Rad Geek People's Daily

A man who scrubbed filthy road signs until they were gleaming has been told to stop by a council.

Cory Poynton, 27, started cleaning dirt-covered signs in Warwickshire a few weeks ago after noticing them across the county.

Since then, more than 3,500 people have reacted to his Facebook post that shows the results of using detergent and a cloth in his spare time.

However, Warwickshire County Council has since told Mr Poynton that it could not support his work because cleaning close to roads put him in considerable danger.

— Alice Cullinane, Man told to stop cleaning filthy signs by council
BBC (10 May 2024).

Why? Good lord, no it doesn’t.

On Facebook, more than 3,500 people reacted to Mr Poynton’s post showing the results of using detergent and a cloth in his spare time.

I see dirty signs all the time so I thought it’s about time someone such as myself takes action — otherwise, who will do it? he said.

Users on Facebook praised Mr Poynton for being a local “hero” who did “tremendous work” to keep roads safe.

— Alice Cullinane, Man told to stop cleaning filthy signs by council
BBC (10 May 2024).

Once again, with apologies to H.L. Mencken and Max Weber, I think our theoretical lexicon needs some revision. Thus:

Bureaucratic rationality, n.: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy without a license.

See also:

• GT 2010-05-17: The Clean Water Act vs. Clean Water
• GT 2005-02-13: Bureaucratic rationality
• Katherine Mangu-Ward, Guerrilla Public Service in Reason (May 2010)