It takes a special kind of liar to portray a collegiate world of environmental nurturing, ethical policy-making, and public participation — when they know that everyone believes the opposite: and it takes an influential plutocracy to avoid the consequences. Tompkins County: submit to the power – or else.
Just as manufacturers create molds to define shape their product; Form Based Codes allow politicians and bureaucrats to define the shape of the community that residents must conform to. Form Based Code proponents spend a lot of time trashing previous Zoning processes; but they are reticent in revealing their own:
Form Based Codes give unprecedented and unarguable power into the hands of authorities – PERIOD. There is no other certainty. There is no guarantee of public meaningful participation, there is no practical way to change or prevent any Form Based Codes that are handed down. The “streamlined development approval process” ensures that there is no way for the public to block any development that authorities want.
Form Base Codes are a tool of the “New Urbanism” – a manifesto of Urban Colonialism – a city-centric mono-viewpoint that architects have offered to gain a place in the power structure.
Form and Conform meet in Form Based Code regulations – first, the streets outside you home – then, the rooms inside your home – then, the thoughts inside your head — is there a limit to “form based” regulations? Is there a limit to the craving for power?
The college experience in Tompkins County used to be characterized as “Centrally located; in the middle of nowhere” – now it’s “Centrally located; in themselves.” So many college students, staff, and alumni are wrapped up in being the “destination” of the future – they’re unable to wrap their heads around anything else.
Being in the middle of nowhere not only eliminates the competition; it throttles any opposition: there is only one source quoted for all information and explanation.
The metropolitan seas may offer a greater variety and number of opportunities; but the Tompkins County puddle offers the opportunity to be an absolute ruler — and for many people here – that’s the destination that attracts them most.
If you were to search for any common name for anything on the internet; you would probably find it was being used to brand a company. [Just as businesses used to put “AAA” before their name to be placed first in the Yellow Pages listings.] Many parents however; seek to change up the common name commonality by changing the spelling of their child’s name – I admit that “Brandiiiiiii” has a certain uniqueness; but that is no guarantee of individuality.
In marketing a “NEW” product – today’s entrepreneurs have embraced the idea that by changing the spelling of a product; they may convince an increasingly conforming public that they are being unconventional [if not actually individual.]
Let’s take “beer” for a makeover: Lyte beer, LiiiT beer, Lytisha beer, Lyyte beer; or maybe Beeyr, Beyre, or Beeeeerrrrr [a “growler”]
I’ve had commonly labeled “beers” that are more than just individual – they’re unforgettable . . . terrible. Is individuality good? Does the protruding nail get hammered? [Is that another beeyr drinking reference?]
Tompkins County’s policies are legal: sort of — the sort of legality that lets people get away with things – the “fine print,” the meeting the “minimum” requirements, the deceptive phraseology, the shameless assertion, the credentialed cronyism, the “in-house” decision making, the agenda-filled survey, the “loophole,” the gerrymander — it’s actions without ethics; it’s law without legitimacy – but it’s all swept under the rug.
In a college county with a four-year memory: a couple of graduations and a friendly newspaper is all it takes.
Government guidelines are simple in Tompkins County: “Shut up, pay your taxes, and do what you’re told.” — and there’s nothing you can do to change any of it. Even if you talk; they never listen – they know that you have no power; no one can “upset their applecart.” The tax breaks all go the big corporations that run the county. And new laws and regulations are constantly being passed to repress the rural community and drive out the ones who haven’t already been forced out by high taxes. You can still hunt deer to help feed you family: but you can’t hunt up the cash they demand to support their luxury school system. Tax assessors are the only County outreach most rural people ever see.
“Old School – New School – Gat Tattoo School” Losing control on the learning curve.
It’s bad enough to be a piece on the board in a political game; but with a dictatorship – it’s game over. In Tompkins County; the people have no human worth — they’re just a material that’s used to cast the “selfie-statues” of the elite — a humanity that their impaired “vision” can’t see.
Peel back the skin of today’s cosmetic world; and all the problems are still there. They go too deep to build a world of electric cars and ecological shoes on. People are selling their products, they’re selling their policies, their selling their image – but they aren’t selling the dirty job of responsible living and thankless effort that makes you an adult — it’s up to you.
People are tired of being victims of the overflow from our societal cesspits. If it’s so hard to live without victimizing other people – how can so many people manage to do it?
Our prison policy is like rehabilitating an alcoholic by locking them in a bar with other alcoholics; who force liquor down their throat. Forcing criminals to adapt to a criminal society and then compassionately releasing them back into the community is the sort of ill-logic that breeds in our hot-house bureaucracy. Isn’t it time to open the doors and let the reality in?