rural social justice – Page 18 – Rural Tompkins County

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Find the three identical balloons”

There is similar, much alike, and identical. “Lenses” can be used to select a set of things that are “similar” and “much alike” – but “identical” transcends these subjective judgements.

“Made with” and “made from” on a product may seem similar in the eyes of to a consumer; but are quite dissimilar through the legal “lens” of regulators.

It’s tough to keep your bearings on the “slippery slope” of words, meaning, and intent that comprise [and compromise] today’s social policies — so the best procedure is to compare their words and actions with those figures of equality, compassion, and human worth we most respect.

When you hear phrases like; “fighting for the same thing” – watch out – it means that those beliefs and actions have been adulterated — and there is no telling with what; and how much of it is inert . . . or toxic.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Follow the arrows home”

While it’s simple to follow the arrows; it’s confusing to have so many arrows to follow. The old truism; “the best way to make a million dollars is to write a book about how to do it, and sell a million copies” – has been carried to extremes in today’s advice giving landscape.

Political advice, social advice, health advice, financial advice, cooking advice — all vying for your attention [and money] — and all adding up to more than a lifetime of reading, comparing, preparing, and consuming.

The conclusion is self-evident: if you don’t have some of your own arrows to follow – you’ll never find your way home.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Knots Too Much”

With more twists, turns, and dead ends than modern governance: these policy projecting pieces of rope could be used to replicate resident’s paths in our Kafkaesque bureaucracy. It’s as difficult [and as useful] as tracing skate-marks in the ice – but I hope it’s perceptually invigorating and fun.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Reasonable Rhymes XII” Road signs

Wouldn’t it be nice to have some reinforcing “Burma Shave” style road signs back on our highways? Like the “eatery” exit signs — food for thought.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “BIGOTRY – written in letters too big to see” Bumper sticker

“All “BIGOTRY – written in letters too big to see” Bumper sticker

It’s not a foreign language — so stop relying on the subtitles to learn what’s going on.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Tompkins County’s Rural Policy” Bumper sticker

“Tompkins County’s Rural Policy: Constructive Eviction.” Under the cover of “We” and “Us” – with a Greater Good “lens” – Tompkins County has unleashed a series of policies to destroy the troublesome rural community.

The Town of Lansing was broken up and divided into Town and Village by the rural community’s refusal to accede to collegiate control — but a world-class Ivy League corporation cannot be gainsaid: and through urban sprawl, voting loopholes, and unilateral planning decisions; Lansing Town government was taken over and made to conform.

Lansing’s rural community is entirely unrepresented in this government, with no services except their own volunteer fire department – and the County has cut back rural law enforcement to one deputy for two towns.

High tax assessments are forcing the original rural residents out; and the community’s character has changed from “blue collar” families to a “drug dollar” Ag Ghetto.

In rural Lansing’s future; all that will be left are factory farms, foreign workers, felons . . . and fools.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Be the change [small change]” Bumper sticker

“The Change” is projected big on a paper-thin world of self-promotion; but if we walk through that projection into a world of reality – what do we see? Nothing.

There is no rising tide of anything good. There is no atmosphere that is positive and loving: It’s an atmosphere of hate and recrimination – and a repressive feeling of fear and apprehension.

“I’m not bad people; it’s people that made me bad.” “I don’t need to work; I just haven’t been paid what I’m owed.”

Once we’re done blaming others; there is no meaningful action — and once we’ve taken everything; and there is nothing left to take . . . it’s time to turn the page on this Society. That will be “the change.”

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Social Policy in 2022” Bumper sticker

“Social Policy in 2022: Bigotry and piggery – joined at the hip.” Our social policies are not selfless actions; but filled to overflowing with a sense of self and self-interest.

Keeping in mind that our leaders are not “movers and shakers,” but users and takers; gives a clearer perception of the “why” in back of policy making. Our social policies are designed to “line the pockets” of those who carry them out, and those who are the beneficiaries – and bigotry is the oil that it all slides on. It’s an elitist “black box” that conceals the construction, the actions, and even the results of the process — there is no public oversight: we have to take them at their word.

It’s this same commitment to self-interest that has led to the current batch of distancing descriptors. For example: “Lens” has replaced “viewpoint” in elitist lexicon – a viewpoint is inextricably attached to a person; while a lens implies an outside and less personal view. It’s the “lens” that is responsible – not the person who uses that view. Tricky.

“All Roads Lead to Cornithaca” – “Law • Paper • Bullet”

It’s not a time of building; it’s a time of cycling: the COVID cases ebb and flow, we go out and come back home, and crime endlessly cycles through our bureaucracy like hunters through the woods.

Deer me. I was going to add a fourth choice for the game: “Victim” – but since the victim is always the victim: it would always be the wrong shape at the wrong time — a Form Based thumbs down.