RE: Bananas, etc.. (fwd)

[Alan Lambert <gerard@domain.elided>]

See my reply to the post below.

================================================================================
Regards,
Alan G. Lambert___________________________________<gerard@domain.elided>
           *******Los Altos, California (office)*******


- ---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 08:47:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alan Lambert <gerard@domain.elided>
To: "Lewis, Gerald" <gerald.lewis@domain.elided>
Subject: RE: Bananas, etc..


Well, I've been involved with govewrnment bureaucrats in zillions of 
ways---The water resources board whose inspector made a mistake when 
analyzing my well. When I pointed that out to them, the staff then decided 
that my well was indeed subject to their jurisdiction, but that it was 
then past the final date to apply for a water allocation, and told me 
that I couldn't take water from the well. I then spent the next year 
fighting them in court--won--and now they are sending me a bill for their 
staff time!----I run a building company, so when it was discovered that a 
superintendent had inadvertently built a retaining wall without proper 
authorization, the staff decided that we were a sneaky outfit that was 
trying to do an end run around them, and told us to go between built sold 
and occupied homes that were only ten feet apart, removed the wooden 
walls we had built and replace them with concrete (there was nothing 
unsafe about the low wood walls). When I pointed out the fact that City 
inspectors had inspected the project 95 times, and had never said a word 
about the innapropriateness of the walls when it would have been easy to 
change them, they essentially said that that was not their problem. How 
about the prosecutors who send innocent people to jail, or the gas 
chamber, and, when it is proven that the person was innocent, refuse to 
apologize because " I was only doing my job"?

Sure, the elected legislators do make laws which generally give direction 
to certain wishes on their part, but the staffs make the real rules, 
enforce them, impart their own personal prejudices into them, and give 
short thrift to anyone who disagrees with them. Since they can't be fired 
for that kind of behavior, their power is essentially limitless----which 
is NOT true for the legislators, who can be voted out of office. In my 
personal experience ( not at all personal animosity or anecdotal due to 
the extensive contacts I have had with government at all levels including 
the navy inspectors I had to please when in a defense related job ) the 
mix of helpful, "government of by and for...." bureaucrats to the "do it 
my way, I've got the power" types is probably  below 30% good guys.


On Thu, 5 Aug 1999, Lewis, Gerald wrote:

> Alan, Well, maybe you don't understand the system.  It is indeed the
> legislature that writes and passes bills and then the prez signs them into
> law.  Implementation of the law is assigned to various bureaucracitic
> organizations (DOT, EPA, etc.)  whe decide the methodoloy.  Yours is typical
> black helicopter militia think.  I don't think you have a clue how many are
> good vs. bad other than some do things you don't like or approve of.  What
> are your criteria?  Where is your evidence, other than just personal
> animosity or anecdotal evidence?
> 
> If  there was enough pressure from constituents congress could make it
> happen. Just look at the influence of the nutty Christian coalition.  Those
> of us who would like a more liberal importation policy are too diverse and
> uncoordinated to have much influence on such legislation.  Get it preached
> from the pulpits and they will start to listen.  You have to become the
> squeaky wheel to get the grease.
> 
> Jorge,  The car has been federalized, but FIAT apparently did not file for
> import.  If you don't have the paperwork you don't get in.  Actually,
> Ferrari sells closer to 1500 cars/yr in the US, not 100.  If my memory
> serves me right, the last year of Alfa in the US Alfa only sold about 1100
> cars.  There is alot more profit in one Ferrari than in one Alfa.  To keep
> prices high, when Ferrari wants to introduce a new model they do a survey of
> the market and then build one less than their market survey says will be
> bought.
> 
> I don't have it with me, but I will get the citation for you.  It was an
> interview with a FIAT rep. in Autoweek.  I will get the complete quote for
> you.
> 
> > ----------
> > From: 	Alan Lambert
> > Sent: 	Thursday, August 5, 1999 1:21 AM
> > To: 	Jorge Mazlumian
> > Cc: 	ALFA DIGEST; Lewis, Gerald
> > Subject: 	RE: Bananas, etc..
> > 
> > 
> > Your words ( though not exactly Alfa content) show a lack of 
> > understanding of our government--( at ALL levels) the government is NOT 
> > composed of the elected officials except in broad strokes. The real 
> > government is the unfireable bureaucracy who make their own rules, answer 
> > to no one, protect their butts above all else, and LOVE the power they've 
> > got. There obviously are good bureaucrats, but they are not in the
> > majority.
> > 
> > On Wed, 4 Aug 1999, Jorge Mazlumian wrote:
> > 
> > > Jerry in Houston wrote (among other things):
> > > <<<Remember too, that the people that make these laws (i.e. the
> > GOVERNMENT)
> > > are
> > > those that we the people elect and send there.  If we don't like the
> > laws,
> > > elect  the people who will repeal or modify them.  Problem is, most
> > > Americans (i.e. those that buy KIA's, and Honda Accords, and other cars)
> > are
> > > NOT enthusiasts and actually approve of these measures. It is tough to
> > be a
> > > minority isn't it?  I personally would like to see some expemptions for
> > low
> > > volume, niche cars that would allow some unique cars into the country,
> > but
> > > it ain't gonna happen.>>>
> > > ****************
> > > My point.  How is it that Fiat can bring and sell 100 Ferraris in the
> > US,
> > > and wont sell 1000 GTV/Spiders.  If they are already federalized as you
> > > said, then it's parts and service.  Or on the other hand, why can't we
> > do
> > > the Euro delivery thing then.  Its all BS.
> > > Jorge in Redlands
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > ==========================================================================
> > ======
> > Regards,
> > Alan G. Lambert___________________________________<gerard@domain.elided>
> >            *******Los Altos, California (office)*******
> > 
> > 
> 

================================================================================
Regards,
Alan G. Lambert___________________________________<gerard@domain.elided>
           *******Los Altos, California (office)*******

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End of alfa-digest V7 #940
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