Standing up to bureaucracy when it tramples on people is hard to do, but we need to do it sometimes. It could be government bureaucracy or private bureaucracy, but when the needs of people for basic respect are ignored, folks need to push back. You can't play Don Quixote all of the time, perhaps (pick your battles) but there are times to do it. It's scary, but important for self and others. I know: I am doing this right now in my life, in one situation.

It could be an employer, a utility company, the welfare department, a bank, a school, college or university--when you have a large organization, sometimes people within those bureaucracies feel that they can act with impunity, with little thought to the effect of their decisions on real, live human beings. When clients, customers, employees are hurt in the process, the hurting can easily go unnoticed--that is a big part of the problem, the invisibility involved. (The same potential problem occurs when folks interact over the internet, in a forum like Facebook or OpenSalon, etc; it is easy say things impulsively to people you have never met and will likely never meet without considering their feelings and the possible harm that your words may inflict).

Bureaucracy is not used to people standing up and appealing decisions; yes, it happens, but more often than not folks just bite the bullet and take their lumps when they feel they have been dealt with unfairly.

Of course, the question arises, when we ourselves assume the role of bureaucrats or social network participants will we behave with the same degree of unregard for the feelings and legitimate life concerns of those on the receiving end of our words and acts? We are all capable of inflicting such harm when are speaking/acting "at a distance." The question is, will we remember how it feels to be on the receiving end?

Bureaucracies are not used to being challenged, when they run amok; they sometimes are surprised when folks make an appeal. There are many authoritarian aspects to our culture that go unrecognized; we like to think of ourselves living in "the land of the free." The truth is, sometimes freedom and individuality are supported in our culture, and sometimes not--too often not.

But, in general, I see us as a freedom-loving people who are likely to grow impatient with unresponsive bureaucracy. But I fear that we have been lulled into a state of complacency or passivity by eight years of top-down Republican rule. However, the problem runs much deeper than politics. Democrats can act oppressively too, of course. What I am describing is a problem of social structure and way of life--the latter is culture, American culture, not necessarily Democratic or Republican culture.

What I am saying is, we can change the sociocultural dynamic; but the change must occur at the grassroots level (or it will likely not occur at all), by folks standing up and saying no, when individuals are treated as objects, and their legitimate needs and aspirations are ignored.

To take such action takes courage. Let us support one another when the need to stand up to unresponsive bureaucracy arises.

What I am saying is, we can change the sociocultural dynamic; but the
change must occur at the grassroots level (or it will likely not occur
at all), by folks standing up and saying no, when individuals are
treated as objects, and their legitimate needs and aspirations are
ignored.

To take such action requires courage. Let us support one another when
the need to stand up to unresponsive bureaucracy arises. Challenging
these entities may be new and scary, and may not work, and may feel
like a mistake, but sometimes it is the only thing one can do--to
preserve one's self-esteem and sense of integrity. I was reminded this
morning of this important and relevant quote of Albert Einstein:

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."

I have been reminded that when standing up means that one's livelihood or shelter or reputation are threatened, it can be especially difficult to challenge the powers that be. That is so true. One must always weigh the risks versus benefits of taking a stand. 

To coin a phrase, "There is a time to stand up, and a time to stand down." No one can make that decision for me or you. But it helps to make a wise choice, while preserving one's integrity, when you have the support of friends and/or loved ones.