Payments - essay

Quite frankly, I am so disgusted with Democrats I don't even want to think about it. What a gutless, spineless, bunch of absolute wimps that lack even the intelligence to act in their own best interest (unless, of course, they see their own best interest in obsequiously doing the bidding of Republicans). Even Democrats like John Kerry who have said in the past they would filibuster candidates who wanted to reverse Roe vs Wade refuse to step up and do it. Maybe Republicans have so much "dirt" on some of them they simply do not dare to oppose Alito. I do not understand this (and I am not altogether certain I want to understand it). If Democrats can't filibuster Alito who in the world would they ever be able to filibuster? There is no longer a two party system in the United States and there is no viable democracy either. Prepare to prostrate yourself several times a day to our new King and give up your civil rights (which you no longer have in any case). Bush is above the law. No, he is the law. So submit and quit pretending your vote counts for anything.

As I cannot bear what is happening here is a simple-minded essay to distract you for at least a moment:


Paying bills is always a nasty business. Unpleasant, to say the least. But when the first of the month rolls around that's what we do. It's just like death and taxes. I guess that most companies realize this. That's why they often try to make it easier for you by providing return envelopes. Of course these are seldom prepaid. Even so, one has to appreciate the thoughtfulness, however profit motivated. There are, however, some interesting variations in the way companies handle this sensitive problem. The best and easiest system by far is when they provide you with an already addressed envelope, precisely the right size, in which you merely have to place your check and the return stub, lick the flap, put on a stamp, and that's that. Most companies do not make things quite so simple. More often than not the return envelope has a little cellophane window so that you must put the return stub in precisely the proper manner so their address shows through the little window. You have to be on your toes with these because if you make a mistake you end up having to try to steam open the stupid thing and reposition the contents, or, failing that, ripping the thing open and having to fasten it together with scotch tape, thus revealing your incompetence not only to the company but also to the postal employees who have to handle such things. I bet they entertain themselves by having contests over which mail routes have the most idiots per month.
I must admit, however, that I have much more respect for companies that provide return envelopes than for those, perhaps equally numerous ones, that provide nothing other than their bill. In these cases not only must you experience the pain of having to pay, you also have to furnish an envelope and go to all the trouble of addressing it yourself. What a drag! I confess to being very suspicious of companies too cheap to provide you with return envelopes. This strikes me as corporate arrogance carried to extremes. I suppose the stockholders like it, believing that it increases profits.
But all this is merely the tip of the iceberg (problem). What about those companies or individuals that send you bills in non-standard sizes. Like, if you get a bill on ordinary 8 and 1/2 by 11 inch paper, accompanied by an ordinary business size envelope, it's relatively simple. Both check and stub fit neatly into the envelope as one would assume they should. So why do so many businesses print their bills on nonstandard sized paper? Sometimes you get a tiny stub that fits more than comfortably into a standard envelope, along with your check - no problem. But conversely, sometimes you get a return envelope too small to accomodate the stub. My dentist does this. He's a really super dentist, best I ever had, has all the most modern up-to-date equipment, wonderful facility, the works. And he sends you a normal sized bill. However, the envelope is too small. You have to fold the stub three or four times to get it to fit. It's a pain. And stupid, to say the least. A standard size personal check will, however, fit, a blessing when compared with the bills I receive from our local veterinarian. This guy obviously has no sense of either design or function, but what is worse he apparently has no regard for his customers. He sends you a standard sized bill, with a standard sized return stub, but with an envelope so small you almost have to roll the stub into a ball. And worse than that, you can't even fit a standard check into the damn thing. You have to fold your check at least a quarter of an inch at one end to get it to fit. You'd think he'd get tired of having to unfold his checks and payment stubs. I suppose his secretary does it.
What's with these people? Have they no sense of function at all? No respect for their customers? Who sells them this stationery? Who designs it? Don't their secretaries complain? Who designs these ridiculous systems in the first place? Do the designers just assume that doctors, dentists, veterinarians, bankers and other professionals are just too stupid to realize what they are doing? Or is it just another example of "buyer beware?" It might be different if these irregular designs had some aesthetic virtue that the more ordinary ones lack, but they don't. They are just as dreary and ordinary as the others except for their size. I don't know about you, but I want my bills only on the first of the month, with addressed return envelopes, into which I can easily slip the payment stubs and my checks. No
hassles, no strain. I fear, however, that people stupid enough to use these user unfriendly systems are also probably too stupid to change.