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

Local Commentaries

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 ...

Elect County Legislators Who Represent You, Not Their Party

In Our Opinion

There aren’t enough contested races countywide to change control of the Chautauqua County Legislature. But Jamestown voters can vote on Tuesday to change the way the legislature relates to its two biggest cities. It’s a change that, in our opinion, is much needed. We noted a couple of weeks ago that Mayor Kim Ecklund needed to take a page out of former Republican County Executive Vince Horrigan’s playbook by finding a revenue boost to stabilize the city budget while putting together a growth formula. Horrigan looked to New York state to increase the county’s sales tax. ...

Congress Must Take Care Of Federal Employees

Letters To The Editor

To The Reader’s Forum: I learned as a very junior Marine Corps Infantry Officer some 70 years ago the following: Rank has its privileges but rank also has responsibilities. I read and hear like so many Americans that because Congress cannot agree on the budget, all federal employees will not be paid, until the votes can be mustered for an agreement. The Senate has failed to approve the temporary spending bill to keep the government open. We can all imagine the hardship this causes to the individuals who serve us all, and who are currently not receiving paychecks. I ask the ...

Issues To Keep In Mind In Lakewood Elections

Letters To The Editor

To The Reader’s Forum: My name is Rich Fischer and for approximately five years I was a trustee in the Village of Lakewood. As I was voted in by the residents of Lakewood it was my duty to represent them and not outsiders. Saying that I currently see members of the current board that in my opinion often do not really represent the residents of the village. Here are just a couple of reasons why I make that statement. The first deals with Airbnb’s or short term rentals. Back in early 2024 the village board after many meetings, public hearings, conversations with consultants and ...

The New Era Of Big Government

Local Commentaries

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

Local Commentaries

“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 ...