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Letters To The Editor

Don’t Jump On ‘Antiwoke’ Bandwagon.

To The Reader’s Forum: People on the right-wing of society, usually Republicans, use the word “woke” as, more or less, a derogatory word. An example is from Florida Gov. DeSantis who says Florida “is where ‘woke’ goes to die.” So, what does “woke” mean? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “woke” as “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).” The questions you ought to ask yourself are, “Do you really believe that becoming aware of, and attentive to important facts and issues is bad ...

City Council Should Avoid Climate Smart Communities Pledge

To The Reader’s Forum: Jamestown City Council put readers on notice that it is taking the first step to considering implementation of the New York State Climate Smart Communities pledge. Council must say NO to participating in this pledge. Here’s why. In addressing the issue of climate change, longitudinal data must be examined over a period of at least several decades. We have data from multiple decades to more than a hundred years. Importantly, within the data, a statistical trend line must be observed indicating increase in the climate aspect being studied. Where no trend line ...

Capitalizing On Slavery

To The Reader’s Forum: Rich Lowry’s dismissal of Hulu’s “The 1619 Project” (”No, Slavery Didn’t Create Capitalism,” 2/24/2023) as “cartoonish”—likening it to Disney—is as problematic as it is misguided. First, the episode in question doesn’t assert that American capitalism and slavery were synonymous; the first line is literally “capitalism is complicated,” followed by the challenge, “we need a better definition.” The episode’s assertion that American slavery cannot be compartmentalized from the history of capitalism may be debatable, but Lowry ...

Let’s Look At Thruway Authority’s Record

To The Reader’s Forum: When a bureaucracy is established, what is the first purpose, responsibility, or goal of that office? Answer: the perpetuation of that office, forever and ever, in secula seculorum. I believe that the New York State Thruway Authority is a prime example of a bureaucracy that illustrates that truism. As Governor Al Smith used to say, “Let’s look at the record.” The Thruway was built in the 1950’s and 1960’s with financing by a NYS bond issue. We were told at the time that tolls would be collected to pay the bond issue and as soon as the bonds were ...

Fast Track Of Renewable Projects Is Necessary

To The Reader’s Forum: The February 2nd letter to the Jamestown Post-Journal, “End State’s Fast Tracking of Industrial Solar, Wind Projects,” (2/2) is puzzling. The letter claims that wind and solar “are not clean energy” but instead, “industrial-sized” projects. This makes little sense. Whether a wind or solar project is large or small, it produces renewable—or clean—energy. The writer also states, “The carbon footprint from mining, manufacturing, transportation, construction, cement use and end of life disposal of used components is not acceptable.” Yet he ...

Political Recommendations On A Gun Control Compromise

To The Reader’s Forum: This is a suggested solution for gun control and mass murders that both sides might be able to agree on. First of all, aside from the military and law enforcement, guns would be allowed only in specific circumstances (see below). Otherwise, anyone found in possession of any type of gun would be charged with a misdemeanor even if no other crime is being committed, spend one weekend in jail, and be fined $1,000. A second offender would be charged with a felony, spend one month in prison, and be fined $10,000. A third offender would be charged with a major ...