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Rights, Privileges, And Nonsense

Judging from recent commentary, it seems the definitions of Rights and Privileges have been conflated in our political discourse. To start: A legal right is an action that an individual can take that cannot be legally infringed by other people or by the government. Natural rights for American citizens are defined in the second sentence of the Declaration, and are constitutionally protected by the Bill of Rights. Logically, one person’s rights cannot contradict another person’s rights; else they cannot be considered rights. A privilege always requires infringement of one ...

There Are Many Questions, Concerns About Jail Project

Like most Legislators, I have not been given the $120,000,000 report on the Jail. In 2004 and 2005 when this Legislature approved of the last Jail project, however, I was your County Attorney. From 2014 to 2022 I was a criminal court judge in the busiest City Court per Judge in WNY. It is from that background that I have some initial questions and concerns about asking the approximately 120,000 people of Chautauqua County to foot the bill for a $120,000,000 Jail project First, in 2005, a divided Legislature approved a $16,000,000 Bond issue that, among many other things, would ...

Oklahoma Performance Is Extraordinary

CLYMER—A few weeks ago there came an opportunity to go to Oklahoma. Not the state, beautiful place though it is, but the musical. Yes, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma! That’s the state with an exclamation point, performed by Cast and Company in Clymer Central School in May. With this 2025 production, Cast and Company renewed its tradition of community musicals that began in 1989 with Tulip Time, and continued—biannually, with a few exceptions—with South Pacific, Bye Bye Birdie, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Lil’ Abner, the Pajama Game, the Wizard of Oz, ...

Studying Can Be Fun!

Last week I reminded my grandson to take God with him to his exam. I always said a prayer before an exam. Usually, I asked God to help me remember what I studied. I did not go into an exam without the work. I knew that he worked hard. He was proud of his average with all “A”s. This professor was tough. In his mind she was very smart but not a great teacher. In my day that last week of school we only went to school on the days that we had an exam scheduled. Of course, I lived in town and could walk to school. Regents were scheduled the week after regular exams. I did my praying on ...

Let Me Thank You For Your Time

The other day, as I was sitting in a dentist’s chair having my teeth cleaned, it reminded me of the reality that there are some jobs that physically have to be done by people. There are jobs that cannot be done at home using only a computer and an internet connection. It is not just dental work; it is most medical work. Patients have to be seen; the sick have to be taken care of. As to teaching, effective education requires that teachers be in a classroom. In the winter, snowplows actually must be operated by snowplow drivers, etc. As to manufacturing, you can’t produce truck ...

Republicans Have Abandoned Common Sense

A recent letter in these pages suggested that we, the patriotic opposition, shut up and give Trump a chance. We gave him, and a Republican Congress, a chance four years ago. All we got was a tax cut for the rich, $5 trillion added to our debt, fewer Americans employed than when he took office, one million dead Americans from a bungled response to a pandemic, and lots and lots of meaningless chaos. This time the results will be much worse; they already are. The First Amendment gives us the right to speak out against this tyrannical government, at least for now. I am certain that ...