Friday, April 26, 2024
Sam Houston
FROM MY FRONT PORCH
Sam Houston is the publisher of the Hood County News. He is also an actor, author, playwright, performer and entertainment producer/promoter.
As I begin this column I have a feeling I may be kicking at a hornet nest, but upon reflection, I am determined to speak my mind even though it may fly in the face of commonly held beliefs and a few readers may shake their head at me in dismay.
I recently reached the age where I could file with Social Security for my retirement benefits. I have reached full retirement age and can apply for my benefits even though I continue to work. Going to the Social Security website, I completed the online forms and hit submit. Soon I learned I would start receiving benefits by the end of the month. The entire process was fast, easy and efficient.
On Thursday I got a phone call from a bank in Gainesville with a rather unusual question. Though I did not have an account at the bank, they knew who I was because I manage an account at that bank for my Miss Jayne, an elderly senior citizen. It would seem Social Security was trying to make an electronic deposit for me, but I did not have an account at that bank. Social Security did have my account number, but it was for an account at a completely different bank.
My response was to instruct the bank to reject the electronic transfer. I would reach out to Social Security to clear up the matter. I then began investigating the copy I had printed out from the Social Security website when I applied. Lo and behold, some dummy (meaning me!) had provided inaccurate information. Somehow I had sent the wrong routing number when I completed the paperwork. Social Security was trying to do exactly what I had told them to do. The error was completely and totally my fault.
On Friday morning I got on the phone and called the nearest Social Security office to see if I could clear up the matter. After a very brief wait on hold, a courteous customer rep took my call, asked a few questions, fixed the problem and assured me I would have the money I was due, deposited in the correct account within 48 hours. Before I got off the phone I expressed to the young woman my thanks and told her how much I appreciated her kindness and for working with me to fix my problem.
Somewhere in the 80s it became very fashionable to blame every problem on the government and that seems to be the sentiment many people still hold. Let me disclaim, I am not saying the government is the solution for all our problems, or that the government is better situated to handle matters than private citizens. I am not a socialist. However, we do have a government, and while they are far from perfect, considering the enormity of the job they undertake my experience is they generally do a pretty good job.
In this case, the entire problem was caused by my error. When the matter was brought to the attention of the powers to be, they aided me, and made it right. What more could I ask for?
Does the government make mistakes, and does it sometimes act inefficiently? Of course, it does! The last time I looked, so does every entity I have ever done business with. The government is made up of human beings, just like our private businesses, and sometimes individuals make errors.
Am I suggesting the government is perfect? Heavens no, but when I hear people go on and on about how bad the government handles things, it makes me want to check into their work product. I wonder how perfect they are, or how perfect their business operates. I bet their performance is not nearly as perfect as what they expect of every branch of government from the feds to local city offices. I would think we all want the best result possible in all things. Maybe we should be a little more understanding when it doesn’t work out that way.
Thank you, kind lady, at the Social Security office who helped me. Thanks to everybody in a civil service job who is doing the best they can to serve us, the people. It is a thankless job, and this is one time I wanted to say to a person, “We appreciate what you do.”
Thought for the day: “We are all imperfect. We cannot expect perfect government.” — William Howard Taft
Until next time I will be ridin’ the storm out.
sam@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 260
