Integrity. What is your price to lie?

I'm thinking the best answer to that question right now, here in Michigan, is a job. Like, any job.

Today, I ended the Michigan Works program that I was in for the past 3 weeks. It is a long story of lies and deception on the part of the Peckham/Michigan Works employees. I'm going to shorten it down quite a bit and not cover all the B.S. Now, I do have to back those employees to an extent, because of the people they have to deal with that really take advantage of the program (lie). But, that’s about it.

I've been driving my car to the program (30 miles one way), which has no insurance and expired plates. I was told by my FIA worker I must attend this program to get a $135.00 disbursement every 2 weeks. Ok, no problem. I thought it would be interesting and educational at the same time. It was.

In the program I was assigned an "Employment Specialist". The one I received (I'll call her Jane) was in her 3rd month of employment with Peckham/MI works. She said I could be helped with gas reimbursement and other things and told me to get her 2 estimates for insurance and the price to register my car (they would help get that started). I got the 2 (PLPD) estimates through "legitimate" insurance companies. The prices were as follows. $512.00 for 6 months... or $718.00 for 6 months. I had the break down faxed to Jane.

In a morning "meeting" with others, she then told me those prices were way to high and told me to try another place. A person in the "meeting" told me to try LA Insurance. I did. Their price was $420.00 every 6 months. Great! I had it faxed over to Jane. Problem... according to Jane, the primarily Arabic speaking LA Ins. Rep. faxed over 2 (TWO) estimates for some other person. She showed me the form but I can't remember the name on it, but it wasn't mine. Well, what can I say... I spelled out my name for the guy. I guess he goofed (or did he?). She then told me I could not be reimbursed for gas because that would be condoning driving illegally. hmmm... I called back and got a hold of another guy. His English was a little better. He found my info on the computer and had it faxed over to Jane. 2 days later, Jane tells me.. "I told you I need 2 estimates!" Hmmm... I thought I got you 3 now? She said she needs another. Ok. I got another one faxed over. Shewwww. Done as far as I know. Didn't hear any more about that.

Now, to get insurance, you must have registration. A project for me to do (per Jane) was to get a written estimate of what it would cost. My old registration renewal was stolen from my mail box. A story in itself. So... Jane told me I could get it on the Mich.Gov website. On the website, it tells about how the price is based on the weight of the car and so on... but no price. So I print that info out. But before I give that to her, I call the Sec-of-State "Help" line. I give them my name and the cars V.I.N. They pull it up and say $50.00... and then they give me a reference number. I ask them if they could fax me a print out of that. NO! We don't do that here... you will have to call a branch office. Ok, do you have their phone number? NO! Its in the phone book! ok.

Guess what, their is no branch numbers in the phone book. I call back. They tell me I'll have to go to a branch office. I go to a branch office and wait in line with my #75 for almost 2 hours. I get up to the lady and explain my situation. She tells me they don't print out anything for anybody. hmmm...Ok. I asked her what I was to do. Tell them it will cost $50.00, she said. I said they won't go for that. So she grabs one of those pink "while you were away" pads (but it has the Sec-of-State seal on it) and hand writes $50.00... then stamps it with a date and time stamp. OH GREAT! So the next day, I explain it to Jane and I gave Jane the "vehicle weight" print out, the "reference" number and the "pink slip". She took it. Thank you Lord! Its the weekend! I enjoyed my weekend.

Monday morning in the "meeting" Jane tells me she needs the price in writing. I explained it to her again. She said she will see about that! I then say this... "let me run this scenario by you, I'm driving here illegally. I could get stopped and get in trouble... or worse". What is an alternative?" She said, "if you would like, I will have a bus pick you up". I said, "considering the gas I use in two weeks coming here costs about as much as my disbursement, that may be an option I take up". "But, if it takes me at least 50 minutes to get here (127 construction), how long will it take for a bus to get me here??? And if I'm not here by 8:00am, will I be in violation?" Her answer was "well, they are doing away with the rural bus service, but if you decide to do that, you will probably be late and also have to make several bus transfers... but we can excuse that". I said "let me think about that awhile!" Nothing more was said.

I leave and do 2 interviews and put in some Apps. I arrive home about 6:00pm and find a message on the phone from the bus company CATA. They state they will be at my place at 7:00am to pick me up. WHAT? Tuesday is my kids first day back to school and I then remember I have to go up there! I then call and cancel the ride. I then call and leave a message for Jane. Hmmmm.... interesting.

I go in to "MI Works" Wednesday and no "drama". Nothing new. Time to continue my job search... and I have another interview at 11:00 am. All goes well. I get home and have a new message from CATA asking where my house is! The message was left at 8:00am... I have to leave at 7:00am to make it to "MI Works". Apparently, they were dispatched AGAIN! "I CAN"T BELIEVE THIS!"

I show up to "MI Works" Thursday morning (today) and in the "meeting", Jane starts, more or less, accusing me of playing games with "them". She said "the bus company called her and pitched a bitch about the situation". She then told me she needed to see me in her office after the "meeting". I go with her to her office. She tells me she contacted the Sec-of-State and the price was going to be $100.00 for registration because I have to pay for the past 2 years, regardless, because that’s the way it works. I said "Really?" "They didn't tell me that"! "But I'm sure you guys will only pay the $50.00, and I will have to pay the rest... so I am guessing that make it irrelevant." She said, "NO... we are not going to pay any of it now... AND we will have to write up a notice of compliance for you to sign. " A notice of compliance, I said? For what? She said, " first off, I don't know what kind of insurance you were trying to get on your car, but the prices were outrageous... second, is you asking for a bus and having them show up at your house and not being there (I was all ready at MI Works...and I didn't ask for a bus)... third, is you were dishonest about the price of your registration and I had to spend time yesterday calling on it... and last, your getting estimates on insurance and so on, on "MI Works" time. Your not allowed to do that!. I couldn't believe it!

This was almost unbelievable... but I'm not as familiar with this "program" as I would like to be. I know it is about money and grants from the government (to Peckham), but in what fashion? And what cost to the "people"? Obviously people don't matter... money does. At that time I said, I guess I will have to pull out... because basically your calling me a liar. You give me no choice and you have all ready explained your not helping me with anything I need. I saw a CHA-CHING in her eyes like she was relieved I was pulling out... and money in. There is more to this but that is the gist of it. hmmm.....

Funny thing is, I know Jane was doing all of this for her "job". She was really being directed by her "Bosses". It was in her eyes and in the way she acted and turned and looked toward her bosses cubical many time as she spoke of my "violations". That’s sad to have to do that to people for a job.

For the past three weeks, Jane wore a Cross around her neck. Today she was not wearing it. She spoke this day in our "meeting" of how she was having a hard time, when she got home, with what she had to do to people. The last words I spoke to Jane as I looked her squarely in the eyes was... "I will be ok Jane, but this will have to be on your conscience, and I'm sorry". She broke eye contact and looked completely to her side and up... and I left.