Government and Society – Page 51 – Rural Tompkins County

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Rise of the Evil Ones” – Form Based Evil – Scientific Protocols Room

We all know it – modern regulations protect wrongdoers from accountability. Psychiatrists release patients into the community who do unthinkable things – but neither they, nor their patients are held accountable. Scientists who can’t even introduce existing species into a different ecosystem without disaster – can follow protocols and release Genetically Modified Organisms into the land, air, and water without any comeback for the harm they do. Polluters make use of a “Swiss army knife” of sweetheart deal-making: Voluntary Guidelines, TDMLs, Best Practices, Permit Shields, and a marriage of toothless regulations, best-friend investigating, and zero-fine adjudications.

Protocols are important because they cut people out of the loop – and cutting out any meaningful citizen participation is what today’s quid-pro-quo government is all about.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Rise of the Evil Ones” – Form Based Evil – Diversity Processing Room

Every grain of sand is different; but they’re all grains of sand.

Diversity was defined as “the quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas, etc.” But in our government’s “Diversity” – forms and types are all regulated, conforming, and limited – and there can only be one thought. In the diversity of the natural world; our government is a monoculture.

Henry Ford said, “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants, so long as it is black.”

This is what our government would call: “freedom of choice.”

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Tompkins County: Proud to be ignorant” Bumper sticker

When there is only one belief; there is no need to look any further. Tompkins County’s doctrine pure don’t try to understand anything different; because it cannot be important – and it’s wrong. When there is only one belief; self-examination is unnecessary. When there is only one belief; there can only be believers. The Urban Colonialism of “New Urbanism” supporters sees only one form of living; spreading from one central seat of power – everyone and everything must conform – or be discarded. We’ve seen this kind of thinking before . . .

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “A house that is built on excuses” Bumper sticker

There are no fundamentals in government anymore; no foundation of human worth or meaningful participation: Just excuses that this new house will be sturdy enough to shelter us all – and road we are taking will lead us there in the end. How long will it be before people start to question: “when will we get there?” How long before they dare?

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Go with the flow” Bumper sticker

I’m working with a minor official to make a difference in rural Tompkins County – and I haven’t heard from her in a while; so I sent an email this morning. There has been no reply. Helpful officials see things differently after an initial favorable response. Dictators see threats everywhere.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Zero Debt” Bumper sticker

There are promises that are meant to be kept . . . and there are promises that aren’t. And Biden’s “net zero 2050” has all the earmarks of unfulfilment – I’ll do my homework/clean my room/take out the dog/trash “later.”

Much later. Biden will probably be dead, and probably out of office – so it’s a safe bet to write an I.O.U. on. And there will be three decades of global warming/sea rising/population depleting/pandemic spreading disasters to distract the voters.

Considering that not one of the government’s environmental programs has had any teeth; or any impact – corporations will jump on board the marketing-profiting bandwagon.

“I lied before, but now I’m telling the truth, and I’ll pay you back with interest . . . and . . . can I just borrow a little more until payday – in 2050.”

I remember hearing an activist in the 60s saying: “If you see a pipe pouring out pollution; stop it up.”

I used to think that was a radical solution — now I think that it’s too late.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Form Based Thinking” Bumper sticker

Form Based Thinking does not lead by example; it leads by regulation; by Law; by forcing people to conform; by intimidation. Form Based Thinking sees gender and race as a way of compartmentalizing actions – in a way that directly contradicts every ethical and humanitarian precept.

Form Based Thinking is the thinking of the powerful: If you can divide people into the forms you choose; and regulate the attributes of those forms – you can ensure your position and power.

Form Based Thinking does no see humanity; it sees order — it’s diversity from a single viewpoint. Nobody is left behind . . . and nobody can leave their compartment.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “The good news?” Bumper sticker

In a world of users: someone’s always trying to get a handle on you. In New York State: Where lawmakers have declared that unborn children are not Human Beings — the same lawmakers declare that it’s compassion that shapes their policies. Our government is not about human worth: It’s all about the bottom line — and you can’t get any lower than their bottom line.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “COVID Inheritance Planning” Bumper sticker

The entitlement – the virus – over half-a-million elderly deaths – and no news stories? Don’t create any harmful anxiety — they might change their wills.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “It’s later than you believe” Bumper sticker

Fifty years after 1971: and people don’t worry about what they think – they worry about what they believe. If you think for yourself: you’re probably counselled by past experience. But if you’re counting on the warnings of people who do your thinking for you — you’ve got a problem: they can always get another you.