Snuff Bottle

On Tuesday the Hallie Ford Museum in Salem is free (usually $3) so I went and saw the special exhibit of Chinese snuff bottles. I have to say I was very impressed. Also there was a collection of Turkish flat woven rugs and other items. The most surprising were the decorated woven rolling pin bags. If I could devote myself to either art and make real money, I certainly would give up scrutinizing the forms and procedures of the Child Support Program. Today I found out that the routines require that each revision of a form be literally signed off by a half dozen people. These items all live on a computer and are accessed on a computer but they circulate as a piece of paper so that indiscernible scribbles can be signed.
"Why do this on paper?" I asked, incredulous.
"So we can have a record of all the changes."
" But why does that have to be on paper?"
"Because we have always done it this way."
This last statement is often uttered in my direction, to harass me. I can't help but think of a favorite song of my childhood:
"There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
Well, fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry,
- and continues in the same vein-
With what shall I fix it,
With straw,
But the straw is too long,
then cut it ,
With what shall I cut it,
With the axe,
but the axe is too dull,
then sharpen it,
with what shall I sharpen it
with the stone
but the stone is too dry
than wet it
with what shall I wet it
with water
with what shall I get it
with the bucket
BUT THERE IS A HOLE IN THE BUCKET!

That folks, is the bureaucratic process.