ONE OF THESE THINGS IS JUST LIKE THE OTHER

     It amazes me sometimes at how supposed children's ideas and songs befit the adult world as well, perhaps to an even stronger degree. I heard the song the other day and it occurred to me that it fit our, or particularly, my, world. I thought about the mess of the administration of our nation, of the lines riven right through our population, about the nastiness of administration people, of the cutting out of people, of 'firing' people who displease the Lord High Master, and no, not G-d, though Trump's supporters have gone so far overboard that there are those who call him the Chosen One. Kind of similar to how some people behave here in the Village.
      So, one of these things, the Village administration, and the national regime, is just like the other in so many ways, none of them good. Perhaps I will go so far as to say, though difficult to back up, that once upon a time, long ago, some good came from them, from the head of them, but that time has long ago met its sunset time, though they ignored it, much to our national and local detriment.
     In both places we have incompetent people appointed to positions and even perhaps elected, as they rode on the coattails of their master. Ed Black knows naught about money and Treasurer duties yet there he is as Treasurer, and just relax in the luxury of picking from a plethora of incompetents from the Cabinet, any one appointed with no qualifications for and many that demand firing. We have been brought not to our knees, but almost flat to the ground before under David and Ed, left with $11 in the bank, until Dorothy Tetro saved them and us. Unfortunately, Dorothy has passed, and cannot be our savior again. Nor can the nice little boy we are now paying to be our functioning treasurer, right under the thumb and control of Ed.
     Years ago we roared and spoke out against the folly of the oh so bad repaving of the Village. We were called names, so many names, and I guess he was channeling Trump - or did Trump channel David when his turn came? Interesting thought, that. Bogus papers were brought in and true ones were not. Proper oversight was nowhere in sight and so for all the years since we are paying double and repaving in dribs and drabs, roads and paths and we have an awful mess with piles of deteriorated road pebbles and sand, cracks that grow deep and long enough so as to impose danger to passerbys, and to top it all off, the lane markings in the Village are nowhere to be found so our oh so careful drivers drive all over the place and one can count one's luck sometimes upon arriving home safely. And this is only one area. The areas of violation of bylaws, of contract approval, of proper fucntioning are all there for those who care. Does anyone?
      So Trump appoints incompetent and biased judges deemed so by the ABA, bad to the bone Secretaries, and we get people whose main qualification is shoring up the present Village administration so that David might continue to rule in his little kingdom. However, when the bill comes due how will we pay for it all without ruinous assessments as many associations are now finding out as they run into financial and infrastructure issues, having nowhere to turn as the people in UCO wave them away or give them useless information and advice. 
     We, and the country, have a deteriorating infrastructure and both have insufficient funds available to remedy the situation. Trump gave money to the needless, to fatcats, and we, the little people, we just stumble along , falling into sinkholes, wading through flooded roads, just like the ponding here that we are told does not exist, and the beat goes on - or does it.
     Both administrators have tried with all their might to remain in office - Trump as Dictator for Life or Donald I for that is what we will have if he is not convicted. He will have overturned the Constitution, as the Senate Republicans, the very jury members who are supposed to be non biased and with an open mind, collude, meet with him so as to figure out how to avoid looking like criminals and traitors themselves as they fold under his glare. All those paper tigers fold leaving us fighting the real ones, alone out there, in a cold,  unfriendly world. 
     As for us here in the Village, we are also left alone, for all is secret, papers and contracts are hidden and there is an ennui within the Village, people giving up, feeling the machinations of David and  crew will deflect any attempt to unseat him and his. The committees are jokes as the same people with one or two changes are the same. Kind of like funhouse mirrors as the true reflections of what is happening is fudged and distorted. Actually, all are always welcome to run for another office or sit on committees, but he wants top guy only.
     If one displeases either of them, out they go, sent to the wilderness of non approval by the master on high and must confess asnd repent, kowtow, if they are to regain favor.,
      Thus, in these ways, and many more, one of these things is just like the other. There is not enough time and space to write of them all but suffice it to say that they must go. No one is looking to convict David, just ease him out, teach him to be a grownup and leave the bullying back in the schoolyard, use his knowledge for good and for the betterment of the Village. Supposedly a techie at heart, why have we not allowed online signatures, or a new voting system of one resident owner and apartment one vote system, instead of dreaming up nonsensical and unnecessary expenses. Why? Little ponds, big toads, big pond, bad toad! 
     It is time that here in the Village that some new blood stand up, speak out and run for office. There are people willing to work, to give their all, to withstand the abusive language that will result, but where is that new blood? So many have stood up nationally, but here? It is as if we are waiting for Nature to take its course, an apathy that is reflected in the lack of quorums in the assembly, in the lack of boards in associations, in the lack of active participation of so many snowbirds who think we year residents must carry all the weight and give in to their demands for a resort for their six months here. 
     Well, it does not work out very well that way, does it. We see the results. We see the results nationally and internationally as well with the other. "'Ware', for there be dragons!", but the dragons are of our own making and our own lack of oversight, our giving in to all that is going on, here and nationally. At least our local one is not an alleged crook, or traitor, or guilty of high crimes, but it is a 'crime' how the Village has deteriorated under his supervision, how we have not planned well for the future, changed the reserve and dedicated lines system in our financial accounting and here we are, locally and nationally, carrying the water for two leaders who should not be. Certainly not any more. If ever, in the case of one.
     So, answer the question and think about what to do. It is on our shoulders, yours and mine. Understand that. Act on that.