To be brief, the neutral and ground are two different systems., Don�t mix them. The problem with explaining electricity to most people is that they can't see, hear or smell it. Try as they might they just can not grasp the concept. These same people have no problem with finding a leak in a hydraulic or water supply system. It's just the way people are "wired" (pun). Some of this confusion arises from 6v,12v, 24V etc DC power systems on vehicles. Here the return path is through the chassis. A separate insulated return line is usually only found in and around the electronics/controls/indication. Should be everywhere but that costs money. The neutral is an insulated current carrying conductor just like the 120V line1 and the 120V line2. Line3 too if it's a 3 phase Y connection. The secondary side of the service transformer can not be allowed to float without a reference to true earth for safety. If you want to get a real electrical shock, just open the neutral when it�s under load and touch it. Now mix in open/poor grounds and an open neutral but a bond between the neutral and ground conductors? Somebody, something is going to get burned, hurt or killed sooner or later. The Neutral's voltage with respect to true earth ground is kept as low as possible. This is via a bond, one bond and one bond only. As close as possible to the hydro service grounds/main distribution panel/hydro meter. Since no conductor is perfect and operates without voltage drop. And no grounding system can hold the hydro service at absolutely true earth potential. You cannot tie the neutral with up to 2% voltage drop at the end of its run at a load(s). Tying the neutral and ground together will raise the grounding systems voltage. Due to VD on the grounding system as well and the ground rods. The end result of mixing or bonding the ground and neutral together anywhere except at the hydro's main service. Is that everything bonded to the ground system. E.g. door frames water pipes, livestock water basins, milking equipment, feeding equipment, stalls etc. These items that are supposed to be at earth potential. They now can easily have 1,2 even three volts on them. 1,2 or 3 volts sound like no problems to people and it very rarely is. However when standing on four hooves in wet conductive "stuff" and touching something with your tongue that is 1,2 or 3 volts..... ..... . Try testing a 1-1/2 volt battery across your tongue..... .... Even if you don't have livestock, your service can shock somebody else's herd down the road. So if you are done some farmer fixes like running something 120V on a 240V power supply with no neutral and using the ground as a "neutral". You are making a problem. So no connection(s) between the ground or neutral system except at one place. And the bare wire is to only conduct fault current or dissipate induced voltage. Induction sources can be lightening storms, nearby high voltage lines, static etc. For those of you how think a 120V motor has two grounds or something. Dead wrong.
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