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The New Era Of Big Government

It has been an articulated principle over the years that the Republican Party stood for smaller government. And, so it appeared in the early days of the Trump administration. There was Elon Musk jumping around onstage with his chainsaw empowered with the ability to cut and slash government spending through a new mechanism called DOGE—Department of Government Efficiency. The first agency to go was the United States Agency for International Development (USAID.) Supported in the past by both Republican and Democratic administrations, it was deemed to be unworthy of any more government ...

Think Globally, Vote Locally

“Think globally, act locally.” That aphorism is familiar to most. Its origins are unclear, but its gravity is more important now than ever. Globally, are you concerned about the erosion of the rule of law and the undermining of democracy? Then vote for Democrats locally who inherently believe in the democratic process (it’s right there in the name of the party). Globally, are you concerned about DOGE and Russell Vought’s Project 2025 gutting the agencies and services that so many right here in Chautauqua County rely on? Then vote for Democrats locally who will fight to find ...

General Welfare ‘Excuse’ Contributes To U.S. Debt

Over the past 10 months we have been treated to entertaining commentary from the Woke Mob. They are apoplectic because the source of all their virtue signaling — the bottomless pit of their government programs — has been threatened by the “fascist terror” in the White House. Unable to present a coherent argument against the Administration’s anti-waste policies, the Woke Mob resorts to the same old saw – that “Trump has no compassion.” This begs the question: Compassion for whom? Apparently the Woke Mob measures compassion by how hard they squeeze taxpayers and ...

Time To Put The Brakes On AI

When 50 fifty state attorneys general warn that Artificial Intelligence is a danger -- we should take notice. The areas of concern expressed by attorneys general include AI generated data related to law enforcement, healthcare, employment, educational content, election results, sexual predation of children, and digital surveillance. The federal government (in The Big Bill) planned to suspend AI regulation prompting state attorneys general to object in a letter to the federal government asking for states’ right to regulate AI. Subsequently federal deregulation was not included ...

Partisan Politics Blocks Honest Debate

CHAUTAUQUA—Did you read the page-one story about local elections in last weekend’s edition of this newspaper? If you didn’t, pull it out of your pile of recyclables, because it’s well done. The bottom line today is that this episode in state government was a missed opportunity to engage in honest, thoughtful debate about an issue that was worthy of honest, thoughtful debate. What stood in the way of honest, thoughtful debate? Yes, you guessed it: Partisan politics. ♦♦♦ If you follow local politics, you know that many county- and local-government elections are ...

A Few Things Worth Doing Before We Forget How

Maybe we should all start carrying a handkerchief again — not that I do, but I like the idea of something soft and real in a world that isn’t. Something you’d fold, wash, and keep. A reminder that care used to mean something, and could again. Here are a few other things we might try, while there’s still time to remember what being human feels like. Write thank-you notes. With a pen. On paper. Stamp and mail them. The words don’t have to be perfect — the act itself is what matters. It’s a small rebellion against the cold speed of the text message. Eat carrots. Real ...