I hate bureaucracy
Of all the things that annoy me, contending with bureaucracy is high up on the list. I can’t stand filling out forms, checking boxes, waiting on hold, and standing in lines to file paperwork. I hate it in my personal and professional life. During my time working as a service designer in the federal government, I saw efforts to improve services dismissed for reasons such as:
Avoiding giving accurate process timelines out of fear they may generate bad press.
Prioritizing convoluted, overly technical language to align with policy, despite the confusion it caused.
Silencing those raising valid concerns under the guise of enforcing “civility.”
Experiencing these systemic obstacles drove me bonkers. Ultimately, I left the job after receiving negative feedback for being too outspoken about these issues.
Paperwork over people
I believe excessive bureaucracy is toxic for the following reasons:
It creates barriers to real progress.
It stifles innovation and new ideas.
It reflects a deep apathy for the actual outcomes of any initiative.
““You will never understand bureaucracies until you understand that for bureaucrats procedure is everything and outcomes are nothing.””
This focus on procedure over results can be incredibly demotivating. One of the reasons I chose design as my career path is because I have a strong belief in a human-centred design ethos that prioritizes people’s needs, desires, and experiences. Bureaucracy, in my view, flips this approach on its head by putting the system’s needs above those of individuals, which I detest.
This mindset can even veer into dangerous territory. When people prioritize rules and the protection of the system over their own ethical compass, they can end up committing morally bankrupt actions under the justification of simply “doing their job.”
““The greatest evil is not done in those sordid ‘dens of crime’ that Dickens loved to paint, but in the bland cottages of domestic life... or in the offices of a bureaucratic society where a person is just ‘doing their job’.””
Trapped in a system
Unfortunately, I believe children are often the victims of excessive bureaucracy. Unlike adults, they have limited ability to challenge or escape arbitrary rules and regulations, especially when faced with punitive or controlling situations. Because schools are focused on shaping pro-social behavior, children are often expected to obey rules, even when those rules are unreasonable or overly strict.
In my novel, I am aiming to capture the absurdity, frustration, and, at times, the cruelty inherent in excessive bureaucracy. Here’s an excerpt of a relevant scene:
“Let’s have some decorum here people! We have a very serious situation on our hands,” said a large hare at the podium, gesturing at Zoe with a gavel.
Zoe glared at him, her normally wide, round eyes narrowed with dislike.
“Procedure dictates that we conduct a fulsome investigation into the matter of how she got here and what her intentions are. I’m happy to head up the initial phase of the investigative task force effort,” said a large barn owl in the crowd, peering over a pair of tiny spectacles.
“Why should you be in charge? Who authorized you to put the task force together?” said a nearby chickadee, fluffing up her feathers in irritation. “I say we vote in the task force members to ensure fair representation.”
Murmurs and nods of agreement rippled across the seated crowd.
“Or you could just ASK ME why I’m here,” said Zoe loudly.
“Excuse me, young miss, but we’d appreciate your silence!” said the hare, looking at Zoe with annoyance. “Who shall organize the voting efforts for the task force?”
The barn owl and chickadee each raised their wings, along with a handful of other creatures scattered throughout the crowd.
“I shall delegate the task to Madam Flitwit,” said the hare, inclining his head graciously towards the chickadee, who puffed out her chest with pleasure.
The owl clicked his beak impatiently. “And what gives you the authority to delegate organization of the vote?”
Zoe sighed pointedly.
In this scene, a council is trying to decide what action to take after capturing a trespasser. The council is characterized by paralysis through procedure, petty power struggles, and a dismissive, dehumanizing approach to both the prisoner and dissenting council members.
By pointing out the flaws and absurdities of an overly bureaucratic organization, I hope to empower young readers to recognize these situations when they occur, and to realize that they do not have to unquestioningly participate in ridiculous procedures. I am hoping to inspire both a critical lens as well as a teensy smidge of rebellion. Because I think the world would be a better place with a little less unquestioning acceptance of bureaucracy.