“2022 – Bigots as usual.”
Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Frederick Douglass, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi —
The farther away we get – the smaller their voices become: “Following in their footsteps” – “working for the same thing” – “working for a change” – “getting what we’re owed” – “they deserve to be punished”. . . “In the future, there will be fewer but better Russians.” — Joseph Stalin
Like the Monty Python sketch where the insured’s “no pay” insurance was a great deal – if he never had to use it — our new world, “be the change” advertisement was a smug Peaceable Kingdom paradigm – until the Pandemic – until the predators sensed an injured prey.
It wasn’t just the media noise of the pandemic that should have caught our attention — it was the silence and emptiness where our humanity used to be. How far have we moved from the “caring and sharing” 1960s to a “using and abusing” 2020s? And if we keep traveling around our spinning world – will we meet up with that time again?
“Freedom – It’s not ‘rent-to-own’ – it’s only rented.” It’s been endlessly repeated in stories and in life — if you give up your responsibilities; you’ll give up your rights. Government was a burden – now it’s a Boss.
Will they tell us how we can change that? Or just tell us not to worry. When one door closes; another door opens – it’s a good description of an abattoir.
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions – but the slide to hell is greased with bad ones.” It’s not just about the destination; it’s about being able to stop and check out the view . . . and take another look at your map.
“Devil take the hindmost: don’t look back.” It’s a good survival policy for today’s society. “Whew! That was close . . . I better stop daydreaming and pick up the pace.”
“Tompkins County: The only transparency is the thinness of their excuses.” It’s filling in the form without accountability for what you write. It’s giving an answer . . . without answering the question. It’s the throng that cheers the dictator; because someone might report that you weren’t there – or didn’t cheer. The reasons for their policy decisions carry the weight of no alternative. Who cares what you believe.
“Stop pretending you care.” Some bumper stickers have more right to be on bumpers than others. Wouldn’t you like those behind you to see what you so often would like to say? In this world of shameless preening and self-promotion; the pretense of caring is one of the most insulting poses.
“The Shroud of Policy” Religious beliefs must be open to examination and proof – but secular beliefs are too sacred for dispute.
Aren’t you tired of people just “saying” – and demanding unquestioning acceptance of their policy decisions? Materialistic beliefs are amenable to materialistic examination.
When they put lead into one end of their black box; and take out gold from the other end: it’s called fraud. When they put lead into one end of their black box and take out nothing from the other end: it’s called “policy.”
O.K. That didn’t work. So then they bring out another black box . . .
“Bobble-head Bigots: Nodding at nothing.” It could be that they’re nodding in empty agreement; but I believe it’s in agreement to keep something hidden — and not for our sakes.
Now is a time of assertions, of attitude, of arrogance, of bigotry; but it’s not a time of questioning . . . they could be nodding in agreement not to publish what happened to you.
Public Government Meetings: “Closed due to COVID – and something else later.” There is nothing that so defines bureaucratic flexibility as the ability to use anything as an excuse – except possibly their ability to get away with it — let’s see you try to use “I’m understaffed,” for not paying your property taxes on time.
And nothing that so defines politicians as their desire to embrace more power.
That’s why COVID was a windfall event in the Darwinian playing field of politics – every disruption is a chance for corruption.
The COVID ban on public meetings streamlined the whole acquisition and approval process – and it’s a perk they don’t intend to give up.