rules and bureaucracy

I've noticed that bureaucracy and red tape cause problems almost everywhere, although the way it happens is different.
In the US there is a rule to follow something as it is written on paper, even in situations when the rule seems not applicable at all. I have to communicate with different government and non-government agencies and whenever we would get to the point which is not described exactly in their rules they would get stuck. It's like machine that got an error message on the screen and needs to be rebooted. The same thing happens when they ask you for something which is unrealistic or inapplicable in a certain situation, but, they have no other choice but follow instructions word for word. It's like Sprint requires me to present them with bill for utilities from my home country with my name and address on it. It is just not done this way here, there's no way I can get the real one for them with all that stuff on it. And they are not able to work out any solution, although there are many other possibilities for me to prove that I'm outside the US now... they just do not care.
As for our bureaucracy, rules are just general guidelines and if something is not in there (of course when it comes to little things), people would act just in accordance with logic and common sense. But since nobody wants to take responsibility, more and more paper is being used, which may slow down the whole process considerably.

odd rules

My American friends are either taking advantage of me due to the fact that I might not know some cultural stuff or trying to protect me. But here are some really odd rules.
1) You do not point at people in places where there are some black people around. (Well... I didn't really point, although it might have looked like that). And you are totally fine "pointing" while you are in a color-homogeneous environment.
2) You do not clap in a church. Actually everyone can clap... but me... My friend is totally making fun of me... but now he's trying not to clap while I'm around...
3) You are better never even say a word "racist"... totally for protection purposes.