Editor:

With all of the discussion/debate regarding the race for the presidency, where were the voters?

With all of the excitement of candidates campaigning in Western New York because this primary year our NY votes were valuable to the candidates vying for delegates, where were the voters?

Overall voter turnout in Orleans County for Tuesday’s Primary was a pitiful 35.2%! That means that of all those residents registered to vote as a Republican or Democrat in the primary, roughly two out of three could not be bothered to get off the couch and head to the polls.

UNBELIEVABLE!

If you could have voted and did not, shame on you! Our veterans have paid a heavy price for the liberty you take for granted. Our children and grandchildren deserve better than your apathy.

Please think about that and make sure that your voice is heard in November at the general election. If you are not a registered voter, become one!

The words of Thomas Jefferson are even more relevant today: “We in America do not have government by the majority-we have government by the majority who participate. All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”

We, the People, can make a difference! We must exercise our duty to vote. Remember, our elected officials are our employees. THEY WORK FOR US, not the other way around! Be a part of the hiring process and then make sure that you are holding them accountable!

Stand Up! Speak Out! Fight Back!

VOTE!

Sincerely,

Mattie Zarpentine
Holley
New York Revolution State Coordinator

Editor:

Our county had a larger than normal turnout at the polls last November, partly because the people were frustrated and angry at those who were leading us. The governing officials were not listening to the voters, and because of that we had some hotly contested races, with newcomers stepping up to take us in a new direction.

Now that they have been in office for four months, I think it’s time for a check up. As citizens, our responsibility does not stop at the voting booth. If you voted someone into office, you now need to make sure that that person is doing what he should. At your place of business, there is always someone in charge. Doesn’t that person occasionally check on the employees to make sure they are doing the job properly?

You, the voter, are the boss of those who were elected. You are in charge of the town supervisor, the legislators, the sheriff, the judges, the highway superintendents, etc. They all made promises that would persuade you to elect them. They should not be getting a free pass once they’re in office, perhaps doing whatever they please and ignoring the will of the people. But if you don’t insist that they do the job correctly, they can and might do what they want to benefit themselves. If they take power to lord it over you, it is your fault. The expression is, “letting the inmates run the asylum.”

Anyone in public office knows that they are fair game. You have a right to respectfully question what they do and why; you have an obligation to see that they don’t try to oppress you with their new power; you need to remind them that they must fulfill their promises.

You might really like the person, but does that mean you ignore it if they aren’t doing their job? Do you look away when they don’t keep their promises? Do you give them a pass, saying they must certainly be good at their position because they have been re-elected?

In other words, you are responsible for keeping your candidate accountable. If you just get them into office and then walk away, you deserve it when the result is tyranny and oppression. You have the power to stop it and you refuse to do so. There is not much we can do at the federal level, and little, it seems, at the state level. But at the local level, you as a voter have a great deal of power. You need to continually remind your candidate that they answer to you, and that if they do not do what they promised, then they will be replaced.

Judith Larkin
Ridgeway

Editor:

A “technical session”involving Apex “Clean Energy,” the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and US Fish and Wildlife representatives was held on March 30 involving proposed project Lighthouse Wind, a project to construct 70, 600-foot-high wind turbines on the shore of Lake Ontario in the towns of Somerset and Yates.

Somerset technical representatives were explicitly excluded from this session and that is of great concern. First and foremost, why the exclusion? What is being hidden, decided or discussed about the proposed Lighthouse Wind project that must be withheld from a key stakeholder? What other things are going on that we know nothing about? These questions deserve immediate answers.

So far there has been a round of eight lawyerly letters, shockingly, one from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of the General Counsel, that concurs with this exclusion. It appears that some public officials are forgetting the people they represent.

If Article 10 , the state law governing the siting of these turbines, can legitimately be interpreted in this way, it is a deeply flawed law. Further this action is contrary to the public outreach program supposedly being conducted by Apex. A policy of exclusion only serves to deepen the mistrust and dislike our community has for Apex “Clean Energy”and the Article 10 process.

This is another reason why proposed project Lighthouse Wind should be terminated.

James C. Hoffman
Somerset

Editor:

What has happened to America? As I see it our country is floating aimlessly, without direction, like a ship on the ocean that has lost its navigation tools. The difference is, at least the captain and crew of the ship know where they want to go.

As for America, I think the majority of the people know what direction they would like to go. It’s the career politicians and special interest groups that farm votes, by double talking and telling half-truths that have run us off course after they threw the compass and map overboard.

It is very frustrating, to me, to see the words conservative and Republican along with Democrat and liberal be used as interchangeable synonyms. Any more party affiliation has nothing to do with the voter’s opinions and points of view, but more of a necessary evil when it comes to playing the “game”.

The only time a party affiliation is really utilized is during the primary election process. The term “game” is not meant as a derogatory reference to the political process but as a means of illustrating my point. In order to win at the game of politics, much like sports, you need to know the rules, players, and a strategy to succeed.

Succeed? But we are not running for office. Exactly! Remember the last line from the Gettysburg address, “– and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

It is our responsibility as citizens to do our due diligence before we get into the voting booth. We need to know what is important to us and who best fulfills those requirements. More importantly we should not let our decision be clouded by biased, empty rhetoric.

Many people have become so discouraged with the ways of Washington that they are beginning to think that their voice and vote are of no worth. It is my hope that they realize that nothing could be further from the truth! Last Novembers elections were a great example of people showing up to vote and having their voice heard.

The key is getting to the voting booth and making sure that our vote counts. Without that, the process of democracy is useless and as a citizen we have no right to voice our opinion.

What if the arrogant “politicians” stopped condemning the opposition with relentless narrow-mindedness and instead encouraged people to think for themselves, reminding them that their vote really does count. Maybe then we would start to see more people at the polls when it came time to vote.

Dennis Warriner
Lyndonville

Editor:

A handful of your readers may be interested in these observations.

Thirteen years into my experience with politics in Orleans County, I have vicariously experienced an indication that things are becoming less civil. Three Hillary Clinton signs placed in front yards on East Avenue have been trashed or stolen. It isn’t the $60 cost; it is the disrespect of free speech and property rights that is most disappointing. One of the victims was a 104 year old, registered Republican lady who asked for her sign.

I wonder how Donald Trump would react if, after becoming a baseball coach, he found out that games are decided by both “unearned” runs as well as “earned” runs. Would he pitch a fit if he lost a game in which his opponent scored four unearned runs to his team’s three earned runs?

How new to basic civics is the Trump family? Under long-standing New York Election Law, two of Donald’s grown children cannot vote for their father in Tuesday’s primary. Were they not registered at all, or were they not registered Republicans?

Can you imagine the hissy fit that Donald will throw once he finds out that Presidents are chosen by Electoral College votes rather than popular votes?

Trump has thrown out so much nonsense in the past few months that it is impossible to keep up with it. When he commented about the size of Marco Rubio’s ears, I could not believe that no one thought to inform him that the size of Abraham Lincoln’s ears did not stop him from being one of our greatest Presidents.

Then there is Bernie Sanders. There is a lot to admire about him, no doubt. But his tone has gotten really sour. He claims that Hillary Clinton is under a lot of pressure. My take is that Bernie is the one feeling the heat. He has energized a huge fan base and is realizing that he could come up short after working very hard and doing so well.

After 2008, Hillary Clinton knows the feeling. But it has dawned on him that he may not make it. That is hard to swallow and may explain his increasingly cantankerous tone. By the way, many of Sanders’ pledged delegates were chosen by caucuses attended by people who are more like the members of the Orleans Democratic Committee than your typical registered Democrats.

Once again, Hillary Clinton is not her husband and should not be faulted for his shortcomings. I remain convinced that she is the best suited candidate to be President.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent
Albion

Editor:

This past Saturday, I attended John Kasich’s rally at the Greece Community Center. This was the first presidential rally I have ever attended, and one I am proud to say I was able to be a part of. Nearly 3,000 people came to see Governor Kasich, with some supporters traveling hours to stand in line outside the venue, waiting in the freezing cold to get inside.

While I was trying to keep warm in line, I noticed a couple of high school boys were behind me. A man asked if they were old enough to vote, and they said no, but they just wanted to hear what all of the candidates had to say. The boys had already attended the Hillary Clinton event on Friday in Rochester.

I also saw a number of older people there as well, in addition to young adults like myself. It was inspiring to see so many individuals standing in line to hear Governor Kasich, and become involved in determining the outcome of next Tuesday’s primary race.

After standing for an hour by the small stage set up for Governor Kasich, the Governor finally ran out and addressed the crowd. He spoke calmly, without shouting, to tell personal stories and discussed his ideas on a variety of topics including jobs, mental illness, the war on terror, and higher education. Unlike some other candidates, Kasich did not make insulting comments to women, overtly criticize other candidates or yell at protestors who voiced their opposition.

Governor Kasich’s campaign is a reminder that even as politics become uglier and more distasteful, a positive campaign can still be run. I would be proud to have John Kasich as the next president of the United States, and I believe that his bipartisan efforts would help unify our country once again.

Kristina Martin
Holley

Editor:

My wife and I learned this past weekend that we are the latest victims of Obamacare.

We thought we had survived this debacle of misguided legislation. Our premiums went way up, but we were covered and actually able to keep our doctor of 30 some years. We valued our patient/doctor relationship with Dr. Christine Stewart so much that we continued to drive to Penfield after moving to Orleans County about 20 years ago. An hour and a half round trip. The idea of finding a doctor closer to home never even came up. She knows everything about us, our medical concerns, needs, etc.

In Saturday’s mail we received a letter from Chris. It begins with “This letter is to let you know that I am closing my practice on June 30, 2016. With many new regulations and requirements, it has become very difficult to run a small practice”.

So much for “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.” That was a lie in more than one way – Obamacare is making it impossible for small general practitioners to survive. The same government that has decimated the health care of we veterans has now placed it’s unwelcomed “wisdom” into every home in America.

Ironically, on all of my visits, Chris and I would good naturedly spar over Obamacare – my conservative views versus her enthusiasm that it would help so many people. As it began to be implemented, I joked with her with “How’s that Obamacare working out for you?”

Now I feel very bad now for saying that.

I feel terrible for Laurie and Eva – her two long term team members that will be out of a job soon.

Chris, if you happen to read this, we love you, thank you so deeply, and will always miss you.

Bob & Dawn Harker
Clarendon

Editor:

Shame on the Murray Town Board. Yes, shame on you for treating Mr. Sidonio as a Second Class Citizen for expressing a legitimate concern and asking questions about the over-taxation of the water districts.

I realize the board doesn’t have to give an answer at the meeting but ultimately does have to answer the questions. Instead of treating him with respect you chose to take the stand in that you felt that he was not entitled to that information. In the manner in which you handled the situation you have created an atmosphere of suspicion within your Town Government – my opinion.

I will be referencing 2 “Letters to the Editor” or “Opinion Section” in the Orleans Hub, The Daily News and the Suburban News. Mr. Sidonio’s letter, “Murray Resident Believes Water Districts Have Been Overcharged,” March 14, 2016, and the Murray Town Board’s letter, “Well Managed Murray Water System (Should) be the Envy of Other Communities.” This letter apparently was supported by the Murray Town Board, because the names of the Town of Murray Supervisor and all other board members appeared at the conclusion. I think that one individual, maybe two were responsible for this masterpiece which was entirely without substance, and certainly no defining “true facts.”

Mr. Sidonio alluded to the NYS Comptroller’s Audit Report addressing shortcomings in the Town of Murray’s Capital Projects Accounts, (water districts). According to the Comptroller’s Audit the Town of Murray is unable to give a proper fiscal accounting of the funds so that its true financial condition is virtually unknown, (so much for the monthly Supervisor’s report).

Murray Town Board Rebuttal: The letter titled with the words (should be the envy) instead of (is the envy) should tell us who made the assumption. In the 1st paragraph, besides mocking and belittling Mr. Sidonio, they stated that “True Facts” on the funding of the Water Districts need to be explored. The citizens of the Town of Murray are still waiting for the “Explorers” to come out with the “True Facts.”

Mr. Sidonio: It’s apparent that the water district residents have been overtaxed for years. The special district tax levy should be the sum of the principal plus the interest on the loan to fund the waterline infrastructure, and nothing else.

Murray Town Board Rebuttal: It’s important to ask questions to ensure that tax dollars are “collected and spent properly.” Who is supposed to ask questions? The Board won’t answer. They claim that they have built a “Reserve Fund” into each water district for the sole purpose of fire protection, maintenance and other unexpected expenditures. OK, they must have the documentation. Estimated water usage for fires and training – how much? Estimated water loss from water main breaks – how much? Labor and materials to repair water main breaks, a known amount – how much? Water main testing and flushing on a regular basis a known amount – how much? Lost water – how much?

The Murray Town Board refers to a neighboring Town with a 60-million-gallon water loss. The intellects neglect to mention that there was no leak in that Town to support that loss. No 60 million gallon-sized puddle either. The trusting taxpayers had to pay for the mysterious disappearance of 60 million gallons of water due to poor fiscal accounting practices in the previous administration. Precisely what Mr. Sidonio is trying to point out and prevent from happening in his Town! I hope he is not too late!

Mr. Sidonio: It appears that the funds from the over taxation are no longer in the water district accounts, so where would it be?

Hopefully, enough people will take interest and make their presence known at the April 2016 Murray Town Board meeting. There, Supervisor Morriss with the help of the Town Attorney will provide the documentation showing everyone that their “Tax Dollars” have been properly spent after having been collected.

Allen Lofthouse
Kendall

Editor:

The APEX wind farm project should not proceed. Without tax and ratepayer subsidies APEX would never come to New York. The wind farm will destroy and obliterate property values and lower assessments over a minimum area of 12 mile by 3 mile or 36 square miles. Wind is a highly variable generation resource and cannot be relied upon to be available to meet the long-term needs of NYISO.

New York Nuclear Plants run above 90 percent availability, the NYPA Niagara Hydro Power has a “Plant Availability Factor” of 87.4 percent. Reliability and availability are essential factors in power generation.

APEX proposed 201 megawatt farm is mostly off line 75 percent of the time rendering maybe 50MW. 50MW is a meaningless insulting addition to New York’s existing 38,000MW plant facilities. Wind cannot be stored – use it or lose it. Niagara Hydro Power has a huge water storage reservoir for peak demands.

Niagara Hydro Power occupies a mere 3.6 square miles, generating a “Net Dependable Capacity” of 2,680MW – 2,680MW spread over 3.6 square miles makes sense, but 50MW spread over 36 square miles is nonsense.

Put another way it would take wind about 1,900 square miles to generate 2,680MW. You would have the wind farm laid out in an area 44 miles by 44 miles. Niagara Hydro with the Power Vista is a tourist attraction, while the APEX wind farm would be an eyesore forever and ever and drive people away.

In summary the APEX smart people seek to lay waste to 36 square miles of precious land for a very undependable 50MW while next door we have an underutilized but very dependable 2,680MW hydro electric power plant taking up only 3.6 square miles of land. Low-cost hydro power creates jobs, while high-cost unreliable wind power harms residential and business customers alike.

One wonders where do they find these smart people, and why wasn’t this pipe dream dead on arrival. Common sense should prevail; APEX should pack up and leave.

Sincerely,
Gregory G. Woodrich
Williamsville

Editor,

In response to article: Comeback Orleans – Open up Parkway to boost tax base, population.

It would be nice if someone polled the residents of Orleans County with regard to the Lake Ontario State Parkway. Mr. Rivers also wrote a column in the Batavia Paper suggesting we close the north portion and ‘sell off’ sections for home building to increase the tax base.

The LOSP is not a ‘mistake at the lake’ Mr. Rivers. It is another prime example of a great idea that our state government failed to complete.

How about instead of tearing it apart, we fund the completion of the LOSP to the Robert Moses Parkway like it should have been in the first place…

Orleans County is not going to be hauled out of being poor by erecting, what will surely be, a few gi-normous homes built by folks from Toronto and Rochester as places to ‘summer.’

Our county is rich in heritage and rich in opportunities. Walk down Main Street Medina and see all the fabulous specialty shops that people drive here to shop in. Ale in Autumn & Wine in Winter pack the streets of our little town and give folks the opportunity to see these stores. These two events also draw many out-of-town people.

Attend the Festival of Lights in November and see an awesome turn out which also includes many out-of-towners. Come to Point Breeze to see the throngs of fisher-people on vacation who come HERE to charter a boat to go fishing.

We need to bring the tourists to Orleans County – not sell off our land. People who drive the Parkway from Rochester continually comment what a beautiful ride it is – but complain about the bumpy part. Let’s Fix It!!

Let’s give our neighbors to the East, West & North to Toronto a beautiful way to get to us. Orleans County is a great place to visit for a day trip or a week!! We have shopping and history and heritage and fishing and boating and swimming and camping and state parks and farm markets and wineries and quilt shops and candy stores and fabulous places to dine and a whole lot more.

If we build it and fix it – they will come.

Stop trying to tear down our Parkway.

Michelle Stanton Jones
Kent

Editor:

When I was being raised, I was taught respect for others, even those you disagree with. I was also taught you don’t call your elder by their first name unless one invites you. Mr. Lauricella’s letter (Orleans Hub, March 29, 2016), failed the respect test miserably.

He likes to think we are still fighting the Cold War referring to Liberals as “leftists and communists”. He was appalled when President Obama went to Cuba and was photographed with a large mural of Che Guevara in the background. He fails to note that past Republican presidents have also posed in front of communist icons. Google it.

Yes, Mr. Lauricella, the Food Stamp Program feeds children that would otherwise go hungry since their parents’ income may not be sufficient. It is heartless to imply that our American Society has no obligation to assist poor people.

He goes on to confuse history with ideology. Let me set it straight. During the 1860s, the Republican Party was actually the liberal thinkers, most of all wanting to eliminate slavery. That was the Party of Lincoln. It was the conservatives who opposed freedom for blacks. These same conservatives opposed the equal rights movement of Martin Luther King.

Mr. Lauricella, as conservatives tend to do, slam the EPA as being necessary. Industrial air and water pollution doesn’t stop at state borders. Acid rain from coal plants, carbon dioxide emissions and industrial discharge into waterways knows no bounds. Therefore, we are NOT adequately protected by our state conservation department. Obviously, it takes federal controls to limit air and water pollution.

You really think we don’t need to be concerned about the environment or that regulations are bad for business? Consider this: the Earth is 4.6 billion years old. Let’s scale that to 46 years. We have been here for 4 hours. Our industrial revolution began 1 minute ago. In that time, we have destroyed more than 50% of the world’s forests. This is not sustainable. How is THAT good for business?

Yes, even though I am a gun owner and hunter, I support the NYS SAFE Act. I say no more gun violence. I say we need universal background checks and a ban on military assault weapons. More guns in the hands of more people is NOT going to end the cycle of massacres in the U.S. It certainly doesn’t keep us free. Your reference to “communist countries” being those who ban guns is not accurate.

Mr. Lauricella, we saw what happened the last time a Republican president was elected. Our economy went into the ditch, we entered into senseless wars, the middle class was dismantled as tax cuts for the rich increased, American jobs were sent overseas, etc, etc. When W. Bush left office, his approval rating was 32%. President Obama’s approval is at 53%. So, we should hire another Republican because?

Mr. Lauricella, there is only one altar where I worship; and that is to my Almighty God that I hold in my heart. Our democratic government is a system which is designed to meet public needs, not make profits for a few. By electing Democrats to office, we are ensuring the use of our tax money for creating opportunities for everyone.

Women need to remember that in 1974, Republicans voted against allowing women to apply for a mortgage or credit card without a man. In 1978, Republicans voted against banning employers from firing pregnant women. In 2012, Republicans voted against the Equal Pay for Equal Work for Women Act. Republicans are the neoconservatives.

And never forget:

Conservatives opposed Blacks and women voting, Americans won.
Conservatives opposed stopping child labor, Americans won.
Conservatives opposed a minimum wage, Americans won.
Conservatives opposed the 40-hour work week, Americans won.
Conservatives opposed the 8-hour work day, Americans won.
Conservatives opposed workplace safety regulation, Americans won.
Conservatives opposed unemployment insurance, Americans won.
Conservatives opposed workers compensation, Americans won.
Conservatives opposed Social Security, Americans won.
Conservatives opposed Medicare, Americans won.
Conservatives opposed the Affordable Care Act, Americans won.

There is no doubt that Americans fare much better economically and socially when Democrats are elected. This truth is repeated time and time again.

As always, thank you for your attention.

Al Capurso
Gaines

Editor:

First, let me start by stating that I am a registered Conservative and cannot vote in the upcoming New York primary. So, as I told some of my conservative friends, I hadn’t been paying much attention to the primary races. I am waiting for the general election to really pay attention.

That changed when I saw the Republican Party was making a very real and open attempt to bar Trump from winning the nomination. I do not agree with a lot of what Donald Trump says but I dislike any political party deciding they know better than the American voters who the nominee should be.

While much of what Donald Trump says is offensive to many people, he has a right to say it! These protestors that are exercising their right to assemble and protest are, at the same time, trying to deny Trump the same as guaranteed by our constitution.

Following the Florida primary, which Trump won, the governor endorsed Donald Trump and was severely criticized for it by the Republican establishment and the press. His answer to that criticism was great. He stated he was endorsing the “will of the people.”

While some, or even most, may disagree with him, Donald Trump, to this point, has received the most votes.

Anytime a group of elitists think they know better than the people we should all be concerned. The Donald Trump question will be decided at the voting booth. For ANY group to try and influence the outcome the way it’s being done this year is just wrong. The irony in all this is the Republican Party is now endorsing a candidate they vehemently opposed at the start.

I just hope everyone votes their own minds and do not allow themselves to be influenced by anyone or anything other than the candidates and their positions on the issues. That is why I hope Donald Trump wins the Republican primary.

Ken Longer
Town of Kendall
Conservative Party committee

Editor:

I always enjoy when Al Capurso writes letters to the editor. Like a good leftist he worships at the altar of government. Without government in every aspect of our lives nothing good would come of anything. His satirical view of the world is quite entertaining.

Al is a student of history as Mr. Obama is a Constitutional scholar (cough cough). He mentioned Roosevelt #1’s land grabs – the beginnings of the long line of abusive takings of land by the federal government in this country. The federal government is not supposed to take any more land then they need to operate, such as DC, military bases and certain infrastructure. Anything else is excessive and unconstitutional.

The land taken is staggering. Rogue agencies like the BLM wreak havoc in the West on ranchers. The recent murder of Lavoy Finicum comes to mind to remind how out of control the Obama administration is. The abuses are long.

Glad Al mentioned the Ponzi scheme called Social Security. Its intent like all great liberal do-gooder intents was to aid one to not have to work forever, and also to help out the widow. At that time the life expectancy was around 60 to 62 years old. Now its 80. You had to reach 65 to collect. The government was betting that most would not live that long. Social Security is paid for by those who have worked.

Medicare is run by HHS and funded by the US treasury AKA taxpayer. Obamacare is running it into bankruptcy. Unfortunately there are now only two workers for every recipient and the system is long bankrupt with an empty box of IOU’s. I doubt I will ever see a dime.

There are to many abusing SSI and it has strayed from its original intent of helping the old, retired and disabled. That can be attributed to vote-pandering leftists.

The Food Stamp program has created a slave-like dependency on the government. It also keeps the peasants from revolting, watching, or asking questions. Look what Johnson’s Great Society did for the blacks trapped in this system. Took fathers out of the home, rewarded out-of-wedlock births and enslaved generations to poverty, illiteracy, drug and crime-infested neighborhoods, hopelessness, bitterness and a chip on their shoulder.

We have spent 700 billion dollars on the war on poverty, Al. 47 Million people are on food stamps in Obama’s great growing economy. Millions out of work not even counted anymore. Al you got to love Liberal progressive good intentions.

What was it Al that brought our country to ruins? Was it Slick Willy’s repeal of the Glass Stegall Act ? I think that’s what it was. Along with the progressive race hustlers pressuring the banks to make loans to unqualified recipients. Not only to buy a home but then again to furnish it, buy new cars and extend credit. What were the banks to do? Besides the federal government guaranteed the loan. W Bush warned Barney Frank about Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac, that collapse was coming. Barney, the good progressive he was, lied like all of them do, mostly to themselves.

It was Republicans that stood up for equal rights. It was the Democrat Party and its members that did everything they could to stop the advancement of Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement. Your guys, Al.

Maybe soon Al you can go to Cuba and have your picture taken with Castro in front of the same building with murderous thug Che Guevara in the background. Just like your wonderful President Obama. Maybe you can hold your “I Support the NY SAFE ACT” sign as it would be most appropriate in a communist country.

Sorry Al I have to drink and breath too. Love Clean air and water. The EPA is out of control and goes way beyond what is necessary to maintain a clean environment. There is nothing in the Constitution that says there has to be an EPA. It should be closed. We already have powerful state DEC’s for our protection.

Sorry Al the bailout was a mistake. No one should have been bailed out. Not the auto industry, the banks, Wall Street, the Rothschilds or Rockefellers. Had a correction been allowed to take place the economy would have recovered by now which it still has not in many sectors. What did cash for clunkers do for the working man except raise the price of a used car and destroy a whole fleet of useful automobiles. By the way Al where did that 700 billion dollar stimulus go exactly?

Al, your guy progressive Senator VP Joe Biden was the one who made it adamant that no justices should be appointed in the lame duck session of a presidency. Your savior Obama voted against Justice Alito’s appointment in W’s lame duck.

Progressives are one election away from completely destroying everything good this country has stood for. A hundred years of plotting and planning are within hands grasp. It could all be lost and rolled back by a Trump or Cruz. I am hoping and praying your side loses, for the sake of the country. By the way we live in a Representative Republic and I would like to keep it.

Evil Right Wing Extremist

Paul Lauricella Jr.
Lyndonville

Editor:

The Orleans County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, representing approximately 500 Orleans County sportspersons and nature enthusiasts, voted unanimous disapproval of the proposed Lighthouse wind energy project in the Town of Yates at its March meeting.

The Federation is dedicated to promoting both the environmental assets of Orleans County, as well as the opportunity for people to enjoy them. Several members spoke in clear opposition to the potentially harmful impacts to birdlife.

During spring migration studies show a west to east migration along the shoreline of Lake Ontario so, with the projected turbines running parallel to the shoreline, migrating species would be in danger longer.

There are also thousands of waterfowl and birds that migrate through the area using the Atlantic Flyway that also use the area as a rest stop. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recommends wind turbines be at least 3 miles from shoreline of the Great Lakes to protect migrations.

Perhaps even more persuasive were the prospects of significant woodland habitat loss during the site preparation. Also, there is an active bald eagle nest in the area and two others are within a few miles.

Though well aware of it, members of the group were undaunted by the specter of the Article X process and its implications for reasonable local control.

Christopher S. Rice
President of Orleans County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Inc.

Editor:

From what I recall, Thomas Jefferson once said, “If I had to choose between a government without newspapers and newspapers without a government, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose the latter.”

Much has been said about how the media has favored Donald Trump with free coverage, estimated to be worth as much as $1.6 billion. One expert estimates Trump has received 23 times as much coverage as Bernie Sanders.

Why does he command so much attention? Just one of the reasons is that he has a lot of money. Reasonable, or not, that gives him credibility. More relevant to the media’s fascination with all things Trump is that he is a sensational character. One never knows what he is going to say next. The news people treat him as a curiosity, though he is clearly more than that. Wacky comments from prominent people sell regardless of how ridiculous they are.

But Trump’s curious ability to draw coverage and enthrall the adoring disenchanted is not my focus here.

As Jefferson was suggesting, a vigorous free press is vital to a democracy. We might as well not have a republican form of government without the news media. Was it not Jefferson who included free speech in Amendment 1?

Though tearing down the institutions of government has become the calling card of the right, especially in the past seven years, it has become an obsession with “Citizen Trump.” He has made it his mission to cast doubt on everyone from the foreign policy makers to the generals advising the President.

One of the more troubling aspects of Trump’s candidacy is his apparent determination to ridicule and delegitimize the press. In his efforts to undermine respect for the media, he has frequently berated them collectively and individually, even suggesting the libel laws may need changing to permit candidates to sue the press when the coverage doesn’t suit them.

Imagine the damage he does as he gives credence to popular distrust of the media. “These are bad people, folks.”

Trump’s ire isn’t confined to the “liberal” media. It isn’t reserved for Fox News. He seems to be an equal opportunity disparager. Though some may think that is encouraging, to me it is rife with troubling implications. Separating fact from fiction is hard when you refuse to listen to anyone.

For democracy to work, people must be informed. Once the media is thoroughly discredited, those who come to distrust it have another reason to ignore a vital part of citizenship. While people who live in a dictatorship have an excuse to be uninformed, being an ignorant participant in the democratic process can eventually destroy a republican form of government.

Candidate Trump’s followers will make a huge mistake if they allow his unfair comments about Fox’s Megyn Kelly and CNN’s Katie Tur, among many others, left and right generally, to be an excuse for going into the November election seriously underinformed.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent
Albion