Money well “spent” (more like thrown away)

The state of Wisconsin, my home which I do love dearly (despite the cold and snow) has some of the highest gasoline and road taxes in the union. To our credit, we do have very good roads to show for it. But, I can’t say I’ve ever had a good experience at the Department of Motor Vehicles. That’s not to say that anyone ever has. But at least when I first got my license only ten years ago I knew what I was in for.

Not today. My recent experiences at the DMV has been the same long lines as before, the same grumpy state employees that treat me as if I’m a peasant as before, and the same ridiculous paperwork as before (i.e. the License Renewal form that asks if you’ve ever had a license in Wisconsin before… well, if I didn’t, would I really be filling out a RENEWAL form?).

But to add to the less-than pleasurable experiences of the past, my two most recent visits also involved getting to the window and finding out that I can’t renew my license because the computer system that runs the driver licensing program is down. And not just at this particular DMV, but at ALL of them. Both of the past two trips I’ve made (approximately three weeks separated) have I run into this problem.

It’s a good thing those high road/gasoline taxes are being put to good use.