Contributors to this thread:
I stopped by the local Social Security office today to get some information straight from the source.
We were met at the door by an armed guard. This is Hays America.
1. Why?
2. How much is this costing us?
3. I can't think of a more boring job.
He helped us sign in on a computer. The office was empty, but I had to enter my SS# and whether or not I had an appointment. It printed out a ticket with a number. I was instructed to take a seat until my # was called.
I took my mother-in-law a few years ago to the SS office when she started hers after her husband died. She was 85 at the time and I was 59. We were the two oldest people in the place!!! The security guard was there also. The waiting room was filled with 20 and 30 somethings, WITH KIDS, who appeared to be quite capable of moving around on their own. They were ALL minorities. Needless to say we were a tad peeved.
They asked my grandmother if she had ever been bedridden. She said hundreds of times and twice in a hay stack.
Yeah it's sad to go in there and see tweekers and ex cons talking about when they got out.
I was recently asked to leave the SS office because the guy with the Glock could see the clip of a Benchmade on my pocket. No different than a pair of pliers.
Democrats in action. Those are voters...
If I were running an agency who was giving out answers to questions that caused their "customers" to go berserk enough to require an armed guard to be present at all times, I would reconsider my agency's mission and the communication skills of the employees!
I was the ONLY customer in the Fairbanks SS office one day and the rent-a-cop guard told me I was required to sign in and "take a number." When I inquired why this ridiculous exercise was necessary, he declared that I was being "combative" and escorted me from the Federal Building!
Looking on the bright side, I think we should all be grateful that the LEO wannabes that hold these jobs probably failed the IQ test and the psychological profile testing and did not get on a real police force somewhere!
Pete
If you want to really stir them up just go in and say you have some questions about Medicare. They say "we don't deal with medicare". I tell them it comes out of my SS check. Ask them where the Medicare office is and they will say there aren't any.
Good idea! I'll try that next time. Purely for the amusement value...
Pete