“Nobody noes.” Tompkins County’s rural community is unrepresented and unimportant — and in the County’s most recent Comprehensive Plan “vision of the future” – they don’t even exist. Like so many native cultures under colonial rule: they are “withering away” in poverty, neglect, and oppression.
“A big frog in a small pond in a draught.” How does it take you? Is it the only water? Or has it dried up? Is it pride in a dying/drying pond? How will the frog act? Toward others? – do they have everything? Or nothing?
“9-1-1 calls go to voice mail.” It’s not a stretch; it’s just a further step down the path that the County is already traveling: Due to COVID-reduced revenues; Tompkins County decided to cut back on services; not politicians, and not giveaways to corporations – but since their lock-step legislature always votes the same – why not double or triple up on the “representation” and use the money that we’re paying to unnecessary legislators for the safety of the community. I’m sure there would be a lot of public support for this solution — that is; if the public had any meaningful participation in County government.
Shut off all the noise, and what do you feel? Nothing. There is no rising tide. No compassion. No goodness. No hope. Just endless repetition – indoctrination – rote: “We are the future” – and? “It’s your generation who ruined the world” – and . . . what?
It’s all “when are we going to get there?” to an uncaring Doctrine. A road trip without a ‘rest stop’ or a motel.
“Their Code of Ethics is fill in the blanks.” Cornithaca County’s ethical oversight is like a temporary spare — it’s used to distance participants from the scandal until permanent repairs can be made. There is no clear-cut case of misconduct that cannot be side-stepped or misunderstood into non-action. And if you persist; they just stonewall.
Let’s face it: when “entitlement” started getting bad press; it started using disguises — it’s “tradition,” it’s “compassion,” it’s a “safety net,” it’s what you’re “owed” – it’s all about you. You can’t balance the scales of justice with nothing on the other side.
“Is like cleaning the storm drain in the shadow of a tsunami.” Government policy is all about talking big; and getting tough with the little people. Expect to see “Global Warming” Taxes — that will be used to pay off the big polluters. [They’re called “incentives.”]
It’s not panic that causes the most deaths in house fires — it’s lack of panic.
“It’s considered sophisticated.” There’s nothing like exposure to the victims of crime to take the shine off of evil. Acceptance of harm to others as a proof of your worldly experience and understanding; is as empty as corruption itself. If all is corrupt — then all is emptiness.
Tompkins County: The students have no idea of what’s happening in the county; but County authorities and corporations have a good idea of how to use that ignorance – the power of representation to run the county like a private club; without any accountability. Tompkins County’s stratified community puts all power into the hands of its urban elite — and all burdens on the backs of the rural poor. It’s like having 40,000 convention guests; whose biggest concern is – “Is the ice machine working?”
“Sustainability: Having the same standard of living as your parents.” As much as this may inform the modern social conscience – it equally informs those who are teaching it to our children – we can’t move into the future; if you’re trapping them in the past. A rich “standard of living” is a poor substitute for quality of life.