Getting it wrong

Sorry folks - I wanted to snip heaps of stuff, and then got all flustered re
headers, ah ha, so bugger it - starting a new thread - but it's sort of
related to the one where GWF and Gerry are slagging off about the identity
of the dead Vietnam "Gerry" - and the (in)accuracy of the historian who
recorded it...

This has nothing to do with Vietnam or historians (or motorcycles), so you
might want to hit delete right about now.... but as an illustration of the
efficiency of our bureaucracy, it still cracks me up

Still here? Ok...

Medicare. My kids used to be on my card, of course. When my daughter left
home, she applied for her own Medicare card. My son was never quite as
bureaucratically savvy... anyway.... several years later (later than what?
Don't ask me!) we went to Medicare. He'd been to the doc and we were after a
Medicare refund.

Counter chicky: Who's this claim for?
Me: Steve
Counter Chicky: What?
Me: Yeah, he's got tonsillitis.
Counter Chicky: According to out records, he's deceased.
Steve: Hello? No, it was just tonsillitis, honest.
Counter Chicky: And you are....?
Steve: The deceased...
Me: No, he just smells that way.

I was waiting for the Candid Camera bloke to jump out.... it was very
weird...
Gotta love bureaucracy, hahahahaha!

betty

 

I can totally identify with Steve.

George, Nev and Peter should audition for counter chicky jobs. They
have the raw talent. [chortle]

=================

Onya bike

Gerry

 

At the time I was sort of amused, but also a little bit freaked out. When an
official record says 'X' , and it's bloody wrong, how do you fix it? I mean,
Steve was patently extant, RIGHT THERE AND THEN, but 'COMPUTER SAID NO'...
So - should he make the most of his non-existence. and do some sort of
scammy thing? (how? what? Shit, we find it hard enough to exist in the REAL
world, let alone trying to exist BETWEEN worlds!!!) or should he - dramatic
music - take on THE JUGGERNAUT - that monstrous government machine...

Maybe, knowing he's alive, he should just keep on living, with or without
government sanction. Buggered if I know...

betty, pondering the meaning of life (and deceasedness)

 

Nice story Betty, and glad to hear that Steve got better, but just
because you can vouch for a mistake being made once by medicare, has no
bearing upon the truth of any of Gerry's claims about his demise or
otherwise. Your alternative anecdote about how you know 7 other Vietnam
Vets who were incorrectly recorded as being dead by their unit
historians probably would have been a better choice.

Nev..

 

But the big question is were you able to get them to fix the problem? Or
does he remain an "Ex Steve"?

 

Nope! It sounds exactly like you.

ALWAYS right, NEVER wrong, the evidence is there before your very eyes, but
it MUST be wrong because I don't agree with it. And on.....and on......ad
infinitum.

 

The word "Kafkaesque" sprang to mind.

Have you thought of taking it to s some sort of Ombudschickybabe?

Does Steve exist yet?

Perhaps your'e mererly imagining him? G,d,r.


=================

Onya bike

Gerry

 

Sheesh Nev, the whole point of recounting that story in a completely
different thread was because (a) it was a funny story about the idiocy of
bureaucracy, and (b) it was a change of topic from all that other stuff. Now
you've gone and changed it back. Noice work.

betty

 

He has his own Medicare card these days, so I'm assuming he has been
resurrected. Must ask him how he did it!

betty

 

Clearly there needs to be a box on the Medicare program to tick for
'undead'.

Deceased but still moving (and yes it appears zombies CAN get tonsillitis!)


G-S

 

Easy Betty, Easter was last week.

Johno

Beer please

 

Well, Easter is just past, so that might be a clue


Cheers