To help an acquaintance here in Germany who wants to work in the US, I once contacted the US Embassy here to try to get information about applying for a work visa. The only way for non-US citizens to get information was through a website ($10 charge) or a 0900 number. I called the number, was put on hold for several minutes, then was given a message with the office hours, and the connection ended. When I got the charge on the phone bill, I disputed it, because no service had been performed. I complained to everyone in sight and finally got my money back, but I'd spent half of the amount writing letters and making phone calls.

I told the embassy that this practice was a disgrace. What I've read here comes to me as no surprise. Yesterday on the news, I heard that Social Services in the town where I live (in Germany) has reduced the welfare payment of someone here, because one of the social workers saw him begging, looked into his hat, estimated how much he could "earn" during 20 days per month, and deducted this amount from his monthly allotment. The monthly allotment is not enough to live on.

After all, the money to pay for bank managers' bonuses has to come from somewhere.