“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Six Degrees of Segregation”

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Six Degrees of Segregation” - Left
“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Six Degrees of Segregation” - Right

There was an investigative television show about Doctor in Florida whose fake biopsy reports showed every skin blemish on his elderly patients to be cancerous, and require the most invasive [and most expensive] skin cancer surgery. The spouses who brought these patients were also talked into having biopsies that resulted in the discovery of even more cancers requiring this profitable surgery. When whistle blowers reported to Medicare the hundreds and hundreds of unnecessary, and very painful, surgical procedures they were being billed for: Medicare replied that as long as the operations were being performed; the doctor had a right to be paid.

This bears a striking similarity to Government’s role as the doctors of our society: they are constantly finding dangerous “ills” that need immediate surgery, and more governmental power, to eradicate.

The more power they are given; the more ills they seem to find.

And who is playing the role of Medicare? That’s us, stupid.

In a universe run by cause and effect; such coincidences need to be viewed with suspicion.

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Cornithaca: Where’s the Love?”

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Cornithaca: Where’s the Love?”

Doctrine holders always take the moral high ground as a matter of right; judging and questioning others as to the worthiness of their actions and opinions — but if their own Doctrine is measured against the accepted standards of love, compassion, and humanity; the results give no reason for their doing so.

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – Part II: “Rural Whites Don’t Matter” Yard Sign

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – Part II: “Rural Whites Don’t Matter” Yard Sign

In Cornithaca County’s Ag Ghetto: rich farmers, surrounded by rural white poverty, drug addiction, and joblessness; hire subsidized foreign labor and put up Black Lives Matter signs to emphasize their dismissive attitude.

“Rural whites don’t matter” is the basis of the County’s rural policy.

This will be well documented in Part II of this book.

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Part 1 Proof Print and Preface”

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Part 1 Preface”

The humanity and wisdom expressed by the quotes in this book, and hopefully echoed in its activities and games, is a touchstone for human behavior that is hard to argue with. Every speaker points to an unconditional humanity: a golden rule that cannot be bent — only broken.

“Important principles may, and must, be inflexible.” — Abraham Lincoln

In one sense; this book compares the principles of these original speakers with those who today claim to be following in their footsteps. In this age of scams; are their pretentions no more than a cover?

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – Part II: “Old Folks Don’t Matter” Yard Sign

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – Part II: “Old Folks Don’t Matter” Yard Sign

I turned down a trendy “Zoom” conference of writers; but I couldn’t resist the current “yard sign” craze.

Their lack of compassion for the more than 100,000 elderly dead in this country; makes the Pandemic a defining moment for the New Secular Religion. It’s no more than another tool that can be used to gain power and wealth.

Why this antagonism toward the old? Even if they haven’t gained wisdom; they’ve lived long enough to recognize bullshit when they hear it — and say so.

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “The No Uncertainty Principle”

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “The No Uncertainty Principle”

This page is a kind of a bridge between the satire of Part 1 and the dark reality of Part 2; and is placed just before the “Bigotry: The Musical” piece that ends the first part of the book.

The second section of the book will include the real incidents and actions that gave rise to the questions outlined in Part 1– and a much better idea of how they should be answered.

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Doctrine Says” Game

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Doctrine Says” Game

A simple game about a difficult problem. Conforming is often the one calm spot in a turbulent, pressure filled situation.

People may conform because they want to be liked, or they because want to survive, and frequently because it appears to fit what they believe in.

Conforming is natural; that’s why it’s so important to think about what you are conforming to. Especially when it begins to change.

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Human Compassion”

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Human Compassion”

After reading the wisdom, humanity, and compassion expressed in so many quotes and proverbs; it’s hard to see why we listen to these politicians and media idols at all.

With writing my books, reading, and other activities; I’ve plowed through a lot of “stuff”; and one thing keeps repeating in the background: we are not living in, or moving toward, the kind of world that people want to live in.

When I look at the 1950s; I think “Yeah, we can fix that.” But when I look at 2020: I feel like we’re stuck in the mud in the middle of nowhere, the temperature is dropping, and it looks like snow.

It’s time to leave 2020 where it is, find shelter and warmth in some human habitation; and call to have it towed to the junkyard.

In the extras on the Lord of the Rings DVDs; the actors playing Hobbits in Hobbiton would say how much they envied the community lifestyle that their characters enjoyed. Maybe it’s not a return to the past; but a return to humanity and sanity that we need.

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Old” Sayings

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Old” Sayings

“There are old sailors, and there are bold sailors; but there are no old, bold sailors.”

I call these “old” sayings because they’ve been around a long time – but wisdom never grows old. And while people learn by doing, and experience is a very thorough teacher, learning from the experiences of others can save you much pain and regret . . . and more.

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Cornithaca Corner Store – Products”

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “Cornithaca Corner Store – Products”

Have you noticed how many people monitor what you say in order to chastise you for non-conforming opinions? It’s a technique that’s often used these days to put others in their place — a lower one.

In the Revealed Church of Secular Self-interest; those who reveal it; have no belief in it. This presents a special danger:

Even your belief won’t save you if they believe you have something they want.