Government and Society – Page 63 – Rural Tompkins County

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “BEFORE you go out” Poster

It’s not surprising how easily COVID posters can be converted to cautionary proclamations. The restrictions used for the eradication of a virus and the eradication of an idea are very much the same.

And a vaccine performs a similar function to indoctrination in building resistance to an outside influence.

Even the policies that emphasize isolating and tracking down the source share a common fear: loss of control.

“For the greater good” is the tyrant’s slogan of the new century. While the “good” is something that the people can decide among themselves, this “greater good” seems to require an overarching and overriding control — and the kind of authority that glories in it.

“Full Disclosure – Full Exposure” of government policies and statistics leads to thinking. Thinking leads to questioning; and questioning leads to freedom.

How much does your government like to be questioned?

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “PROCTORS” Card Game Advertisement

“It’s not revenge; it’s Justice.”

In a time when the wildest performances adhere to convention as clingingly as the safest Salon painting; being different is more than just a target of repression — it’s the object of envy.

The “PROCTORS” Card Game lets you get back at those whose courage makes you feel small; and with some serious vicarious teeth.

It’s like a hanging in effigy; when you’re safe in the crowd.

Coming Soon.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – Cornithaca Billboards – “Come GROW with Us”

Big government only seems to be comfortable with big players. This “big” does not refer to its size, but to its scope and its partners: A small town government may aspire to “bigness” through its connection to larger powers; and the control this leverages in the lives of the residents.

Cornithaca’s government is an interlocking structure comprised of Institutions, Corporations, and Non-profits; with no meaningful participation by the people.

We are told we should be grateful that we are allowed to speak at public meetings, and live among such forward looking and benevolent guidance.

We have no choice.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “message”

Scary? It depends on who’s calling.

Society is no longer about people: it’s about government. That’s why governments [and the people who control them] have been rolling up all power and decision making into one place.

Artificial Intelligence may replace you; but it can’t replace the greed and ambition that drive it . . . yet.

Scary.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “HIT•FALL – The Municipal Adventure”

Bureaucracy’s no mystery

It’s unchanged throughout history

With power, privilege, and with wealth

It works to keep them for itself.

“Rise of the Evil Ones” – “Camo-Origami Level”

Patterns can reveal; but they can also be used to hide. Sometime the focus is kept narrow so that the larger pattern cannot be seen.

“Full Disclosure – Full Exposure” is a policy that has the promise of allowing the public examine all the factors that should be involved in any government decision making process.

This idea is not welcomed.

“Rise of the Evil Ones” – Form Based Evil – Power-ups Corrupt

“Power-ups” can instantly add to the life, armor, strength or score of a videogame player — but how does this apply to the games politicians have created?

Uttering a “shopping list” of cant phrases; politicians have blown apart the barriers that protected us from oppression, and designed a game where all differences can be treated differently.

These societal “power-ups” can add markedly to the wealth and perceived worth of those people who are designated; by their race, their gender, or by any categorization or profiling that politicians decide.

They make the rules.

Power-ups can be given — but they can also be taken away.

Maybe the rules will be changed to produce a game you have no chance of winning.

They’ll decide.

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – “. . . when county employees won’t pick up the phone”

Government has more important things to do than deal with the people — that’s why Doctrine puts people on the “receiving only” end of elitist policy making. The career longevity message to bureaucrats and government employees is clear:

“Pay attention to those above you; who cares if the people love you.”

Having to deal with other people’s problems interferes with the work-flow — and if they think they’ve got rid of you, and you come back: you’re labeled as a trouble maker.

“Cornithaca County” Book Preview – Easy Riddles – “The New Society”

This version of the classic riddle is intended to involve children with thinking about government [a much older and more difficult riddle.]

People can solve riddles and people learn new things; but it’s easier not to — people can control government; but it’s easier to let government do the driving and go along for the ride.

That’s one reason I’m so fond of fables as a learning tool; they can give the knowledge without having to experience the situation.

What about people who don’t even learn from experience? Why do people in a horror movie always split up? [Even when you tell them not to.]