The force that reduces us to automatons is no longer impersonal – it’s a gibbering, hate-filled monster. Doctrine is Everything: and those who do not conform must be punished; and used as an example.
People and beliefs that are non-conforming are not subject to debate, dismissiveness, or even to exclusion: but have become the objects of mob injustice and violence — while those who incite the mob merely whisper in the background.
“With some deals – it’s best to throw in your hand.”
FREE Download at: RuralTompkins.com – “Rural Tompkins County – The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Credentials.”
Print and cut out this card deck – card back images are included for double-sided printing.
The actions that authorities take to maintain and to regain their authority is always interesting.
When the “replication crisis” uncovered the wide-spread existence of studies that could not be replicated [Replication is the peer-review basis of validation for studies and study results] – it was a serious blow to the mantle of authoritative power that psychology and social science studies have enrobed their results in – and to the politicians and special interests that manipulate that power. How can this authority be regained?
First: control the situation – “deliberate misrepresentation and fraud are rare.” Second: control the public perception – “there is a ‘naturally occurring’ variation due to sampling size and content; that can produce widely differing study results.” Third: spin-doctor the mix – the “replication crisis” is not a scandal; it’s a good thing — it enhances our knowledge by showing that you need to take study results with “a grain of salt.”
Results of studies can “widely differ” – but at the same time: any one of those results can be selected and cited by politicians and special interests as authoritative.
And if you think they’ll tell you to “take them with a grain of salt” — you’re the sort of buyer they’re looking to sell to.
There are so many unanswered questions these days; because questioning is not welcomed. Not only does questioning slow up the legislative process – it raises doubts in the minds of citizens: doubts about the legislative agenda, doubts about the need for more government powers and prerogatives, doubts about the infallibility of experts.
And those unanswered questions are likely to remain unanswered — because we are questioning a government that is no longer answerable to the people.
In “Tompkins County and Tammany Hall”: I documented the County Highway Director claiming to a Legislator: “I have researched the area and talked to highway officials in Lansing and they report there are no large through haul trucks utilizing Lansingville Road. What is using the road is as I thought, Agriculture Vehicles.”
And in spite of many photographs that were submitted; showing tractor-trailers, cement mixers, gravel dump trucks, and semi-flatbeds carrying industrial equipment using that same road – he never changed that claim.
When this conduct was brought to the attention of the County Ethics Advisory Board – their response never acknowledged it. When it was brought to the attention of the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council – they never acknowledged it. When I sent the book to Town, County, and State authorities – none of them would acknowledge his conduct [or even acknowledge receipt of the book.]
No one would address it, and no one would talk about it — and as a consequence: they said everything we needed to know.
Equal treatment for all always
Martin Luther King, Jr. is under attack, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln and Malcolm X are under attack.
Anyone who believes that equality and individual human worth are absolutes – and cannot be recast, revised, or revoked – is under attack.
Everyone who believes that others are no less than themselves, and no less deserving than themselves – is being disrespected and dismissed by those who see a better world as the reflection of their own gain and satisfaction.
Let’s debate it – and better than that — let’s see who wants to change it, what they want to do, and who they want to do it to: Full Disclosure – Full Exposure — whether they want it or not!
If you feel conflicted by contemporary Social Programs – that’s the big step – now take the little step and come back to where we all belong — where everyone matters.
It’s not surprising that most Americans don’t know what’s going on in the Agricultural Sector – they’re not supposed to.
You may know that methane emissions have the greatest short term effect on Climate Change: greater than the CO2 gasses produced by cars, trucks, and industry. What you may not know; is that Agriculture is the greatest contributor to methane emissions – and that the Agricultural Sector is the only sector where methane emissions are continuing to increase. And that the farming methods being promoted by the USDA and Agricultural Colleges are the biggest producers of methane of all farming methods. Or that our government is only using voluntary programs and incentives [paying them our tax money] to fight this pollution.
To cut straight to the punch line: When all their activities that contribute to Climate Change affect their crops —government subsidies and funding pay out our tax money to ensure that our country’s corporate agribusinesses get every penny of profit they’re destroying our climate for.
Are they fools for what they’re doing? Or are we fools for letting them do it?
Life is not “what you make it” – we’ve lost all control over what our life is; and what it will be. The circumstances of our existence are what the government decides – by gender, race, ethnicity, age, and any other useful handle.
Don’t think of it as the loss of your freedom – think of it as practice for the unfolding dictatorship.
This hits home – because I was sprayed with a cloud of Roundup from an agricultural boom sprayer while mowing my lawn – and ended up dazed and vomiting all over myself and the bathroom in the early morning hours.
The investigation of my complaint by the NYSDEC [documented in “Tompkins County and Tammany Hall”] did nothing to help their reputation for corruption in the rural community.
Most rural families are too poor to move and powerless to use politicians; and when the mega-million dollar factory farms took over rural Lansing, NY – they owned us and everything in it.
The only thing worse than the environmental racism of the rural blacks – is the environmental erasism of the rural whites — we have no help, no hope — and no worth.
You’re immersed in the Criminal Justice System — Good Luck!
Each player builds a case with the Evidence on their cards. Once everyone is out of cards, the player with the most points in their Case File wins in this “bureaucratic closure” card game.
Download the instructions and artwork for 24 Evidence cards and 32 Adjudication cards. Print, cut out, and play – card back images are included for double-sided printing.