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Down with bureaucracy! 16/03/2007 Seventeen years after the end of communism, Romanian bloggers say, the country is still snarled in unnecessary red tape. By Paul Ciocoiu for Southeast European Times in Bucharest - 16/03/07 During the communist regime, long queues were common in Romania as food was subject to "rationalisation". But while shortages of basic goods may be a thing of the past, bureaucracy isn't. Compared to the rest of Europe, Romanians still encounter more than their fair share of red tape, hassles and delays. "The advantages of reducing bureaucracy, unfortunately, are not on the public agenda," writes Maxim at the business ethics blog <http://zi-de-zi.blogspot.com/2007/02/reducerea-birocratiei.html> zi de zi. As a result, he suggests, Romania is losing out on a wealth of benefits -- higher productivity, fewer traffic snarls, less pollution, as well as reduced administrative expenses and taxes. Allowing driver license renewals by mail, for example, would help eliminate long queues. "Fill in the form, post the picture and send the envelope to the police headquarters and after a few weeks get the new driving license at home while you're still at work? Science fiction? No. This is what happens all over the civilised world, in England and even in Italy. But in Romania." Maxim sighs. The word bureaucracy is practically synonymous with Romania, agrees <https://www2.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=29111641&postID=33475893849823484 63> Straight. "Bored, irritated clerks who do nothing else but make things harder for the tax payers ... It looks like, unfortunately, we haven't yet developed the cult of precious time. But in a democratic, modern society, as we intend to be -- and we will become so, like it or not, as part of the EU -- effectiveness is a second nature." "Say no more!" <http://zi-de-zi.blogspot.com/2007/02/reducerea-birocratiei.html#comment-205 4914433054310406> Visatoru' chimes in. "Let me tell you something about the passport service -- namely, I woke up at 5 am to stand in line and the office closed right before my turn came? Thousands of complaints filed by the citizens have been overtly ignored. It's high time we went beyond this flawed pattern inherited from the communists and show we can freely move outside these administrative barriers which relate mostly to mentality." <http://zi-de-zi.blogspot.com/2007/02/reducerea-birocratiei.html#comment-556 1184567857923011> Anya, however, brings a note of optimism to the discussion. "I for one think that things have evolved. We can now pay bills online or via ATMs. It's a small step, but a beginning. I think things will change, as much has changed, in general, in Romania." "It's our role, as young people, to make things move on. We can't rely on politicians anymore; we've known that for 17 years now. We, those who chose to stay here, and those about to return home from abroad, will bring a new spirit and remove in time all these expired and counterproductive practices," she predicts. (C) SETimes.com ---------------------------- Vali "Noble blood is an accident of fortune; noble actions are the chief mark of greatness." (Carlo Goldoni) "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." (Jimi Hendrix)
