# How have you made government 'work for you' **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 14, 2019, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527 "2019-02-14T08:11:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/1 "2019-02-14T08:11:01Z")
Voting is important, and benefits that almost everyone gets (heavily subsidized education, social security and medicare in old age, the ability to call the police and fire department when you need them, etc) are important too. But have you found ways to make the government work for you that go beyond the common, well known tropes? For me I’ve had good luck with the following: Contacting the county health department when my apartment wouldn’t fix a plumbing issue. The department got my apartment to finally hire a plumber. Contacting the state attorney general when I had a bad run in with a business. The AG helped me resolve the issue. Reporting potholes in my city, so the DPW knows to fill it (they usually fill it within a couple weeks). What have other people experienced? I’m sure there are lots of ways to get government to work for you that aren’t taken advantage of or well known. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/2 "2019-02-14T08:41:38Z")
Another (minor) way. When the library doesn’t have a movie or book, I ask the library to purchase it or get an interlibrary loan and then I use it when it arrives. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/3 "2019-02-14T09:11:10Z")
As a veteran, many years ago I took advantage of a VA journeyman program that paid me about 80.00 a month while I was in training for a new career. The extra came in very handy at that time in my life. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/4 "2019-02-14T15:41:59Z")
When I was recently homeless, I was put into a homeless shelter run by the state government. The building was built to be a homeless shelter, and is a prototype for how to run one. I had a good stay there for six weeks, until I found and moved into my present place. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/5 "2019-02-14T15:50:44Z")
I’m in the middle of a Cash For Grass program in which the city gives me money for taking out my lawn and replacing it with low water use landscaping. I also have my application in for the equivalent state program. Yes, double dipping is allowed. ---
**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/6 "2019-02-14T15:51:40Z")
Two things come right to mind. (1) There is a shallow drainage ditch along the frontage of my property. The ditch is County right-of-way and therefore the County should keep it open. But I want it done a certain way so I’ve been doing it myself for many years. When the County mower comes along the crews spend whatever time they _would_ have taken on the ditch to mow around my egress point to the road. (2) The California DOT (CalTrans) is a big organization. But I wrote to the local office and asked them to do a bit of weed clearance along the State Highway that runs adjacent to my place. Six weeks after writing the work was done. That was a winner. I don’t use my Super Power too often, but politeness and patience pays off when it comes to faceless agencies. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/7 "2019-02-14T15:56:30Z")
I make calls to the City for egregious neighborhood violations. Like the guy down the street that hung a sign and opened an auto repair business on his driveway. Also weed-strewn blighty houses and such. I recently called because our local street signs were so faded they were useless. We got all new ones, thank you City! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/8 "2019-02-14T15:57:16Z")
I have had good luck with state Attorney Generals offices. Lots of people threaten to sue and get a lawyer when a business does them wrong but that is usually unnecessary. I just file a complaint with the state Attorneys Generals office (multiple states so far). They are free and carry more weight than a fly-by-night lawyer. It always gets action in my favor because I don’t do it unless I have unambiguous evidence and documentation. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/9 "2019-02-14T17:34:36Z")
Not sure if this is what the OP had in mind, but I have had a number of research grants. First from the US and then from Canada as well as Quebec. They have certainly eased my life as a mathematician. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/10 "2019-02-14T18:16:23Z")
It’s over 20 years ago, pretty much, but we in public employ liked helping people. It justifies our jobs. And we especially like it when they write to thank us. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/11 "2019-02-14T18:30:28Z")
I was on disability for a couple of months last year; the state payments came through without any trouble. (Although it was a bit confusing to get set up initially) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/12 "2019-02-14T18:47:34Z")
If a sign is down or a streetlight is out, Public Works wants to know. There may even be a reporting form online, if you don’t want to talk to anyone. If the missing or unreadable sign is a Stop, Yield, One-Way, or other safety sign, there’s usually a 24 hour emergency report line. They’ll have at least a temporary replacement out within hours. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/13 "2019-02-14T19:01:20Z")
Because of my health disaster, I’ve recently qualified for disability, SNAP, and free health insurance. It’s made things a lot easier. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/14 "2019-02-14T19:35:16Z")
I needed a letter from the Office of Personnel Management confirming certain details of my former federal employment. I sent the request forms in and waited for 6 months (they tell you up front it can take that long). When I still hadn’t received anything by that time, I dug up some phone numbers and after several calls finally managed to find someone who could check in the computer to see if my request was in process. They couldn’t find anything. I contacted my Congressman’s office and faxed them the paperwork along with a cover letter explaining what I needed. A week later the long-awaited letter was in my mailbox. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/15 "2019-02-14T19:50:57Z")
I got Kansas City to force a business owner who was parking trucks on the sidewalk to finally stop. Took two years. I don’t know if they were towed, but I hope they were. I had reported them to the police dozens of times, and they just ignored it. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/16 "2019-02-14T19:54:16Z")
I had a wooden utility pole in my alleyway just a few yards from my property that was badly rotted and also damaged from some impact from an unidentified vehicle. Had it collapsed, power for the area would have been disrupted. One phone call to the city offices and they said they’d look into it. Less than 20 minutes later, I see a utility truck parked by the pole and a worker inspecting it. The worker then knocked on my door, thanked me for reporting it and offered me a coupon for $10 off my next utility bill. 48 hours later, the pole was replaced. I can’t argue with that service. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/17 "2019-02-14T20:01:01Z")
Back in my old house my oil boiler was dying. To replace would have been thousands of dollars and at the time I was paying hundreds of dollars a month for oil. A friend let me know about a program where if you upgrade from Oil to Gas heat you would get a zero interest loan and a subsidy. I called and asked about it and it was for real. With very little effort on my part (the company doing the work did all the applications etc.) I was able to get $15,000 of work done for a zero interest loan of $10,000. They replaced my oil boiler with a gas furnace. Added a tankless gas hot water heater (no more running out of hot water!). Insulation in my basement and attic And they removed the old oil tank and equipment. And I was able to take a deduction on my taxes that year for it. It was a great deal and all it costs me is $83 a month for the next few years. I don’t live in that house anymore but I still own it so it is still worthwhile to me. All because of a government program. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/18 "2019-02-14T20:17:40Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > I had a wooden utility pole in my alleyway just a few yards from my property that was badly rotted and also damaged from some impact from an unidentified vehicle. Had it collapsed, power for the area would have been disrupted. One phone call to the city offices and they said they’d look into it. Less than 20 minutes later, I see a utility truck parked by the pole and a worker inspecting it. The worker then knocked on my door, thanked me for reporting it and offered me a coupon for $10 off my next utility bill. 48 hours later, the pole was replaced. > > I can’t argue with that service. You saved them a lot of money and even more grief from their constituents if the pole had fallen. People could have been injured or even killed by the downed power lines. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/19 "2019-02-14T20:19:34Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > You saved them a lot of money and even more grief from their constituents if the pole had fallen. People could have been injured or even killed by the downed power lines. No kidding. That $10 coupon vs. the cost of an emergency repair after the pole collapsed. That’s not even close. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527/20 "2019-02-14T20:22:44Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Back in my old house my oil boiler was dying. To replace would have been thousands of dollars and at the time I was paying hundreds of dollars a month for oil. A friend let me know about a program where if you upgrade from Oil to Gas heat you would get a zero interest loan and a subsidy. I called and asked about it and it was for real. > > With very little effort on my part (the company doing the work did all the applications etc.) I was able to get $15,000 of work done for a zero interest loan of $10,000. > > They replaced my oil boiler with a gas furnace. > Added a tankless gas hot water heater (no more running out of hot water!). > Insulation in my basement and attic > And they removed the old oil tank and equipment. > > And I was able to take a deduction on my taxes that year for it. > > It was a great deal and all it costs me is $83 a month for the next few years. I don’t live in that house anymore but I still own it so it is still worthwhile to me. All because of a government program. My brother sells heating and air conditioning and was formerly a plumber. He specializes in that program, which in Missouri is called the HERO program, an acronym for [Home Energy Renovation Opportunity](http://www.mced.mo.gov/old/news/release-hero-program-expands-kansas-city-area-finance-home-energy-improvements/). He can get people financed with it even if they don’t have particularly good credit ratings, as long as they are up to date on their property taxes and have not been late on their mortgage payments. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-made-government-work-for-you/829527.md?page=2)