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Readers’ Forum

Growing Plutocracy Has Risen To Power In America To the Readers’ Forum: We can thank the shortsightedness of the Roberts Court for the rise of a plutocracy in America that gave us a Donald Trump. On January 21, 2010, in Citizens United v. F.E.C., the Roberts Court opened the door for corporations (and other organizations) to pay for political ads made independently from candidate campaigns, by overturning the provision of McCain-Feingold law that barred such expenditures because of their corrupting, political influence on those who are supposed to represent us. In effect, the ...

Readers’ Forum

No Kings Protests Are Singular In Purpose To The Readers’ Forum: The “No Kings” protests are singular in purpose — to reclaim our endangered republic from the rising plutocracy in America. After the Constitutional Convention in 1787, while Benjamin Franklin was walking out of Independence Hall, someone shouted to him, “Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” In reply, Franklin quipped, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Just government authority in our society comes from us, i.e., the consent of the governed, not from the consent of those who govern ...

Readers’ Forum

War With Iran Is A Deflection Tactic To The Readers’ Forum: And so it begins … war with Iran. Is Iran a “good” country? Trump says Khomeini is bad. Does Iran want to befriend its own people? So, what is the reason for American involvement? There seems to be no good answer. Some say it’s because Iran does not support its people’s wishes, but U.S. government agencies (ICE) kill unarmed American citizens against Americans’ wishes. Some say it’s that Iran could have missiles that might reach the U.S., but there is no such evidence. Some say Iran could have weapons-grade ...

Readers’ Forum

Iran War Is A Deflection Tactic To The Reader’s Forum: And so it begins … war with Iran. Is Iran a “good” country? Trump says Khomeini is bad. Does Iran want to befriend its own people? So, what is the reason for American involvement? There seems to be no good answer. Some say it’s because Iran does not support its people’s wishes, but U.S. government agencies (ICE) kill unarmed American citizens against Americans’ wishes. Some say it’s that Iran could have missiles that might reach the U.S., but there is no such evidence. Some say Iran could have weapons-grade nuclear ...

Readers’ Forum

Nicotine Pouches Not Approved For Cessation To The Readers’ Forum: As expected, Gov. Hochul’s proposed excise tax on the sale of nicotine pouches, similar to taxes on other non-cigarette tobacco products, has supporters and detractors. I urge you not to accept claims that nicotine pouches, like Zyn, should be exempt from tobacco excise taxes because they are approved for smoking cessation. That’s wrong. There are a variety of FDA-approved, medically backed, safe nicotine replacement therapies (NRT), available both over-the-counter and by prescription. They provide controlled, ...

Readers’ Forum

Parent Of Special Needs Child Raises Issues To the Readers’ Forum: I am writing as a special needs parent who has reached a breaking point with the lack of access, communication, and basic respect within our local mental health system. My first attempt to seek help for my special needs son was through the Jones Hill office. I was belittled for not bringing him to an initial appointment, despite explaining ahead of time that he would not be able to answer questions and that the visit was for intake purposes. Rather than being met with understanding, I was given an unnecessary ...