Bureaucracies.

I've been thinking about the differences between the Italian and German bureaucracies. In funny ways. My impression. Italians are laid back. They've created sort of a lazy bureaucracy. Do everything slowly. Make simple procedures last very, very long. Let 'em drag out. No hurry. Don't get anything done in one visit. Make people wait in line. Take care of one detail at a time. The Italian bureaucrats just dilly-dally. It's as if they don't want to run out of work. And that might happen if they get everything done pronto. The Germans, meanwhile, are rigid. They have rules. Procedures. One must learn discipline. The Germans are far more efficient than the Italians. But in a robotic way. In Germany, the trains are more likely to run on time. Because one must be punctual. Well-planned. Germans plan their vacations a year ahead. And they have a set routine. Yes, they must follow a rigid schedule. And not be too impulsive. Anyway, bureaucracies are bureaucracies. They can be aggravating. In Italy. In Germany. Anywhere. An annoyance if you allow them to be. But I do find them entertaining. If one allows one's self to be entertained and amused. Then it's easier navigating the bureaucracies. No matter which country. There's no escaping bureaucracies. Bureaucracies are a natural part of civilized society. --Jim Broede