How Many Intermediaries Do We Need?

Are we really in need of intermediaries for EVERYTHING? Many intermediaries now have their own intermediaries! Think of insurance companies. While the concept of an insurance agent is nothing new, the advent of apps for EVERYTHING certainly has put another buffer layer between us and the services we pay for and rely upon. While greatly convenient when everything works smoothly, when it doesn’t, it sure can be a clusterfuck. And since when is everything smooth when you NEED your insurance? Not a great time to be on hold because the single customer phone rep is at lunch. And to rely on AI for human problems only seems to be a coup for those authorizing payments for their employees.

But what about intermediaries for other things? A legal issue? You need a lawyer, and get ready to pay. Where do citizens go to learn about everyday laws and rights? Why is that not a part of our education? It seems the law clearly states that ignorance is not a defense! We’re also clearly fucked.

In some belief systems, even God has His intermediaries here on Earth. Priests, ministers, etcetera, have spent centuries convincing us mere mortals that without them, salvation cannot happen.

These days, even trying to get in to see your doctor has become like trying to catch a glimpse of the Pope. And they are just as well insulated from communication.

We can’t even begin to discuss telephone communication as an intermediary because unless you already have the personal cell phone info of the person you are trying to call, chances are you won’t be connecting via phone. And if, by chance, you had a number, instead of it being answered by a real human being, it has by now probably been replaced by some automatic system that is so inefficient that it would probably take less time and energy to jump into your car or on public transportation and head over to talk to the people you seek in person–if you could manage to get in touch with their office staff first.

This is an issue that seems beyond measure, as well as beyond remedy. In an age that has been defined as the age of communication technological supremacy, why is it that we can’t get in touch with anybody real? Scammers and other abusers seem to have no problem reaching out to connect.

Do we really need level after level of buffer between us and with whom we want to communicate? What happened to the days–which weren’t that long ago–when we could just pick up a phone book, call a number, and speak with the intended phone call recipient?