Is Disorganization Institutionalized in Our Society, or Is Our Society Institutionalized Disorganization?

Is Disorganization Institutionalized in Our Society, or Is Our Society
Institutionalized Disorganization? / Cuban Law Association, Rodrigo
Chavez Rodriguez
Cuban Law Association, Rodrigo Chavez Rodriguez, Translator: Maria Montoto
Rodrigo Chávez Rodríguez, Esq.

For Cubans today it no longer seems strange, much less unusual. A lack
of punctuality affects any number of activities, whether they be in the
workplace, the classroom or at celebrations. There is always some
excuse. The bus did not come; they turned off the lights when I was
having visitors; the water shut off when I went to take a bath; etc.

Although there might be valid justifications, they are daily occurrences
that have become persistent issues, and are now one in the same.

The critical moment occurs when we try unsuccessfully to find out why
from the agencies responsible for transportation, electricity, water, or
whatever it might be. The responses from each one of them to the problem
at hand are no more than mere excuses.

As a general rule the problems of transportation, electricity, water, or
anything else are always blamed on the fifty-year-old unbending and
illegal blockade. However, the vast majority of problems we face on a
daily basis are rooted in the lack of organization prevalent in all
spheres of activity.

Aside from the lack of replacement parts and accessories necessary to
achieve the optimum benefit from parking spaces, there is no adequate
plan for their use in response to the interests and needs of the
populace. One could ask: Wouldn't it be possible to contract post-market
services abroad?

Under the current conditions, the acquisition of the means of
transportation is carried out through "friendly" countries, which
provide us with easy credit. Is it not possible to carry out a serious
and thorough study that would allow for the orderly planning of bus
schedules that takes into account customer demand?

After all these years have there been no graduates in engineering who
specialize in transportation management? How is it possible that private
transport providers can satisfy the needs of the populace with
punctuality but those of the state cannot? Why do the famous
reinforcements appear as if by magic? And then there is air and rail
transport. It is nothing less than a miracle if arrivals and departures
occur on schedule. No doubt there are justifications for these too.

If all planning undertaken in "time of war" carries over into "time of
peace, then we can be sure that disorganization will be permanently
institutionalized.

There are always justifications for the lack of power, electricity or
water supply. They have now become common. While we are informed about
disruptions, breakdowns, maintenance and other issues, it is undeniable
that these almost always occur when we least expect them. In other words
not at opportune times or on schedule. Nothing, or almost nothing, is
well-planned or well-organized.

These are only a few examples of how organized the disorganization is,
how institutionalized it is. One could broaden the scope and look at
other recurring problems such as academic courses, the distribution of
medications and other issues that would make up an endless and tiresome
list.

At the start of every academic course, there are assurances that
"everything is planned and very well-organized." As the course proceeds,
however, there are shortages of certain things. It could be fuel, it
could be the basic course materials, it could be various sorts of input,
etc.

The issue of medications and their distribution is, in large part, an
irrefutable example of the institutionalization of disorganization,
especially of those items distributed through the well-known "ration
card." In other words, medications that are controlled. An exhaustive
system of control has been set up to register individuals, yet when
these same individuals go to a pharmacy to obtain their supposedly
controlled medications, they find they are no longer available.

Maintenance of the distribution systems for electrical energy and water
require planning. How unlike our own reality! When there are problems
due to maintenance, disruptions or breakdowns, this implies that service
is not available and, therefore, is not being used. But – wonder of
wonders! – although charges are based on kilowatts per hour, we find out
when the bill arrives that those hours, when nothing was being consumed,
were not taken into account.

If there were a real desire for organization, one need only look to
private sector workers as an example, whether they be in the
transportation, restaurant or service industry. The first "organizers"
pave the way, the second ones maintain a standard of excellence, and the
third benefit from word-of-mouth.

If there is no justice and fairness, bread becomes charity.

Translated by Maria Montoto

August 15 2012

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