As most anyone knows, it’s really easy to complain about the government.
I may be a certified expert.
This government shutdown has brought even more light to my frustration with various aspects of government. I am particularly focused in on credit cards.
What, you might say, do credit cards have to do with the government?
Well, everything, at least when it comes to the federal government.
First, let’s go back in time. Way back in time.
Remember when credit cards were a new thing? If you are my age, probably so.
Back in the day, you had this plastic thing that you could use to buy stuff. There was this now antiquated little machine that was used in businesses.
You would give them your card and they would place it in the machine. Then, they would pull down this contraption and it would imprint the card information onto a few sheets of paper.
You signed it and then they gave you a copy of the paper. Then, they kept a copy and the third copy was, at the end of the month, sent along with all of the others to the credit card company.
From there, the company would add it all up, take their cut and then send the month’s total to the business. It’s how the credit card system was born.
Worked fine for quite a while. But as we all know, technology began to progress — as did the methods of those looking to scam the system.
Eventually, as computers became the norm, the old systems were phased out. With the new systems, you could swipe your card and the computers did their thing and let the businesses know things were good to go.
Instantly. On the spot.
These days, almost all of us know how the system works. Especially with all of the online transactions that take place.
You go to the Home Depot website, find that perfect fire pit you just have to get, put it in your “cart,” go to checkout, enter all of the information and, bam, it’s approved and the s’mores are just a few days away.
The technology allows companies to instantly get approvals on credit card purchases, meaning your business is done right there on the spot.
Heck, this is almost old technology these days. With our trusty pocket computers, we can do this while sitting on the toilet. Hey, we’re low on toilet paper, logon to Amazon.
All of this technology can be maddening but it is certainly effective.
Now, back to the federal government.
Someone inside the federal government told me the obvious the other day. “Federal agencies have historically had little incentive to innovate or change policies despite changes in technology.”
It’s an obvious observation, but one which impacts millions of people.
One example is that of student loans. Student loans, as painful as they make life, are a necessity. Millions upon millions of people have student loans and are paying them back.
Many of you probably know there’s one thing you can’t use to pay a monthly student loan payment: credit cards.
Say what?
That’s right, you can instantly get the fire pit but you can’t pay money to the student loan company using the same technology, instant approval be damned. You can still send them a paper check, which is what millions of people do.
This same situation is true with the Small Business Administration, with one big exception.
Until last month, you could use the tried and true paper check method to pay the SBA. Not now.
The administration has ordered no more paper checks.
Okay, fine. I’ll pay with my credit card; maybe even set up a monthly payment.
Nope.
Debit card, checking account or savings account. That’s it.
New rule with no new fix.
On top of that, with this ridiculous shutdown, try to get through to someone at SBA. Go ahead, try.
That means if you have an issue besides the ridiculous new rule, nobody’s going to be there to help you out.
But guess what, they still want your money when tax time rolls around.
Another aspect of this many people can relate to is the fact a lot of folks want to pay for things like student loans and SBA loans with credit cards because they earn cash back or points. It’s the incentive credit card companies use to get you to use their product.
In many ways, it’s a win-win.
Yet the good, old federal government is still stuck back in wherever they are stuck. I firmly believe those rules were put in place back in the day when credit cards were kind of a trust thing between the consumer and companies.
We all know how that worked out.
But those days are gone. Instant approvals are required for credit cards, whether at Home Deport or at Pioneer Market. You swipe, the computer says its good and you take your marshmallows and chocolate home to the new fire pit.
It boggles the mind to think how slowly the federal government works.
State governments have quickly adapted to this technology. You can get your drivers license online these days by just putting in that card number (don’t forget the three-digit code!) and getting instant approval.
Local governments, somewhat, have adapted, though in Mariposa County, it is unsurprisingly still in the dark ages for some services. There is no excuse for that other than incompetence or the will not to change.
But overall, the world has evolved while the federal government remains in the dark. That is literal with the shutdown, but also true when it comes to adapting to new technology.
Wasn’t Musk going to change all of that?
Oh yea, he fell out of favor and his goons apparently are just raking in our tax dollars doing whatever it is they do, which nobody seems to know.
The solutions here are simple, but that’s probably asking too much for the federal government. They probably still use mimeograph machines.
I think I need a s’more.
Greg Little is editor of the Mariposa Gazette and can be reached at greg@mariposagazette.com
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