Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan – Page 2

“The World According to Doctrine” — “The Future of Rural New York”

I was talking to a neighbor today about the weather and the state of things – and he announced that his family had made plans for leaving New York State. Since the County removed rural sheriff’s patrols as being “too expensive” – He won’t even let his kids ride their bikes on Lansingville Road. “I’m planning on leaving” is a phrase that crops up in almost every conversation with younger families – while “I can’t afford to leave” is the sad statement of the elderly just trying to survive.

The millionaire farmers who have taken over give criminals free rein; as long as they don’t cut into their profits – and our once neighborly and hard-working rural community has become a dumping ground of rentals for the county’s unwanted: an Ag Ghetto of drugs, poverty, and crime.

New York policy makers are like someone who refuses to learn to swim — but when they start to drown — they pull down everyone around them while trying to keep their heads above water.

“The World According to Doctrine” — “There’s a method in their badness”

The back of the bus – the end of the string – by putting rural people last; they’re able to oppress by exclusion – we get less, or nothing: because there’s nothing left – someone measured wrong – it’s unexpected – there isn’t enough money – enough workers – enough government interest. They always run out of everything; by giving plenty to everyone else first.

There are exceptions: the tax assessors are never too busy to give us the highest possible assessments. Tompkins County’s policies are forcing the same rural families that its roads were named after out of their homes. Does that mean that policies will be changed? Of course not — it means they’re working.

“The World According to Doctrine” — “Survey questions they won’t ask”

When people ask you; “How are you doing?” – just say “Good” or “I’m doing OK” – because most people don’t want to hear your problems — the same thing is true of surveys.

Our Town survey, like everything to do with policy and politics, comes from Cornell. The cold-call telephone questions were loaded, open for interpretation, and asked well in advance of public awareness of the issues they would be used for. When the agenda of the survey emerged – its authors quickly backpedaled in an angry Town meeting: claiming it was only a preliminary indication; and of no great importance — this same survey was later used as the sole determining mandate from the residents for the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and all future development.

Surveys are used to provide an appearance of public legitimacy to the unilateral decision making of Cornell County planners. When residents claim that they are inadequate, biased, or deceptive – county officials merely defend the results; and make no changes,

People may not make the right decisions — and surveys are an important step to prevent that.

“The World According to Doctrine” — “Truck Run!” Screenshot

“In rural NY no one can hear you scream.”

When we tried to stop the invasion of large gravel trucks and industrial tractor trailers racing through our rural backroads; by requesting a 4-ton weight limit for through-truck traffic – the County Highway Director claimed they didn’t even exist. And when we documented it with photographic proof – he suddenly put up 20-ton weight limit signs.

But that’s only the beginning of the conduct of officials and their legislative oversight: read “Tompkins County and Tammany Hall” – free eBook download on Smashwords.com and paperback on Amazon.

As they say: “You can’t make this shit up” — and in Tompkins County, NY; you don’t have to.

“The World According to Doctrine” — “When the cat’s dead” Bumper sticker

Tompkins County is in the forefront of our New Dictatorship autocracy – they insist that there is meaningful public participation; and in the face of pointed criticisms – merely continue to insist – never changing anything – never feeling the need to change anything – insisting and insisting — When the cat’s dead; stop stroking it – you’re not fooling anyone.

“New Book” – “Flow Chart Poetry 2”

It may be pointless bureaucratic chatter to you, but for them; it’s money in the bank – and traditional “Quid Pro Quo” politics. It may be wasting your time – but they’re being paid to waste your time: and the tip they’ll receive is to insure their career longevity.

The real power of public meetings is in the ability of those in charge to delay and deflect important matters with unimportant questions, quibbles, and investigations – and postpone the vital issues that you came to hear and comment on for a month, or two, or six . . . until they can be short-circuited, reimagined, or reformulated.

Unimportant matters are the grit in the wheels of public participation — a grit that’s never allowed in the smooth running machine of power.

“New Book” – “It’s the wind that prevails” Bumper sticker

In our authoritarian society; it’s all about force – whether it’s doctrinaire or regulatory, social or emotional: everything and everyone must be made to conform — or be destroyed.

“New Book” – “There are only two categories of people” Bumper sticker

Which category are you? Since that decision is made at a higher level – we’re all disposable; aren’t we?

“New Book” – “Inactivism – Global Warming” Bumper sticker

Just being self-righteous and blaming other people has never been enough to make a meaningful change in the world. As is exampled in the 2021 “White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy” report — a government that is still covering up for the polluters; is a long, long way from addressing an already desperate situation. An efficient electric train network for moving people and merchandise is a solution that can be achieved by upgrading and adding to the existing infrastructure. Don’t accept the “we will make a difference tomorrow” foot-dragging of powerful truck-car-union-fuel interests; there may still be a crack in the door: Today. Tomorrow: it will be shut.