Porc Therapy 080: Tragedy of the Commons

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Stephanie and Mike talk about whatever issues or questions you have. This episode’s question(s):

This is something I’ve been trying to figure out what I should think about. There is a small town in Orange County, NY.  The town is currently largely controlled by one guy.  There are rumors that he approves all candidates for all town offices; what is known is that no one ever wins such elections without being a member of the group that controls the town.  The town is listed as officially the poorest in America, yet has very nice houses, leading many to speculate that they are “cheating” on their taxes.  No big deal in my book, except that they’re also receiving mammoth amounts of welfare.  The public schools teach religious dogma, which brought a supreme court case – the court ruled the arrangement was unconstitutional, then they changed it slightly.  But that’s not the issue I wanted to get your opinion on.

The town religious building bought a small plot of land near the border and placed on that land a sign saying “Welcome to [Name of Town].  Please dress appropriately.”  The sign then goes on to list what is considered appropriate and inappropriate dress, and also asks visitors to maintain a separation of the sexes – i.e. men and women cannot walk down the street together.  It also asks for no public displays of affection.  Now, granted, the sign is on private property, but is that really all there is to it?  It doesn’t specify any punishment, and nothing on the sign is a law, just a request.  But the feeling of “this is our town, you have to follow our rules” seems wrong to me, even if I can’t find the rights infringement. Also surrounding the issue that there’s this group in another country which is known to be violent – the communities there are patrolled by “Morality Patrols” that will brutally attack people who break exactly the rules listed on the signs. Women are known to be beaten there if they refuse to sit in the back of the bus.  I hate guilt by association, but isn’t it problematic that they are talking about the same beliefs that propel that kind of behavior?

Further complicating the matter is this – as I said, the town receives massive amounts of welfare.  Essentially, it is in many ways supported, in a rather lavish lifestyle, by the surrounding towns.  So, the people being targeted by this sign are precisely taxpayers in nearby towns who support this town.  Isn’t that a bit odd?  Finally, we know what would happen if nearby towns put up signs saying “Welcome to Pleasantville.  Please dress appropriately.” and went on to request that men be clean-shaven and refrain from wearing dead beavers on their heads, that all dress as if they lived in modern day America, smell as if they bathe at least weekly…  If this sign is ok, why isn’t that one?

What do you think?

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