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Opinion

Socialism Is More Intense Liberalism

Local Commentaries

There was a time when both major political parties had a substantial number of liberals and conservatives. But over the course of the lifetime of everyone reading this column today, liberals have shifted to the Democrats, while conservatives have shifted to the Republicans. That has led—within the GOP—to a philosophical shift that has been, on balance, good for the GOP and good for the country. ♦♦♦ The shift within the GOP isn’t the only shift. Yet the shift within the Democrat party has been, on balance, bad for the party and the country. How many Democrat ...

Court Decision Shines Light On Growing Energy Dilemma

In Our Opinion

Local officials have spoken loud and clear - they support Rep. Nick Langworthy’s Energy Choice Act. That bill seeks to prohibit states or local governments from banning an energy service’s connection, reconnection, modification, installation, or expansion based on the type or source of energy to be delivered. It’s a bill that seeks to protect those who heat with natural gas as states, including New York, increasingly push to end the use of natural gas in favor of solar and wind. The problem is Langworthy’s proposal is federal, while the problem local officials have to ...

Region Could Benefit From Santa’s House Expansion

In Our Opinion

Falconer Rotary Club and Falconer officials are looking for grant funding - including NY Forward grants - to expand operations at the Santa House and surrounding park in Falconer. Some of the improvements are small right now - improving handicapped accessibility in and out of the Santa House. A range of bigger projects include expanding the decorations in the Santa House to better transform the entire park into a winter wonderland so the space can be used throughout the entire winter season. Such projects could include updating the electricity within the house, as well as adding ...

County Can’t Solve SNAP Problem, But It Can Help

In Our Opinion

The federal government shutdown certainly caught counties with their pants down. It’s not as if there was no warning that SNAP benefits could be delayed when the calendar turned from October to November. It had been a topic in newspapers, on television news and amongst those who receive SNAP benefits for weeks. Decision makers knew the possibilities, but they didn’t think the shutdown would last this long. Frankly, no one did. There’s never been a federal government shutdown that has lasted this long. That means we are dealing with an extraordinary circumstance for which there ...

Area Races Have Impact On Region

In Our Opinion

Tomorrow is Election Day. While there are hundreds of county residents who have taken part in either early voting or cast an absentee ballot, Tuesday is the day when the majority of local residents will go to the polls to cast their ballot for town, city and county offices. Precisely because no federal or state offices are on the ballot this year, today’s election affects you more directly in your day to day existence than any other. These are the levels of government that provide the services that affect you every single day in one way or another through things like police and ...

Readers’ Forum

Letters To The Editor

Cruelty Is A Feature Of Current Administration To The Reader’s Forum: Proverbs 11:17 tells us that, “A man who is kind benefits himself but a cruel man hurts himself” Additionally, a cruel administration hurts the millions of people they are tasked with protecting. Do we have examples of this? Every day provides new evidence of the stunning cruelty. At a July 1st press conference touting “Alligator Alcatraz”, Donald Trump joked that, “We’re going to teach them how to run away from an alligator”. Reveling in the mistreatment of fellow human beings. This is not ...