Barry, I am hardly your average Cornell type; child of poor country folks, wife of a carpenter, read my first academic journals on breaks from cleaning house for the “effete types” (who I also found things to like and appreciate in). But, I do have to buy water to fill my well in August and September in dry years, and I do know that we could extend water lines very inexpensively in Ulysses very much the same way that Town of Ithaca did: by putting them in areas where developers will be willing to shoulder the cost of infrastructure installation. It is not the only way to go, but to not even consider it is utterly ridiculous.

BTW– regarding homophobia: always thought that maybe one of the reasons my neighborhood got so much ignoring was because there are so many wonderful lesbian families in it. I’m proud to have them as neighbors, myself.

Why not just talk about the behaviors and attitudes that we don’t like? If someone’s being bigoted, say they’re being bigoted. If they’re being racist, say they’re being racist.

It’s the difference between David Filiberto’s attitude and Rordan Hart’s attitude. David Filiberto accused Rordan Hart of encouraging nativist ideology – a particular set of beliefs that can be either refuted or embraced. Rordan Hart, on the other hand, just insulted David Filiberto, calling him, in effect, stupid, silly, and like an ass.

Allen, I have no idea who the Effete Trumansburger is. It’s not me.

“If we’re against racists with small minds, then let’s say that. Let’s not make an automatic link between hard-working rural people and intolerance.”

Ok – fair enough. It’s just that , in my experience, people who insinuate others are “gay” when they don’t agree with them are:

a) conservatives and racists
b) 5th graders

or perhaps both?

but you’re right, not all “rednecks” are intolerant racists. I was just looking for a word which was the opposite of “effete”. Any other ideas?

heterosexual rural dwellers?

Did you write the post above signed “Effete T-burger”. It’s very good. Barry – have you ever heard of a spell checker? Your posts are such a struggle. I gave up. I wasn’t getting much out of them.

So, Barry, come on. Name names. You do you accuse of being effete?

I’m personally against using the term redneck.

First of all, I’ve done work in agriculture. You get very little money for a lot of hard work, and yes, your neck gets red. I’ve had many red necks in my time. They’re the product of work we all need, and should be a source of pride, not derision.

If we’re against racists with small minds, then let’s say that. Let’s not make an automatic link between hard-working rural people and intolerance.

Now, as for Barry Hayes comments– public water lines DO NOT run downhill in all instances, that is why we have a water tower across from my friend Ken’s house (nice placement– he lives on the Enfield Town Line so nobody needed to care if it threw a shadow on his house and garden or not) and a pump station down the road from me on Wolff Lane. And, in civilized places, they bring in engineers to do the plumbing work after the planners help work out where the water is needed and appropriate. You know, just like engineers work after the architect on a building. Turns out better that way. And my concern about WD5 is sure not that it was Doug’s idea– it is that it was arranged to qualify for “hardship” funding from the state, not to bring water service to the areas suffering from the most water problems, or experiencing the most new development, or where there are already other services appropriate to dense development (such as natural gas lines or proximity to sewer lines) or within walking distance of major employers (like the hospital) or that have petitioned the town to be able to hook on to water lines within yards of their homes. All these apply to my neighborhood, and not to many of the neighborhoods that were included in WD5. Doug is no expert, that is for sure, but my concerns about WD5 are not personal (as in, about persons), they are professional and objective. Of course, they are somewhat personal, in that the lack of public water is preventing me from making the most economically advantageous use of my property.

As far as I can tell, these are the issues most discussed by the candidates

#1: Open government- this is Hart’s main issue. He is angry about a decision to put a skate park near his father’s house. His father is suing the local Trumansburg government for deceiving the public. (to follow this logic, the entire Republican Federal administration should be impeached). Candidate David has apologized to the property owners, admitted that it was a mistake for local government to champion a skate park, and made it clear that he doesn’t think the village should be involved in the future. What else do these people want? Why are they still crying about it? Some claim that they are not allowed to speak at public meetings run by democrats. They have obviously never been at the receiving end of an Austic meeting where they are not allowed to speak. Most likely Hayes and Hart and the like don’t mind much when people with opposing opinions to their own are silenced. Hart claims that he will do the will of the people, be their butler. Since democrats outnumber republicans 2 to 1 in the village, I wouldn’t count on this – since he’d be constantly going against his core constituency. Rordan hart is running for election out of anger and vengeance. Not good reasons, to become my representative.

#2: main street project: according to a recent survey, it seems that the population is mostly 50/50 in terms of thinking Trumansburg is changing for the better vs for the worse. My read on this is main street project. Half the people here are just fine with a dilapidated town center, half want it to improve. David and Thomas are pro-main street. Which half do you think Rordan Hart is on? Hard to say – he hasn’t told us.

#3: Civility in government: Rordan Hart and his attack dogs on this blog call people who don’t agree with them “asinine” and “effete”. Enough said.

#4: Comprehensive plan and village Zoning: David and Chris have a lot to say about these. Hart? Nothing. Zero. See the Ithaca journal article if you don’t believe this. Try to determine anything about his positions from the reporting on the open meeting he attended. Trumansburg meets three trustee candidates at forum Ithaca journal sat 3/17/07.

And here I quote

“The candidates also fielded questions on the future of the village.
Both Filiberto and Thomas said that in the immediate future the completion of the comprehensive plan was one of the chief goals to accomplish, along with a new zoning plan, both of which will establish the criteria for new development in the village.”

Notice who said nothing about the future of the village? Rory Hart. Who is running for a 5 year term.

So these 4 issues are what I can see are the issues facing us in this election. Some here (like Steven Ferrari of the Trumansburg “free” press) claim that national politics have nothing to do with this. I disagree. As republican Tip O’Neil famously said “all politics is local”.

If you are a democrat, voting for a local republican means that you agree with that the national platform that they subscribe to. It means that you understand that this person may rise through the ranks to less local and more national prominence, perhaps at some point being in a position to be in even more control of your personal business than they may be at the local level.

Let’s look at the current platform of the republican party (www.gop.com)

1: Winning the war on terror. If you think (as 28% of Americans do) that we are on the right track with the war in Iraq, then by all means support a candidate from this party. Especially one who won’t support a local pro-impeachment resolution

2: Ushering in an Ownership Era: how many houses in Trumansburg are affordable to new young families? Which party do you believe is more receptive to newcomers in this area? The “I’ve been here forever” Hart’s, or the newcomers Filiberto and Thomas? Our future lies in recruiting young families into the area to support the schools, taxes, and local businesses.

3: Building an Innovative globally competitive economy: codeword: outsourcing. Less taxes for the rich.

4:Strengtheining our communities: health care, womens health. Are you for a woman’s right to choose in family planning issues? Most republican’s aren’t.

5: Protecting our families. Obviously code for gay marriage amendment. Do you believe that marriage MUST be between a man and a woman? Well, vote republican then! Federal, state, local, whatever it takes!!!

So a message to Trumansburg democrats like prominent anti-war and social justice activist Jules Bergevin (recently heard at a public meeting “appalled” by Filleberto for his actions on the skate park which was to have been close to his house) who think they can “send a message” to our local leadership for their mistakes – by voting republican…

By all means, go and vote for a representative of the party which seeks to turn back women’s rights, gay rights, and conduct illegal wars. These all pale in importance to some more noise and foot traffic in your neighborhood.

But to everyone else, know and understand the issues, but also understand that you are part of a party for a reason. Because you believe in the party’s platform. And this platform extends all the way from the white house in DC to the little white building on elm street. And don’t let anyone try to convince you otherwise. The term for these 2 positions is 5 years. Who are the candidates and the party you want to see leading this village through 2012?

redneck
A slang term, usually for a rural white southerner who is politically conservative, racist, and a religious fundamentalist (see fundamentalism). This term is generally considered offensive.

Is the walking issue slanted politcal bull, Barry? How so?

Who is effete in this village, Barry? If you’re going to start throwing around insults against people in Trumansburg, you ought to get specific or withdraw your slurs.

Barry, it is not a law of nature that when growth stops there is death. I stopped growing at about the age of 22, like most people, and I didn’t die.

WD5 would have been an excellent step in developing water supplies to Both Town and Village but has been stone walled from the get go because Doug Austic was for it. No other reason apparently. The idea was never ever presented to those people it would directly effect for some reason or other and the
Town board refused to let mr. Austic ask those concerned without first obfuscating the issue with innumerable straw men. Seems crinminal to skew representation so much as a town board member who is elected supposedly to representr the town’s interest instead of the interest of a select, effete few.
The idea of impoeachnnet needs to be locally recommended also. Geoffery Hart has a good point I think. As one who was prevetned from saying my piece at a town meeting then that is also criminal in my view. And those involved should be removed from office
same as in the village situation. An effete few wanted to bulldoze a skate park into some area of the village without full disclosure. While the skate park is a good idea and a worthwhile pursuit it would seem best to get the most support possible for such a venture before ramrodding it through people’s back yards. But everyone should be apprised of the plan first. Same as with WD5. obvious misuse of power such as poewer is in a village board or town board. The public needs to know as much as possible abpout all sides of an issue to make an informed choice. Not just the propaganda proffered by a few. Let’s get back to real fair government this is not a contest of wills entirely. Let’s actually see some representation.
Do you think it is still possible in todays twisted political climate?
I wonder.