Dealers...What authority do they have?

Are dealers permitted to remove chips from your stack if you're in one of the blinds, and put them in for you, or are they supposed to remind you to put them in?

It depends on what you play, at a casino in cash games you just sit out and a BB or SB button is placed at your seat and either you pay that to get in again or wait untill the BB comes to you again, it hink in tournaments like the wsop, the dealer or the tournament manager takes the chips away, i mean they have too!

Cash games, if you are sitting there at the table, they will remind you. If you aren't sitting there, they use the little missed blind button. (either sb or bb one)

In a MTT, they will post your blind for you if you aren't sitting at the table. If you are sitting at the table, they will remind you.

That makes sense...

At a small weekly tourney I play at, the T.O. informed me that he had instructed his dealers to put the blind-chips in if the players are slow, but I find that kinda invasive. Obviously we don't want the game dragging on, but surely a reprimand or fine is the way to go if the same player constantly offends?

If the player is there, a slite tap on the table in their direction along with a polite "xB please". If they are not there, then they should take them for the player.