Private enterprise vs. Government entities

I recently moved and so today I did change of address for all the accounts

All my banks, credit cards, utilities, and memberships with private companies were easy to change online.

I had to call my health insurer, but the process was easy apart from a 5 minute hold.

There were two entities that I was not able to update my address.

The DMV, although they had an online change of address, their database wouldn't take my address because the zip code was just added in 2009. So it seems that the government moves slowly.

Then I called the tax collector. They laughed at the idea that I could get my upcoming bill sent to the new address. The wheels were already in motion for the tax bills to be sent in 17 days, which is understandable. But rather than change my address in the system, their advice was to just update the address on the payment envelope. The lady suggested it would be a good idea to do it on both semi-annual coupons so that by next year the bill will most likely get to me.

So to me, this typifies the responsiveness and efficiency, and I mean lack thereof, of Government. Governments don't have to be responsive to their 'customers' because they enjoy monopoly status.