Everybody’s work is nobody’s work
The author argues "everybody's work is nobody's work" captures fragmented responsibility normalizing bureaucratic delay. No official feels answerable for outcomes, creating an accountability vacuum filled by "agents" who monetize free public services through under-the-table rates. This systemic rent-seeking spans departments like the RTO, normalizing corruption where efficiency is preserved to feed the chain. Vulnerable citizens suffer most, trust erodes, and well-meaning officials are trapped while digitization fails due to opaque processes. The root cause is a lack of end-to-end ownership. Solutions require transparent timelines, visible accountability, independent audits, and consequences for non-performance. Without rejecting this normalization—citizens refusing to pay, officials refusing to collude—the quiet prostitution of public services continues, undermining governance as a public good.