means, physical, sacerdotal, or otherwise, which may be placed at the disposal of officials.

3. Methodical provision is made for the regular and continuous fulfillment of these duties, and for execution of the corresponding rights; only persons who have the generally regulated qualifications to serve are employed. "

"  In public and lawful government these three elements constitute  bureaucratic authority. In private economic domination, they constitute bureaucratic management. Bureaucracy, thus understood, is fully developed in political and ecclesiastical communities only in the modern state, and, in the private economy, only in the most advanced institutions of capitalism."

From page 349 of the same work by Max Weber   "  The idea that the bureau activities of the state are intrinsically different in character from the management of private economic offices is a continental European notion and, by way of contrast, is totally foreign to the American way. "

From page 354 of the same work by Max Weber  " Today, it is primarily the capitalist market economy which demands that the official business of the administration be discharged precisely, unambiguously, continuously, and with as much speed as possible. Normally, the very large, modern capitalist enterprises are themselves unequalled models of strict bureaucratic organization. "

The Writer's Interpretation of Bureaucracy

Here is the way I interpret bureaucracy. This is just my own way of looking at it. I try to simplify matters and boil them down to their essence.

Bureaucracy isn't a dirty word. We need the bureaucracy, and government bureaucrats to perform the essential duties of government. They serve an essential function, and should be well paid and treated respectfully and courteously. They are there to serve the public, and shouldn't have to put up with abuse. They are there to serve us, not bully us.

There are two kind of workers within government. There are those in management (who have authority over the workers within the system), and there are the ordinary workers within government, who serve the public, but who do not have any authority over other workers within the system. Basically there are those in management positions and those who are just regular workers. This is perhaps a simplistic interpretation.  

A good example is a regular bus driver for city transit. They are a government worker, but have no authority over other bus drivers. They have authority to deal with unruly passengers, and keep order on the bus, of course. But essentially they are a worker in the public service. Their managers, however are in a different position. The public rarely see them, but how they treat their workers can have a direct influence on how the bus driver serves the public.

Workers within government are no different from workers within the private sector. A worker is a worker is a worker. 

In the private sector when the business is small and run directly by the owner, or owners, then management cannot in my judgment be regarded as bureaucratic. There are all kinds of small businesses run directly by the owner, free enterpriser, capitalist, or entrepreneur. They are involved in the hands on management duties, and are directly in contact with the workers, if they have any, and are directly in control of their workforce. In my judgment such management cannot be regarded as bureaucratic.

In my judgment, in the private sector a bureaucracy develops when the owner, or owners, hires someone to manage the business. Perhaps it has grown too large for the owners to handle themselves, or perhaps it is a business that sells public shares on the stock market. Thus springs up a management class that exercises authority over the workforce within the business. This is the bureaucracy within the private sector. These are the ones given authority by owners over the work done by workers on the job, and to manage and control the means of production. But the worker within the private sector is no different than the worker in the public sector. A worker is a worker is a worker. That is my opinion.

Naturally not all workers are equal. If they are unionized this gives them more security and clout. There are various factors at play. 

Management in the private sector and in government are also not in exactly the same position. Mismanagement in the private sector can lead to the company losing money, going broke, or losing market share.

Mismanagement in government bureaucracy doesn't have the same check and balance of competition, or the worry their employer will lose money, or go bankrupt, as does private sector management (unless maybe it is a crown corporation). Governments often just keep raising taxes, instead of working for efficiencies. This may work for a time, but can change swiftly, if the people vote out the government and the new government decides to streamline the bureaucracy, or do some privatization. So the bureaucracy in government is usually in a more secure position compared to private sector management, but they are by no means untouchable. It all depends on who the people choose to lead them, and the kind of policies they have.

Problems arise in bureaucracies when politics, patronage and lust for power overshadow the role of serving the public, and performing the job effectively and efficiently. There are too many within management positions, who are on a little power trip. They can create a hell for those under their authority. 

Some Lessons Learned Regarding Bureaucracy

Now please allow me to explain some of the important lessons I have learned regarding bureaucracy. This hasn't come from a book, but was learned through observation and personal experience. Hopefully you will find it interesting. 

1. The government bureaucracy has a harder time getting at you and controlling your life, if you have sufficient personal resources, especially financial. The more vulnerable you are the easier it is for them to meddle and control you.

2. It doesn't make any sense to reduce people to abject poverty before helping them. Help them before they hit that level, then they won't have such a big hole to crawl out of. It will be easier for them to get on their feet. Turn them into a tax payer, instead of into a poverty statistic.

3. Bureaucratic meddling in the hopes of saving money, very often boomerangs and ends up costing the government more in the end. Too often the bureaucracy falsely assumes most people are out to cheat the system. Not enough faith in people. Sure there are some cheats around. But why would anyone on one of our social programs want to lie and risk losing the meagre support they are getting ? 

4. If unchecked, most bureaucracies main concern evolves into perpetuating itself. 

5. Bureaucracies in general love to duplicate services, if given a chance to. And they don't like to communicate with each other, unless forced to do so by government policy. Protecting the turf and the job.

6. If left unchecked, and if people are too weak, the bureaucracy will try to control and run people's lives, even if they don't have a clue what they are doing. Stand up for your rights. If you don't, then who will ?

7. It is our hope that Judges will try harder to be impartial, fair and unbiased. 

8. The police are very often used as pawns in games.  Bureaucracies can manipulate the police and  use them as instruments of intimidation against real or perceived foes. The police must follow orders and are invariably innocent pawns in the game. This is not to suggest I have hard evidence of wrongdoing by business, or government management, or to imply the police are following direct orders from top management to harass certain individuals or groups. 

However, look what happened at the APEC summit a few years back in Vancouver. 

Look at the massive numbers of Police used to guard the dignitaries at the World Petroleum Congress here in Calgary a few years back. This was total overkill by the authorities in my judgment. I went downtown with my wife and two little kids out of curiosity. We did not participate in any demonstrations. There were a couple dozen ragged, lonely, harmless protesters carrying signs during the march we saw. A Police helicopter buzzed noisily and menacingly overhead. A fair number of muscular, riot suppression cops, suddenly appeared on the sidewalk near the pathetically small procession of demonstrators. I mentioned to another onlooker that there were probably more police than marchers. The few marchers (just rather ordinary looking folks), some on bicycles, and some looking scruffy, walked or cycled to Olympic Plaza followed by the noisy cop chopper all the way. 

The marchers were joined by a couple of hundred people at the plaza. There were a few speeches. We didn't take in any speeches. We were just curious onlookers. I walk about gaping amazingly at the enormous steel fence and the massive police presence. Some of the Police look at me, at my poor wife and two little kids - rather sheepishly. Yeah they knew the score. So did I. They are just following the orders, of their superiors. And their superiors are following the orders of the bureaucracy.  It's the job. The overtime helps pay the bills.

The meeting at Olympic Plaza ends. There was a minor bit of illegal action by a minority of demonstrators, who blocked the C-Train tracks. I was just a spectator, and did not participate. I do not condone illegal actions, and blocking the track was illegal. The police move a barrier to block the demonstrators, and they move up towards the barricades in military formation and very stern. Clearly a tactic to intimidate the crowd. Just following orders of the higher ups. They are trained for these things.

When I saw all this ( the fence, the sheer numbers of police, the really small number of protesters, the silliness of it all ) it just looked so very amusing and disgusting to me at the same time. It was total and complete overkill. So don't tell me that the bureaucracy doesn't use the police as pawns on occasion to intimidate their real or perceived foes. Naturally the police are there to preserve the peace, and they did their jobs professionally.  There should not have been any blocking of the C-Train tracks, and there shouldn't be any animosity and disrespect directed towards the police. They are just doing their jobs. I saw one person spitting in the direction of the police, and this cannot be condoned.

When the whole thing was over the media and papers were full of praise towards the organizers of the World Petroleum Congress, and the City Fathers, for insuring such a safe, peaceful convention. The massive expenses for security were neatly justified. The media spin doctors went to work, and said that there was such a small number of demonstrators, and so very little confrontation, because of the wonderful planning of the authorities, and because of the massive police presence, and because of the huge steel fence. The demonstrators were scared off went the propaganda, because they knew there was such a powerful security in place !  All that money spend for security was worth every penny, went the twist. The implied innuendo and spin was that had it not been for all those police, the protesters would have run rampant, smashing and pillaging no doubt. Yet what I saw looked overwhelmingly peaceful to me.

There is probably more violence on a typical Saturday night in the bars and night clubs of Calgary, then there was by the demonstrators during the entire World Petroleum Congress. This is just my educated guess.

The message of the protesters wasn't even mentioned in the mainstream media - to my knowledge. If it was it sure wasn't extensive, because I missed it. Mostly what the media talked about was how well the security arrangements went, and how Calgary stuck it to those nasty anarchists who were out to riot, smash windows and disrupt their community. Just wondering - do those nasty anarchists include my two little kids ? After all they were there too.

9. In general government bureaucracies are not motivated enough in seeing people becoming independent of the bureaucracy. Too often it seems their main concern is controlling people and keeping them coming, so that the system can perpetuate itself. 

10.  Too many managers view their own department as their private territory, or fiefdom. Poor communications between departments in government, and business is common.  Bureaucratic inefficiency is quite often tolerated as long as everyone just plays the game, and the management position isn't threatened in any way. Getting the job done is quite often not as important as protecting the management position. However, when management is threatened, bureaucrats usually swiftly close ranks to protect their butts. There aren't any unions for management. 

11.  It appears too often governments are just interested in ordering people around, and telling them what to do. It can become a power trip. Such arbitrary decision making is usually faulty, because the people involved have not been consulted. Management in big business also has a remarkable tendency towards not consulting workers, and making arbitrary, unilateral decisions. This results in a lot of bad decisions and poor worker morale. This is not to suggest all governments and all management are just after power over others. There are many dedicated managers, who really care.

12. Forcing people who are on social assistance into various programs, and into workfare like they have done in Ontario, usually breeds passive resistance. This is the same with any kind of forced, or mandatory programs the governments impose on the weak and vulnerable. Being so vulnerable the individuals can in most cases only muster up the weakest of straight forward opposition. But they can passively resist. They perhaps don't cooperate much. They make up excuses. They don't put out. They get sick easily. There are a thousand ways to resist passively the  bullying of an insensitive government. In the end the purpose of the program is defeated, because it was forced on them. 

Get people's cooperation. Consult - don't bully. Then your program has a good chance for success.

13. Very often bureaucrats (both private sector, and public) claim to give clients, or employees a choice, but it is either their way or the highway. Some choice !

14. Bureaucracies in government and in the private sector are very often not synchronized with each other. Not enough coordination among departments is all too common.

15. Much of the medical profession, and many other professions are out of touch with the reality the poor must face. These managers and professionals have a very good income, and so can barely relate to the needy. Thus much of the advice given to the poor is unrealistic.

16.  A lot of community programs and helping organizations, funded through charitable donations and governments - too often inflate the needs of the clientele they serve. This can be done in various ways. For example helping those, who instead really need a good lecture, and a ride back to their homes. Helping those, who should be sent back to their families, especially when there is no evidence to suggest any kind of violence. There are the legitimate needy, who need help. But it sometimes seems needs are inflated, so as to keep the funding increases coming.

17. Sadly sometimes management and the bureaucracy just has a prejudice and hatred towards you.  Discrimination by management in business and government happens. It isn't supposed to, but it does  (hopefully this can be caught before serious damage results). It is extremely difficult to say how often, but it happens. We need more fair and honest people in management positions. 

18. Without adequate checks and controls government bureaucracies are notoriously inefficient. The checks and balances of competition and the market place are not there, like they are with private sector management. 

19. Without a good watch dog, management in government and the private sector can easily become corrupt.

20. Self-policing agencies are basically useless. Such friendly lap dog bureaucracies are merely the instruments of those they wish to police. It's like hiring a fox to monitor the other foxes in the hen house. 

21. In far too many cases the poor are exploited by the bureaucracy. 

22. The homeless are not being served as well as they could in many cases.

23. Union bureaucrats are once again often too concerned with perpetuating the position than dealing with the issues at hand. Unions can paralyse the country. If not run properly unions can drive employers out of business, which is self defeating. Too many unions sadly have become just another layer of bureaucracy. It need not be that way.

24. When I look at big government and then at big business, I can hardly tell the difference. They look like twins. They both seem to follow the same principle of - " either it's my way or the highway. "   There is a remarkable similarity between management in big business and management in big government. 

A Personal Encounter With the Alberta Bureaucracy

This matter had to do with someone close to me - my younger daughter Susan Wegner - my biological daughter whom I raised from birth. She has now turned 18 and is beyond the reach of the clutching, grasping, controlling  bureaucratic fingers of child services. I was wanting to give readers the details of the story, but they are so extremely painful for Susan, me and the rest of the family that I just haven't been able put the story together yet.  Our family - especially Susan and myself were severely persecuted by the government and authorities - treated like junk. You will find it hard to believe what we had to go through. I still intend to go public with the details of the story, but not until I have the time, and not until the pain has subsided more. It is just too painful to deal with it right now for me. This experience was the most painful experience of my life - and I had to endure extreme persecution. However, God delivered us from these trials and persecutions. These persecutions has just confirmed to me that we are indeed part of God's true church, since it is clearly prophesied that God's true church here in these evil last days will have to endure persecutions. 

In the end we were scheduled to go to trial in July of 2006, but one of the ladies who was supposed to do one of the assessments - did not have her report ready on time. We wanted to reschedule the trial for a later date to give us time to go over the assessment in detail, but the Judge said this was not appropriate. He suggested we try to work something out among ourselves - and he gave us a couple of hours to do so. So I and my Lawyer (a very excellent well respected Lawyer) and Child Services and their Lawyer worked out an agreement - called a TGO without prejudice. This satisfied the Judge. And it satisfied me, because it was without prejudice, which means I never gave up or admitted to anything legally - and we never went to trial. It was a really very excellent work of cooperation by the Lawyers - Child Services and myself. I was very, very pleased with it. The Judge commented and praised us all in the Court on how well we had all worked together to get this matter resolved, and he was quite pleased with how things turned out. Without my cooperation this agreement would have never worked. Susan moved home permanently in September of 2006, and the TGO without prejudice ran out a few months later on and child services got out of our lives for good.

Anyways Susan just got caught up in the government bureaucracy, and once you are within the clutches of the system it is very hard to escape. My relationship with her as Father and my desire to help, caused me to also get caught up in the wheels of the bureaucracy. There was absolutely no criminal or illegal actions involved here by myself. There was some very minor illegal activity (stealing) by her, but it was very, very minor, and was dealt with successfully back in the fall of 2006. She learned her lesson very well about how stealing - even very minor shop lifting  about $ 30.00 worth - can cause so much trouble for herself and others. 

This matter took up very much of my time and energy from the spring of 2005 up to the end of March 2007. The matter has been cleared up since September 2006, and she is living a normal, well adjusted, healthy life at home with her family.

In this process I had the experience of seeing inside some of the government bureaucracy here in Alberta.  It has helped me very, very much to have a good understanding of how government institutions and bureaucracies work, and the problems they have.  I was able to see inside various government and government related bureaucracies and institutions. I kept records and notes of my encounters with the various government agencies, government institutions, programs,  and the organizations and professionals who worked for or in consort with these government programs and bureaucracies. 

So what I want to do is relate to you some lessons I was able to learn from this experience.  From these experiences it is very, very clear to me that there is tremendous room for improvements in how these government bureaucracies deal with, communicate with and treat the public. 

Some Lessons Learned

First of all I want to make sure the readers understand that I do appreciate and understand the tremendous amount of good work done by our health care professionals, and other government workers. There is a lot good work being done. However, there is always room for improvement. Tax payers deserve competent and efficient service. 

1. This is probably the biggest and most important problem I was able to clearly identify. It goes something like this. It has to do with assumptions and  perceptions by health care professionals and other government workers. 

They talk to the patient or client, but they do not verify the accuracy of the information. They too often do not listen to the whole story. Therefore they do not get a balanced picture of what is going on. 

The patient or client perhaps tends to be very negative, and so therefore they emphasis the negative and forget about all the positive aspects of a certain matter. Therefore the healthcare professional of child services worker gets a distorted picture of what is really going on. And to top it off the government worker, or health care professional often do not talk to or communicate with the family members, or others involved  and so do not get a balanced picture of what is going on. 

They then can very easily take one little point and blow it completely out of proportion. Making a mountain out of a mole hill. They too often do not communicate effectively. 

So what you get is health care professionals often making decisions based on faulty or inaccurate information, because they failed to communicate properly, failed to get the views of others involved like family members for example. They then can easily take some minor aspect of the situation and run with it and blow it completely out of proportion. 

So I feel it is essential most if not all government workers be required to take training on proper communication techniques to insure they have the skills needed to do their jobs professionally and competently. Any government worker, who is required to take the training, who fails the course should be terminated, or put in a job where they do not have to deal directly with the public. It is essential we have health care professionals and other government workers, who are able to communicate effectively so they are able to get accurate balanced information, so they can therefore make informed decisions regarding patients, or any other matter they may be dealing with. 

2. There has to be an effective check and balance on the power of the Physician , especially that of the Psychiatrist (however, make no mistake I value immensely the important and often life saving works of many Physicians). There is an old saying, " Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. "  Well within the healthcare system -  Doctors, and especially Psychiatric Doctors weld tremendous power.  It is fine if the Physician is competent, honest and caring. However, Doctors are just as human as anyone else. They are not infallible, and they are not all honest. And they are not all competent. What happens when you have to deal with a dishonest Doctor, especially a dishonest and manipulative Psychiatrist ?  Patients can be subject to severe abuse within the system, if they run into an incompetent, or dishonest Physician. There has to be serious checks and balances on the power of Physicians within the health care system, but naturally we need to keep valuing the work they do. What about empowering Nurses more, and perhaps delegated some of the Doctors responsibilities to Nurses. There are other ways and means to deal with the matter. Any ideas ? 

3. The Courts and particularly the Family Court unfortunately are at this time dysfunctional. A major overhaul is needed. Heresy evidence is allowed within the Family Court. Therefore Child Services and others, can manufacture evidence. They can try to smear people, or just make up all kinds of false allegations, or out and out lies. This is not the case with the other courts, where only hard evidence is considered. 

As well under the Family Court the child comes first, and their needs take precedent. Therefore parents are considered guilty of child abuse or child neglect, or whatever - until proven innocent. And you probably always assumed the courts regard you as innocent until proven guilty. Well this is not the case within the Family Court. So therefore parents or guardians are forced to jump through all kinds of hoops that the Judges and Child Services put before them. If you are not obedient, and balk at jumping through all the hoops, you are labelled as uncooperative, and risk losing custody of the child, or losing access to the child, or you fall into disfavour with the Judge. 

The relationship between Child Services and the Family Court is too cozy. Parents, or others close to the child must take the back seat. There seems to be this assumption that if Child Services is involved with a child, and has taken over custody from the parent, or parents or guardian - then this means automatically that the seizure was justified and it automatically means the child is now in safe and secure hands. This may be true in a number of cases, but it is certainly not true all the time. Too often the child is now at greater risk. 

The Family Court for the most part is deeply prejudiced against men and Fathers. This is a very serious problem. We should all demand that the courts be fair and impartial. Why should we have to put up with anything less ? 

4. Costs are out of control, and there is very little deterrent to overspending and waste within the system, and virtually no incentives to save money. This has to change. 

5. It seems clear to me that too many of these government workers are living in an entirely different world from us ordinary mortals. Too many of them seem totally disconnected from the real world. In their isolated, insular world there is an endless supply of money - and if they run short their masters just raise taxes. There is no incentive to save money. They have at this time in the socialist, nanny state here in Alberta and Canada an almost endless supply of money. The government meddles and intervenes in families lives and in the lives of ordinary people. They then hatch up all kinds of schemes and plans, but too often there is not the necessary practical supports to carry their plans to a timely and practical end. For example they may decide they want to go to trial , but the courts are so slow and inefficient that it takes months and months to book the trial date. They may demand further studies and perhaps psychological assessments, but are then not able to deliver the assessment or other specific, tangible material in a practical and timely fashion. 

There is a strong disconnect by these bureaucrats from the real world you and I and other ordinary Canadians must live in.  

6.  The Circle Game

This is just another of a long list of problems within the system. For example Child Services may say that they can't do anything without the support and consent of the Physician involved with the patient. Then if you approach the Doctor they say that they can't do anything except to follow the instructions of Child Services. So you get this circle game. You go to Child Services, and they direct you to the Doctor. You go to the Doctor and they direct you to Child Services. An endless bureaucratic merry-go-round. In the meanwhile these people keep cashing their big pay cheques. 

7. One bureaucrat or bureaucracy dumping their problems on another bureaucrat or bureaucracy. 

An illustration. The Health Region gets involved with a child. They cannot deal successfully with the child within their own program. However, they do not want to work with the family. So they just dump the child upon another agency, or another program. They messed it up, and now expect miracles from the people they dumped the child on. 

One bureaucracy dumping on another bureaucracy. And then they expect miracles. Well in the real world there are not many miracle workers.

This happens far too often regarding the tax system. One level of government off loads responsibilities and expenses on another level of government. They look good, but the other level gets stuck with the bill. One level of government dumping on another level. There is only one tax payer you know. 

8. Butt protection by bureaucrats. 

These bureaucrats and these government agencies and others associated with them will almost never admit they made a mistake. It is deny, deny, deny and the making up of false allegations. Almost a complete failure by these people to take responsibility for their actions. Instead they will manipulate the system and blame the victims. 

One of the signs of a person being an adult, or being mature is that persons willingness to admit mistakes and take responsibility for them. Yet almost never and only extremely rarely have I found a government agency, or bureaucrat willing to admit they made a mistake. Most often they will not even admit it is possible for them to make mistakes. Perhaps they are loathe to admit mistakes because this is a deliberate policy on their part - perhaps to protect themselves from lawsuits. 

9. Another seriously problem I was able to identify was the remarkable tendency for individual workers within the system like Lawyers, health care professionals and others to suck up to powerful government agencies and powerful government bureaucrats, like Child Services for example. 

Therefore these powerful government agencies and bureaucrats do not get a realistic, accurate picture of what is going on, because the Lawyers, Social Workers, Nurses, Doctors and other workers within the system just suck up to them, and try so very hard to please them. 

A Lawyer was heard to say regarding Child Services  - you just go along with these people and do what they say and cooperate. If you fight them then they get their back up and it takes much longer to get matters resolved. 

A lady worker involved in the system was heard to say -  you just agree with Child Services and do what they say and then on the day when they are finally out of your life - you give them the finger. 

Why I had a long conversation with a Project Manager of a large commercial project here in Calgary. The project was at least 6 months (and probably a lot more)  behind due to government red tape and bureaucracy. However, the Project Manager was fearful and told me specifically not too mention his name, because he had a couple of other projects which he needed government approval for. In other words he was afraid of these bureaucrats, and what they could do to him and his company. These people could make it difficult for him, if he went public with his concerns about all the red tape and delays. 

What we have here by too many of these government agencies and government workers is intimidation and the spreading of fear within the community. People are genuinely fearful of these powerful government agencies and powerful government bureaucrats. Therefore in my judgment what we have here is a form of terrorism by government here in Alberta and Canada. Too many of these government agencies and institutions are terrorizing the community - this is especially so with Child Services. There is a tremendous amount of genuine fear within the community of these people, due to the immense power they have, and due to the lack of hardly any real checks and balances to that power. 

People within the community may sense this and can use this as a sort of weapon or bargaining chip against those they don't like. To illustrate - I knew a neighbour whose son put in a bogus complaint of abuse against the boy friend of his mother. The kid had something against the man. So he just hatched up a false story, claiming the man physically abused him. Naturally child services believed the kid, and therefore ended up severely persecuted the man. I talked personally to the kid, and he was quite honest about the rotten trick he played on the guy. The kid said that Child Services will quite easily believe any kind of story of alleged abuse hatched up by a kid, and so was quite easy to manipulate. 

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Government agencies, and bureaucracies - especially that of Child Services - must have much more adequate checks and balances placed upon them. Presently about the only checks and balances come from within the system itself. Such internal checks and balances are essentially useless, because these people are all part and parcel of  the system, and are all paid by and benefit from the system, and so have very little incentive to hold fellow government workers and agencies to task for anything. 

Bureaucrats usually just close ranks to protect their butts, if any kind of allegation of abuse or misuse of power and authority are directed towards brothers and sisters within their ranks. 

What has to be done is to somehow create an independent body or organization that has real power to hold bureaucrats accountable for their actions - for their mistakes and for their abuse of power. Something like an Advocate with teeth. 

What happens when so many just suck up to government agencies and bureaucrats, like with Child Services for example, is that the truth very often is the first casualty. 

It is in the interest of everyone in the system to insure people are honest and truthful, instead of just simply going along with government bureaucrats to please them, because they fear their power, and fear the political ramifications of opposing and standing up to these people.

Therefore the way the system is structured now - it promotes cover-ups, dishonesty, and sucking up to powerful government bureaucrats. This is not right, because it is causing a tremendous amount of trouble. This problem needs fixing very, very badly.  

10. Allegations by authorities that patients, clients, or parents are uncooperative, if they happen to speak up, or don't immediately jump to the tune of the bureaucrats. 

If you confront them and speak up against a particular approach, or course of action by the bureaucracy, or if you contradict their assumptions and perceptions - then they will all too often label, or attempt to label you as not cooperating with treatment, or being uncooperative. 

It is all about power, control and domination - especially here in Alberta. And if you refuse to knuckle down to the intimidation and domination you are labelled as someone with an attitude problem, and these government people can very, very easily make false accusations against you that you have in their  " learned " opinion a problem - even perhaps some behavioural or mental health issues. These bureaucrats and government agencies can then very easily manipulate the system to try and label you , and even try and force you into one of their myriad of programs run by or funded by government - like Anger Control Management classes for example. And these people far too often can wrap the Judge around their little finger. I personally knew a very attractive female Lawyer, who used her beauty (the beauty of a witch) to manipulate the Court. 

If you have legitimate concerns about treatment, or about some procedure - far too often you are labelled as uncooperative. Even if your concerns are based on facts and even if you can prove and show clearly that the bureaucrat made a mistake, and had improper information. 

From my experience I have had to conclude that with the Alberta government at any rate - it is all about power, control and domination. Service seems a foreign concept within the government and government bureaucracies of Alberta. 

We need to get back to having a service orientated attitude within government. 

And to be fair there are some really, really competent, and professional people within the system. I have a lot of respect and admiration for a good number of the health care workers, and others I dealt with and got to know within the system.   I learnt a lot more lessons, but I do not have time to explain everything tonight. More will be added to this page later on, when there is more time.

This experience was very, very difficult. I saw the inner workings of government , and it is not a very pretty picture folks. We are in serious trouble.  Serious major change must come. In this process I was able to see firsthand what most people never see. 

I have been very critical of the bureaucracy. It is not something I like to do.  However, in my judgment it is something that must be said. This is one area where there is tremendous room for improvement. We need better management.  There is really no magic to it. 

Tel.   (403) 274-5253               E-mail                

Mailing Address:   Ray Wegner   P.O. Box 475   Stn. Main   Calgary, Alberta  T2P-2J1

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This web site built, designed, and owned by Ray Wegner.                01/02/10

" An order that can be misunderstood will be misunderstood. "

Quote by Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)

" We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing, and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralization. "

Quote by Roman satirist  Petronius -   27-66 AD