TAD and Verci,
We all know that there are some locals who actually have a work ethic and some interest in doing their jobs well. Some of them are also competent ATCOs.
As we also know, the reverse is true - there are those whose work ethic consists of instructing aircraft (paticularly if they wish to tow) to standby and/or to call back when their replacement's due (I kid you not) and who are a long way from being competent. We all know who they are.
In the past, this baggage was carried under the umbrella of "keeping the customer happy" by appearing to have an expanding number of local controllers. These days though, we can ill afford to do so.
The time has undoubtedly arrived where someone in the standards dept. needs to grow a pair and say "enough is enough". The constantly increasing traffic volume and complexity mean that the rest of us have much less time available to clean up the ensuing mess and are getting particularly fed up at so doing.
Here's hoping it happens BEFORE there's an accident, rather than as a result of......