Yes, we have no bananas

I encountered a Norwich Neighbor who'd happened across this segment of the technological wilderness in recent days and told me he was 'stunned' by the cynicism posted in this space. Oh? Despite a decade and a half in daily conversations, my less than starry-eyed-and-laughing world view hadn't made an impression. But this did.
Go figure.

He was disquieted, specifically, about my encouraging people to attend Monday's City Council meeting (which has the Mayor's State of the City address) and engage in the discussion of the City Council hire of one or more lobbyists to speed the plow in Hartford, and, ultimately, Washington D. C. Still confused about which part of yesterday's rant he found cynical but maybe it's me. If I were as cynical as advertised, the following story would be missing the LAST paragraph. Judge for yourself.

Start with a cage containing seven monkeys.
Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result; all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.

Now, put away the cold water.

Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Now, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, a fifth, until all original monkeys have been replaced. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked.

Most of the monkeys beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey. After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not?
Because, as far as they know, that's the way it's always been done around here.

If you always do what you've always done-you'll always get what you've always gotten. Let's promise one another we'll never (again) allow this to be how Norwich government works. See you Monday night at the City Council meeting.
Bring your own snack-stick to apples.
-bill kenny