government policy – Page 62 – Rural Tompkins County

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Corruption speaks louder than words” Bumper Sticker

Corruption: “An act done with an intent to give some advantage inconsistent with official duty and the rights of others.”

This legal definition is entirely consistent the actions and policies of Tompkins County government.

Although they are public servants; it is no longer the people who are served; the growth and profitability of corporations and institutions is now considered more important to the welfare of Tompkins County — the people have been moved to a secondary position.

Oversight committees short-circuit investigations and ethics complaints are regarded as an annoying interference.

200 years of Collegiate bureaucratic inbreeding has gone county-wide; and the results are Machiavellian.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Global Warming: prove it’s happening” Bumper Sticker

The urgency of the action is in large part dependent upon the consequences: if you don’t take precautions against the weather and only get wet; that’s one thing — if you die; that’s another matter.

While many countries believe that efforts should be undertaken to prove an action or process is safe beforehand; in America, we are frequently in the position of having to prove something is unsafe after the fact.

And with powerful, rich, and well-connected interests: that can take a lot of proving.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Greed in the face of need” Bumper Sticker

How does Tompkins County save money? By denying public services to the county’s rural poor.

Public transportation is stopped miles away from those farthest from doctors, medication and groceries. And the drugs and crime that poverty produce are handled by a Sheriff’s department that only come when they’re called, write a report, and leave.

The County does maintain one presence; its Assessors are constantly raising rural valuations to enable higher taxes — and rural families living on roads named for them are forced to leave and make room for urban sprawl developments and corporate cronies.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Poverty is more than color” Bumper Sticker

Poverty may be more than color; but public policy isn’t. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough blacks living in rural New York for the community to be worth caring about.

Even the pretense of equal worth has been replaced by an openly dismissive “somebody has to take the hit” philosophy, and disguised with an over the top ladling of “the greater good.”

After all; when “somebody” has to take the hit — it’s always a campaign decision.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “When the morning mist is herbicide” Bumper Sticker

Rural Tompkins County is a place where residents need to be vigilant when they hang out their wash. Giant agricultural boom-sprayers spray herbicides that drift across the landscape like a toxic fog — coating the toys that children play with, and the sheets they sleep on with glyphosate and other chemicals.

How can Agribusinesses get away with this? Because the regulations aren’t enforced — that’s what friends in high places are for.

“Escape form Corruption” Board Game: Free Printable Download

“Escape form Corruption” Board Game Download (979 downloads )

This board game borrows material from an upcoming book with the working title: “Tompkins County and Tammany Hall [I can’t seem to find any difference at all]”.

This book will present the strongest possible circumstantial case through documented actions, polices, and statements — all pointing in the same direction.

In a society with the sort of moral compass that lands people a spot on American Greed: The only question is: is there any power on earth that can stop it?

[Excerpts from the book will be appearing in the coming months.]

Tag: government policy

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Corruption speaks louder than words” Bumper Sticker

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Global Warming: prove it’s happening” Bumper Sticker

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “The Only Rights We Have Left” Bumper Sticker

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “The right thing to do” Bumper Sticker

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Bureaucratic Misconduct” Bumper Sticker