Which Part of "No, Thank You" Don't You Understand? (a mind blowing example of Leftard bureaucracy)

It's no secret that all these happyass 'social' programs that use OUR tax dollars depend upon increasing their client numbers every year to assure funding, which in turn gets more and more bloated and just makes the problem worse-but keeps some college grad pencil pusher employed. This story about how desperate they have become would be laughable, if it wasn't so pathetic.
Oh, those damn Amish!! How dare they be self reliant!! Why, That's UNAMERICAN!!!

HT: Freerepublic, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Counties Caught in Conundrum: Getting Amish to Take Food Stamps
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
John Horton
Plain Dealer Reporter

Claridon Township -- Tim Taylor's job calls for finding ways to distribute food stamps to Geauga County's Amish. He might as well be trying to sell them cars.

The horse-and-buggy crowd philosophically opposes the support program overseen by Taylor's agency, the Geauga Department of Job & Family Services. Accepting public assistance is verboten within the Amish culture. It simply is not done.

But Taylor is under orders to at least try to get them enrolled. The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services has asked Geauga and Holmes counties, which feature the state's largest Amish populations, to lift dismal food-stamp participation rates.

Taylor and his Holmes counterpart, Dan Jackson, called the mandate a waste of tax dollars, time and resources.

In their eyes, the directive is government bureaucracy that ignores the obvious in setting an unrealistic goal.

"No matter how much we do, the Amish won't sign up," Taylor said. "It's not something they endorse."

But the offer needs to be extended, said Jeanne Carroll, who is deputy director of the state's Office of Family Stability.

Geauga and Holmes lag far behind the rest of the state in getting eligible families registered. The state cannot presume that a group won't participate, Carroll said. Eligible families need to be made aware of the food-stamp program and given ample opportunity to join.

"We can't assume they don't want the benefits," Carroll said. "Frankly, they may."

The state required Geauga and Holmes to draft plans to lift participation rates. Both intend to launch small-scale advertising campaigns to reach the Amish and others. Holmes might use a billboard within an Amish enclave to promote food stamps."

(Oh yeah...that's a swell idea! Hey, I'm sure you can find another 40 or 50 grand just laying around the budget to do that. Just make sure it's a union shop when you contact the billboard company. Jeeeeeeuz H!!!)

If you can stand to read the rest...it's here.

At least Taylor and Jackson realize they are beating their heads against the wall, but they'll carry on with their Quixotesque mission, as ordered, afterall...it's steady work...and they don't want to have to go on food stamps!