Rural Tompkins Blogs – Page 79 – Rural Tompkins County

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Global Warming is Green” Bumper Sticker

An example of how a small fact can be used to obscure a larger one. Authorities know that presenting facts as “truths” is the best way to have people buy into their policies.

“It begins innocently enough. Farmers use fertilizers to increase the output of their crops so that we can have more food on our tables and more food to sell to the rest of the world. But it is this agricultural runoff combined with urban runoff that brings excessive amounts of nutrients into waterways that feed the Mississippi River and starts a chain of events in the Gulf that turns deadly.”

In the book; I will deconstruct this government handout. It’s amazing how many misrepresentations are dovetailed into these few sentences — a beautiful piece of work.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Global Warming: Making Ocean View; Beachfront” Bumper Sticker

Just a reminder: You can make more money by using disasters; than by preventing or remediating them. COVID-19 grabbed the headlines; but smart investors know that there are always profitable opportunities in our downward spiraling world.

Ocean-rise investments in real estate is a “global warming-proof” way to ensure you can comfortably live out your natural life in our unnatural society.

“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.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “When politicians won’t kiss your blue baby” Bumper Sticker

There has never been a long-term study made to evaluate the effects of factory farming methods on the rural community. Such a study would not be welcome.

How many rural babies have died because of nitrates in their drinking water? Nobody knows. Autopsies are rarely performed on infants.

If you’re a poor rural family, and a factory farm pollutes your well; what happens? Nothing. That’s your problem. Authorities advise spending a few thousand dollars on a reverse osmosis system or buying bottled water; but that is all they will give: the advice. What can you do? Where can you go? That’s your problem.

Agriculture-funded politicians and colleges are dismissive of the conditions that rural families are forced to endure; they can afford to be — or rather, they can’t afford not to be. Just follow the money.

“Escape form Corruption” Board Game: Free Printable Download

“Escape form Corruption” Board Game Download (2934 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.