StrikeSlip delivers again!

[tanouryjr]

Here are two great posts by Strike over at Fault Lines...

strikeslip.blogspot.com/2008/12/tale-of-two-valleys.html

strikeslip.blogspot.com/2008/12/tale-of-two-shopping-lists.html

I guess this ties it all together for us. We (our "leaders") are our own worst enemies. They just don't seem to get it. When people talk ill of our area, it's not "us" they are talking about, it's THEM. They are the ones that have represented us, with all their status quo ideas, for the past several decades. As we saw with Rep. Ackerman, most have never even been to Utica. They only get their impressions by who we send to D.C. and Albany to represent us.

This should be a wake-up call to the voters. WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS!

[snickers]

Not fer nuttin' but it's only those who live around here who badmouth this area.

If you're not here, you've likely never even heard of the place!

[bobbbiez]

Snickers, that's not all true.

PLENTY of us that live here standby, defend and love our area.
We love it enough and show that by getting involved to help find solutions to improve our area. Some may not like changes being made or ideas our legislators come up with but at least attempts are being made.That alone shows one has concern and interest in the area one lives in. Plus, I'm mature enough to realize, ya can't always make everyone happy in everything.

Let me assure you that even many who were born here and have moved away for whatever reasons still hold pride and love for this area. I have spent lots of time in Arizona, California and in Florida and have proudly found all have formed, "Utica Group Clubs."
On my visits to Disney world in Florida and Ca, I always wear a Utica Club tee shirt and I have on all visits been approached by some one who was from this area and who have voiced their sincere missing of this area. That tells you there are more people who boast about this area then those who try to tear it down.

What bothers me the most when one speaks of this area, is when one talks, one tends to generalize and that is so unfair and is so untrue. Plus, that alone spreads the "badmouthing" you are talking about.
My theory is, one speaks for themselves and definitely not for all.

[Ralph]

Even those of us that tend to complain and rag on this place still love it Bobbbiez.

But take a look around, and I mean dig deep and look at the pluses and minuses that have come and gone over the last ten years.
The scale tips decidedly to the deficit (and has for the last 30 years) with little to show either above ground or below it for what the taxpayers have been forced to invest in our city and state.
I have seen the inside of the political machine, and I have seen it go the low road more often then it ever has the high road.
We invest to much in speculative ideas and not enough in rebuilding that which is damaged, decrepit or already gone.

I watched our Mayor on WKTV during the Five O'Clock news hour tonight and laughed my ass off!!! We made great strides in bringing Downtown back to life by painting the lightpoles!?!?!?
Good God, this is stuff that should be done every damn year as "busy work". Where the hell are our priorities?

Nawwww.........I do love this place, just can't stand paying enormous tax bills for other peoples consistent mistakes, some of which are already in their graves.

I would like to be able to enjoy a little of our money before we go there as well.

[Swimmy]

I have to take the hybrid approach to what Ralph and Bobbbiez are saying. Make no mistake about it, I am extremely critical with the Utica area from the shoddy "news" reporting to the almost criminal politicking. But even though I'm down here in the southern tier, I still read the utica od website and post here. The southern tier does not have the online community that Utica has. I am constantly in touch with people from the Utica area who I was working with to make change.

I may not have seen the inner workings of the political machine as Ralph has, but I have seen enough to know that there are serious flaws. Everyday, I sit here with disgust as I read about the shenanigans I left behind. I see what is wrong and have great ideas on how to fix it. But because I'm not shitting gold and I'm too young and not connected, no one will listen.

Some people look at the world and ask why. Others ask why not?

I fall into the latter.

I have always said, and I always will say, that the Utica area is a great place to raise a family. There is beautiful scenery, as Strikeslip demonstrates with his outstanding photos on his blog. There is tons of culture, something you don't fully realize or appreciate until you move out. There is great food. There is great entertainment. Trust me, it's out there, but the paper chooses not to report much of it, except in that weak section "weekend plus" on Thursdays. And the people, for the most part, are wonderful and generous. Charities always do well in this area. Look what happened after my cousins' brewery caught fire.

I also see the many deficiencies in our area: outrageous taxes, corrupt political officials, a news media in bed with those corrupt officials, redundant government, secretive government, crime, and many other problems.

The masses fall for just about everything the politicos and the newspaper feed them. NYRI, no matter how it is proposed is a BAD idea, period! Even if it is buried along the existing power route, it is BAD! EDGE and Genisis are wastes of taxpayer monies that only make a few friends and family members of politicians get rich. New Hartford School does NOT need astro turf, the damn field was redone four years ago! No other high school in the world upgrades its athletic fields as frequently and regularly as New Hartford does.

[bobbbiez]

Ralph, Swimmy, I hear both of you.

I have seen the inner workings of the political machine also and much longer then most and that's just because of my age and being involved in it longer then most.
I do know now and in the past that our politicians have made grave errors and in what fields, but yet me assure you that the WHOLE COUNTRY has the same problems Utica has. Might be in different areas but all lead to the same bad situations the taxpayers have to pay for and deal with.
Sh*t, the proof of what I say is in the papers and on TV every single day that our country at a whole is falling apart. Why damn just Utica?

Let me also assure you that the grass will not be greener on the other side. It is a country crisis. No matter where you live, you will see and feel the hugh pinches in one way or the other. You will find that you have just taken it out of one hand only to see it continue in the other.

I've been other places to make that statement and I was more then happy to come back home to Utica.

[Swimmy]

I am not naive enough to think the grass is greener on the other side. However, here in Endicott, there does not seem to be the same kinds of political flaws, at least there are no political watch groups and the paper doesn't print anything of the sort.

The people are different. They aren't nearly as angry all the time. Even in the legal profession, the atmosphere is friendly, not hostile. It is much easier to settle a case that should be settled rather than have to take it to trial. That does not happen in Utica, if it does, not often enough.

I truly believe we could change many things in this area and at the national level. But the people have to want it; the have to want to see real change, not just hear the words and be convinced by an eloquent speaker (I'm not just talking about Obama - who the jury is still out on, but look at the people who voted for "change" when they elected an idiot mayor of utica or re-elected arcuri). And as long as they're hypnotized by the same propaganda, nothing will change. Those who see what this nation could be if certain politicians were removed from office will continue to grow frustrated knowing that they don't have a way of successfully effectuating any meaningful change.

[bobbbiez]

It just amazes me that the same politicians all complain about and bitch about from the national level down to the local levels are always re-elected. Funny, but after a politician screws up I can't find one person who actually voted for them.

That tells me most who do the bitching, do not want "changes."

I hear many complain about the crooked politicians here in Utica, but I'm seeing in the daily news most who do get caught or arrested for whatever are mostly on a national level and not from here. That tells me what I stated earlier that it is a country crisis not just happening here in Utica.

Swimmy, I have no knowledge of Endicott but no one can make me believe any area is different in the political field. There will always be some corruption even in the smallest areas, just some keep it to themselves and do a good job in hiding the bad until caught.
I found that out living in Constable, N.Y. Yeah, people were mellow and didn't seem so stressed out but when you live in a smaller area the people there do not get involved in the political lime light as in bigger cities but let me assure you the politics are far from being on the straight and narrow.

I guess it boils down to where you want to hang your hat. As I was trying to state to Snickers. Have pride in your area and for things to improve, instead of just "bad mouthing" your area, get involved to help make it the place you really want it to be.

[frankcor]

bobbiez, I am proud to say that not one person I voted for in last November's county, state or national elections won the office. I can continue to bitch 'till the cows come home.

[bobbbiez]

Well Frankie, can't state the same. If those I did vote for who made it in do not do the best for us voters, you know THEY will hear my bitching loud and clear. That's where the bitching belongs.

If the direct bitching isn't heeded, then come re-election, this big mouth will work strongly against those that didn't heed the warnings. ;D That's when the bitching becomes very effective.

[dgriffin]

My son gave me Ron Paul's "Revolution" for Christmas. I think it was sarcasm, but I'm enjoying the book. So far, he hasn't missed the nail.

[concerned]

Why is everything painted black and gold in downtown Utica. Who ever was painting missed several pole's. There are places downtown where there are two poles next to each other one is painted partially black and the other one not painted! Not that it makes any difference. I do like the black waste cans secured on some of the black poles it gives some dignity to the downtown area. I wish that the few businesses that remain in that area would shovel there sidewalks and put some salt on the ice. The Cash Corner never shovel's the front or sides of his business and if I ever fall I will own his business. Why doesn't the city shovel the sidewalk intersections downtown. On the corners of Gene and Bleecker and Gene and Elizabeth there is no way to walk through the intersections so the only way to cross the street is to walk in the street amid rude, fulger, idiots who drive by.

[bobbbiez]

Call the damn Mayor's office and pitch a bitch.

That's what he's there for. ;D Make him work for his pay.

[clarencebunsen]

Actually, I think you will be making Angelo work for his pay, but why not.

[bobbbiez]

You go, Clarencebunsen!!!!!!!

Either person will do.

Let's start the New Year off right and "make" our tax dollars work for us! ;D