>>>>   And I might add why I told the NY inspector they have to 
reinstate the inspection program.

 > Seems to me that the 'government', and that includes local and state 
governments, as well as the national government, is looking at only 
short term fixes or problems. <etc.>

In my experience, government inspection services tend to become corrupt 
and deliberately incompetent unless carefully overseen by persons of 
unquestioned integrity and staffed by honest and fearless inspectors.

I'll except our current Alberta inspection service for this general 
criticism, since I have had a good view from the inside and am impressed 
by the personnel and the programme -- and the widespread popular support.

The Alberta inspection programme is largely driven by beekeeper needs 
and feedback, with good dialogue between beekeepers and government.  
Moreover, Alberta inspection has been largely voluntary with most 
beekeepers lining up to pay fees and asking to be inspected!

There are also some aspects that are necessary due to legislation and 
public concerns that may not align completely with beekeepers' 
preferences, but virtually all Alberta beekeepers agree that all 
objectives are in the best interests of the industry and have been 
carefully explained and accepted.

In other times, and even now in some other jurisdictions, inspections 
have been largely political and mostly decorative.  The abuses range 
from incompetence to favouritism, expense padding, looking the other 
way, and more.

Any inspection programme needs to have rational and goals reached by 
consensus that do not oppress any minority, a person of high competence 
and integrity at the head, and a government and beekeeper population 
wiling to fund the programme and allow him/her do the job without fear 
or favour.

Sadly, this often is not the case.

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