We appreciate input from our readers, and we publish letters to the editor without charge. The letters should be written by the person who submits the letter and not be “ghost written” by someone else. While open speech and responsibility are encouraged, comments may be rejected if they are purely a personal attack, offensive or repetitive. Comments are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Orleans Hub. Although care is taken to moderate comments, we have no control over how they are interpreted and we are unable to guarantee the accuracy of comments and the rationality of the opinions expressed. We reserve the right to edit letters for content and brevity. Please limit the length of your letter (we suggest no more than 500 words) and provide your name, telephone number, mailing address and a verifiable email address for verification purposes. Letters should be emailed to news@orleanshub.com.

Editor:

Since my letter posted on Feb. 7, I have been asked numerous questions in regards to its content.

In the political arena we all realize that an endorsement can come from any political party or organization but it is still just a recommendation for support. In the political arena of Orleans County, we know that it is predominately Republican in nature and has been recorded that way in numerous past elections.

A few more thoughts are now forthcoming regarding Mr. Sansone’s endorsement by the Republican Party.

Who is endorsing and what does it mean? – “A small group of individuals stating that in their opinion all registered Republican voters should show their support for whom they recommend.”

As a refresher, 79 Orleans County Republican Committee members met on Feb. 3 to determine a majority to decide who they will support for district attorney.

That majority, (some unknown number over 50% which was not stated), of the 79 are now suggesting to all 20,000 registered voters from Orleans County as to who they should support and ultimately vote for. Again, predominately Republicans.

Previously I addressed the fact that committee members were representing districts that they did not live in. That is not illegal by any means.

Yet when this representation seems to serve a definite purpose, as in the case of endorsement voting for a specific candidate, then this is simply a scenario that must be deemed nothing less than unethical.

If the endorsed candidate, Mr. Sansone, was aware of this unethical approach, then he is truly not the candidate Orleans County needs for District Attorney.

Letters need to be concise and to the point, they must make you think.

Start Thinking!!!!

Thank You,

Jim Pratt

Albion

Editor:

February is Black History Month. I, being thirsty for knowledge, have been looking at Black History Month for years. Not only at Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X, but deeper into Black History.

Both Malcolm X and M.L.K. are well known and I enjoy and get inspiration from their quotes and stories. I found both Bass Reeves and George Washington Carver both made their mark on the world. Some years ago I came across the man Robert Smalls and I have been a Robert Small’s fan ever since.

Well I wrote some letters to seven US Congressional members stating yet another displeasure and on NY Congressman Hakeem Jeffries letter I hand wrote about the human trafficking and drug trafficking on the Southern Border and that he is a backstabber and he should strive to be like Robert Smalls.

Our history is important because words are nothing more than recycled air. It is a man’s or woman’s actions that define who and what they are. I asked all the public servants that I wrote to change their ways and work for the People of the United States and not foreigners.

Of course I also mentioned that I am overtaxed. I wrote that if it is one thing all men have in common, it is their ability to error. If a man’s mistakes determine what he was, then what he does about those mistakes should determine what he is and mentioned Robert Smalls.

We all can learn from history, whether that history is good or bad. We must learn from that history and not make the same mistakes that those in history made. I leave you and your readers a Robert Smalls quote: “My race needs no special defense for the past history of them and this country. It proves them to be equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.”

Steve Colon

Lyndonville

Editor:

The Supreme Court heard the case from Colorado about President Trump’s possible disqualification from holding office. I am quite sure it will not decide if the full trial below correctly concluded Trump led the “insurrection.” It will decide on problems with how to do it.

The argument proved one thing; Textualism/original intent was a tautology developed in Britain in 1948. When it is convenient, some justices rely on it and when it’s what they want.

Otherwise they ignored it. Often the key facts are assumed as what “should be” so. In fact the textualism end of this tiny band of thinkers do not want to look as what the authors said if they do not have to; the meaning is supposed to float out of the words. (When they use it.)

Original intent and the Colorado Court’s analysis was largely ignored today by these amateur historians. I actually think that rejecting the Colorado position may be warranted. It has to do with forgetting to include directions about how to implement some matters out of a statute 70 years  ago.

No matter, a lot will still have to be figured out whatever decision is reached unless the Court,  and particularly Justice Samuel Alito, does not pose false distinction that gut the provision out of existence.

But it was very interesting that Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked the historical and textualist questions and showed quite clearly the textualist/original intent analysis would dictate that Colorado should prevail! It’s courts’ jobs to figure out how to do it, not if disqualification should be done.

I couldn’t tell if Sotomayor wants Colorado to prevail. But she made the point clearly and dryly that original intent as a theory is nonsense if Colorado does not win. She showed how that analysis have been leading to originality/textualist readings are inconsistent. 1. States can gerrymander but not decide qualifications for insurrection. Or 2. Women do not have equal rights but do not have privacy rights. And so on.

In reality, American jurisprudence historically looks at new conflicting situations and starts with the Declaration of Independence and asks what is the effect on “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Obviously law has an incredibly complex framework but incrementally it needs to consider how to accommodate these founding principles from the Declaration. There are several practical legal tools of analysis, which have different names, to help figure that out. And indeed definitions and words’ actual meanings and history are integral, often paramount.

But stop letting meaning float out of a few of the words is for legal simpletons when the answers are not easy. Law is not a seance.

Today the entire argument ripped bear – totally exposed – the legal fiction which hoodwinks people when politicians want to get their way by invoking the nonsense of original intent and textualism. Knowing what a person dead for 200 years would think is arrogance pushing the limits of sanity.

No matter how the Court unravels the layers of analysis in this case, they hopefully write a decision on how to enforce the Constitution and leave a guide for future elections and how to deal with traitors. But forget them using originalism/textualism. This decision will turn on finding loopholes.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s endorsement of Mr. Trump raises some serious concerns about her character and judgement.

Mr. Trump is guilty of sexual abuse, in which the judge stated he was guilty of rape in general parlance. Furthermore, despite the fact that Mr. Trump stated he wants to be a dictator for only one day, he told a court that he believes the Presidency carries with it total and complete immunity.

When asked if that included ordering killing of his political opponents he answered yes. That is the kind of immunity Mr. Trump believes the Presidency carries and it is the kind of immunity Mr. Trump wants; it is the immunity of a dictator and a criminal. And it is the type of Presidency Mr. Trump promises in his next administration. That is the administration Ms. Tenney endorses.

Ms. Tenney is co-chair of the “Election Integrity Caucus” which aims to restore confidence in our elections. Mr. Trump was indicted, after an investigation, of interfering in the 2020 elections. The indictment reads in part: “A conspiracy to defraud the United States by using dishonesty, fraud, and deceit to impair, obstruct, and defeat the lawful federal government function by which the results of the presidential election are collected, and certified by the federal government.”

Ms. Tenney’s endorsement shows the hypocrisy of her caucus. Her endorsement of a sexual abuser shows her lack of character, and her endorsement of an individual who wants to be a dictator shows her lack of judgement.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

How soon we forget about important news events as time passes.

One year ago on February 8, 2023, a spiritual revival began at Asbury University, a Christian college in Wilmore, Kentucky. It lasted for more than two weeks and was followed by people all over the world.

Have we learned anything from this event? Now that it is over, is it just a memory, a pleasant experience or a time to move on?

Spiritual revival is where Christians get serious about their faith and their way of living before God and their friends and neighbors. It must begin after a time of sincere seeking of God and His will for our lives.

This prayer then leads to a time of confession of sins and a crying out to God for His forgiveness and cleansing in our lives. As the power of God’s Holy Spirit moves in us, we begin to publicly  cry out to God for the cleansing and healing of our lives and begin to worship Him and ask for Him to work in us to love Him more, love people more and to be obedient to the teachings of the Bible and our concern for the souls of other people.

It includes a time of serious worship of God, His love and His Holiness, admitting how sinful and disobedient we are as human beings. This often begins a time of rededication of our lives and a new commitment to carry out our Lord’s Commission to us for obedience, holy living, evangelizing the lost and making disciples for Jesus Christ.

None of this will ever take place unless it begins with pastors and other church leaders who acknowledge they have failed in their calling, humble themselves, admit their own sins and become a living example for their people and the outside world.

Much of the decadence in society and the moral decline can be attributed to the lack of preaching and teaching from God’s Word. Too many pastors and Christian leaders have been more concerned with growing a big church and securing a comfortable lifestyle and future for themselves instead of preaching on sin, repentance and obedience to God. As a  result, the church in America has become weak and ineffective.

Will Revival ever take place in Orleans County or Western New York? Only if pastors, church leaders and those in the pews become serious about pleasing God rather than man.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!

Wayne Lemcke

Waterport

Editor:

There have been some pretty good letters lately from Charles Hartway, Gary Deiboldt and Jeanne Crane. I am sure many others feel the same way.

Our local Governments from the county down have gotten out of control. Taxing, spending, regulating, below-board backroom deals, controlling, continuously growing government and just plain out of touch self-serving.

I think the folks are at the breaking point. Who politically is to blame for this? Well to be honest it’s not the local Democrats. I can’t speak for them, although I believe they really need to step up their game.

It’s not the local Conservative Party. We are at odds with the party that we are supposed to be in with like bread and butter because of the reasons listed above. We do our best not endorse that kind of candidate and have never endorsed any of the county legislators. They have strayed way too far to the left of the Republican principles that they are supposed to govern by as well as many of the towns in this county.

The Democrats and the Conservatives to be honest don’t wield much power in this county other than giving a candidate that isn’t in the Republicans’ game a line to be on the ballot.

So who is responsible for this taxing, spending, regulating, backroom dealing, out-of-touch local government municipalities? Anyone reading this past sentence, if you didn’t know the make up of Orleans County at first would think this has to Democrats. Right? No, the county is totally controlled by Republicans.

So how do these same politicians keep getting on the ballot election cycle after election cycle? Which leads into why I’m writing this letter. They are picked by the Republican committees. Every two years or even years the committees have to reorganize. 2024 is a reorganization year. These are elected positions.

The chairman of each of the 10 towns hopefully with the help of some of the committee goes out to get signatures for each of the committee members in the towns’ election districts. These committee people are supposed to represent you in each of those election districts.

There are 40 election districts in the county and two people can be elected to each district. You do not have to live in the same town and you can run for any election district within the 139th Assembly district. These are the people that endorse these same local candidates every time.

I’ll bet many of you did not know that the committee position is an elected position. You can run for this position if you are not happy with the people they are picking. The people on these committees are usually hand-picked, put on the committee and will vote the way the party tells them. Not all of them, but look what you keep getting from the candidates they endorse.

So who’s on these committees? Who is it than does the endorsing and why would any Republican endorse these taxers and spenders every time?

Here’s why. Many of the town committees have elected officials on them or their family members. So they pretty much endorse themselves. County Legislators sit on them. Highway superintendents, councilman, town supervisors, clerks, people that hold high jobs in the county, family members of elected officials, ex-elected law enforcement. You get the picture?

It can be very lucrative and beneficial for one and one’s family to be on these committees with jobs and appointments from the higher ups, to go along to get along. This one-party rule for so long is corrupted now. My opinion, many of Republican leaders are not governing with Republican principles. By changing the committees you can change the candidates.

So, I agree principled political outsiders need to run for the committees and to run for public office In our county. Contact the Orleans County Board of Elections Mike.Mele@orleanscountyny.gov or Janice.Grabowski@orleanscounty.gov and ask them for a petition pack to run for the Republican, Democrat , or Conservative Committee in your town. The Conservative Party would love more fire-breathing constitutional conservatives in our committee, so run. The petitions will start Circulating on Feb. 29 and need to be turned in around April 1. You would be on the ballot for the June 25 Primary.

If you don’t run these people are all back in again and no one would even know it. Complaining does nothing. Time for action. This is not going to stop unless good people step up. You won’t get a chance for another two years.

Below you can see the committee people from the three parties. You connect the dots. Good luck.

Republican Committee members: Albion – Peter Hendrickson Jr., James White, Deborah Zicari, Richard DeCarlo Jr., Marc O’Hearn, Sabrina DeCarlo, Jeffrey Ashbery, Robin Riemer, Dawn Allen, Sarah Basinait, Justin Oosterling and Adam Hazel; Barre – Jason Spencer, Lynn Hill, Bert Mathes and Kelly Dudley; Carlton – John Fitzak, Chris Bourke, Jeff Gifaldi, Tracy Cliff, Gayle Ashbery and Lynda Woolston; Clarendon – Megan Rombaut, Chris Caufield, James Patt, Tracy Chalker and Kevin Rombaut; Gaines – Michael DelBasso, Susan Heard, Kenneth Rush, Brett Boring, Lisa Mannella, Donald Allport, Robert Engle and Sharon Harding; Kendall – Nadine Hanlon, Michael Schultz, Lisa Stenshorn, ALeta Martin, Walter Christ and John Becker; Murray – Michael Mele, Shannon Megna, Gerald Rightmyer, Michael Christopher, Kathleen Case, Louise Passarell, Joe Sidonio, Dirk Lammes Jr., Cynthia Oliver, Lynn Wood, Kellie Gregoire and Adam Moore; Ridgeway – Charlie Smith, Kenneth Baker, Ayesha Kreutz, Dawn Meland, Gary Lawton, Matthew Kreutz, Michael Snyder, Melody Parker, Laura Bentley, Kevin Bogan, Amanda Kroening, Stephen Songer and Nancy Traxler; Shelby – James Zelazny, Dale Root, Tom Wilnas, Christopher Woodruff, Steven Seitz Sr., Christine Park and Benjamin Flansburg; Yates – Roger Wolfe, Russell martino, Lynne Johnson and Terry Chaffee; Executive Committee – Skip Draper as chairman, Gayle Ashbery and Mike Mele as co-chairs, Kim DeFrank as treasurer, and Mary Woodruff as secretary.

Orleans County Democratic Committee members include: Albion – Cynthia Turner, Michael Schmackpfeffer, Darlene Benton, Larry Harvey, Patricia Cammarata, Sandra Walter, Philip McKenna and Gary Kent; Barre – Maureen Beach, Janice Grabowski, Kriss Sniffen and Elizabeth Wood; Carlton – Jeffrey Lewis, Robert Golden, Eileen Aina and Jeanne Crane; Clarendon – James Renfrew, Donna Peterson-Spence and Christine White; Gaines – Bill Lattin Theodore Swiercznski and Ann Consler; Kendall – Catherine Renko, Kathryne Wahl, Jonathan Gillman and Lynn Szozda; Ridgeway – Jessica Marciano; Shelby – Darlene Rich and Dan Nogle; and Yates – Agnes Recco.

Orleans County Conservative Committee members include: Albion – Alan Rosenbaum; Barre – Allen Lofthouse and Kerri Richardson; Carlton – Heather Stone, Michele George and Catherine Appleton Logan; Clarendon – John Lusk and Robert Hills; Gaines – David Thom and Adolf Genter; Kendall – Beverly Lofthouse and Joshua Brusso; Murray – Vangie Behrend; Ridgeway – Lauren Sullivan, James Dix, James Wachob and Andrew JT Bresett; Shelby – Kim Tonas and Mark Wambach; and Yates – Sandra Lauricella, Stacey Freas, Paul Lauricella Jr. and Vanessa Lauricella.

Paul Lauricella

Yates

Conservative Party Chairman in Orleans County

Editor:

I am tired of the politics at the national level where nothing seems to be getting accomplished because of a few. The promises never seem to become reality.

I am tired of the politics at the state level where everything is determined by a few and promises are made to everybody.

Now I listen and watch what a few are doing in Orleans County.

The Republican Committee for Orleans County has spoken and they have made their endorsement for the upcoming 2024 District Attorney election. They have selected an out-of-county resident, John Sansone, for the position.

This was a weighted vote election. Each town committee member gets a certain number of votes/points, ranging from 45 to 184. The final tally of votes/points is made and the endorsement goes to the individual who has the highest number of votes/points. It is very possible that the endorsed candidate got fewer individual cast votes but just had a higher vote/point total. Does not sound fair, but that is the process.

The nominated attorney presently lives in Niagara County. He currently holds a limited part-time Assistant DA position for Orleans County and multiple part-time non-prosecutorial positions within local County towns and villages, with numerous promises made for future change upon election.

Susan Howard has dedicated 20 years to the DA’s office, 11 as 1st ADA, prosecuting 100s of criminal cases, including numerous felonies. Her accomplishments as an ADA go on and on. She is a lifelong county Republican and resident. She realizes changes are necessary after any administrative election.

As a lifelong Republican and resident of Orleans County I would hope that each town committee member did their due diligence on both candidates; in regards to their character, work ethic and track record prior to voting.

The voting public is not aware of the fact that Republican committee members do not have to live in the town they represent. Example: Individuals living in Medina could fill a committee vacancy on the Town of Albion committee. Would this opportunity possibly be misused to gain additional votes favorable to a specific candidate in the overall county-wide committee vote? Would Orleans County voters be quite upset to find out that some Republican committee votes were based on a “payback” due to a previous County election. The good old boys club stating “You didn’t support me then, so I won’t support you now.” Especially true if those members were part of the previously mentioned payback club.

FYI, all town committee names with corresponding addresses are indeed available to the public for viewing at the County Office Building, Elections Office and the facts speak for themselves.

Politics can be a dirty game. Some play the game, some do not, that’s why character is so important in an elected official. Those of us that believe in the U.S. Constitution realize that free speech and the ability to express one’s opinion is adamant to our survival in a democratic society. Thank you.

Jim Pratt

Albion

Editor:

How sales tax is shared among local governments has been an issue for a few years now as Mr. Deiboldt mentions in his letter. He also has many other valid points regarding county government.

In recent years the Democrats have tried to make a difference. We have vetted several persons for the Legislature. We’ve had a few successes, very few. The enrollment is not in our favor.

Initiating change is very difficult when your party is represented by only one individual. Redistricting could be helpful and we are trying to make changes and we have not given up hope on this issue.

I am sure you all remember the nursing home issue. The Democrats opposed this sale. We held informational meetings, rallied on the Courthouse Square, wore T-shirts denouncing its sale.  But in the end, the Party Bosses won. And now what do we have? A sale to an out-of-state company, COVID, deaths, investigation by the Attorney General and lawsuits.

Then on Feb. 3, the Republicans met for their endorsement process. Read it, and read it again! The Party Bosses spoke once more, and voted with no regard to credentials, past experience and expertise. This is Orleans County, but I will continue to live here, pay my taxes, and enjoy its beauty and my family.

In closing, I would like to challenge Mr. Deiboldt to run for the Legislature. Form your own party, get your petitions, and gather signatures. It will cost money and time, but give it a try.

Thank you,

Jeanne Crane

Carlton

Editor:

I recently spent time as a patient at Batavia’s United Memorial Medical Center. It was a positive experience under adverse circumstances.

Everyone from Dr. Shashank Trivedi to the pleasantly charming and helpful housekeeper was cheerful and uplifting to be around. The nurses and support personnel had the intangibles that make something that otherwise might be difficult and discouraging as enjoyable as possible. Those whom I interacted with and who cared for me behaved professionally to a person.

When you arrive at 3 in the morning feeling as though you have been through a meat grinder and are treated as if you really matter by people who have never met you, it’s touching. The entire hospital team conveyed a caring manner that helped make what began as a lousy experience far more tolerable.

This is my attempt to publicly thank each of them for the treatment they provided.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

Orleans County legislators have been deceiving taxpayers for many years by using ever increasing sales tax revenue to offset the true cost of the growing county government.

Legislators make themselves look good by holding down the tax rate, however they are sucking the life blood out of the communities that they take their revenue from in the process. Being a legislator is no easy task, however county government needs to be responsible to the residents of Orleans County and not simply function as the long arm of our corrupt state government by pushing unfunded mandates on us.

Our towns and villages are starving on the crumbs given back to us by county government. Just look at the decay in the Village of Albion! This is the result of county government operating with impunity!

Sales tax revenue should be divided equally between county and the towns and villages within the county. This will make the county tax rate higher, however it will also make town and village tax rates lower. Thus, showing the true cost of our ever growing county government.

A fair way to distribute sales tax revenue among the towns and villages in the county would be to make an assessment of county-owned buildings and property that are off the tax rolls in each community. Each town and village would be compensated, using sales tax revenue based on the value of real property owned by the county, to make up for the loss of taxable property in each town or village.

With this, Albion, being the county seat, will finally receive due compensation for all the county property that is off the tax rolls, helping to make up for the high cost of hosting the ever growing county government.

Legislators have had opportunities to lower the tax rate, however the county chose to grow government by spending over $1.8 million dollars purchasing the former Bank of America building in the village of Albion, together with the former GCC building and 20 plus acres of raw land in the town of Albion. So now the County has shrunk the tax base in Albion even more!

County legislators are treating town and village residents unfairly with these new acquisitions. Albion residents need to be fairly compensated for these new purchases to lessen the additional tax burden borne by residents to make up for the loss of taxable property in their community.

Legislators have had opportunities to increase future revenue, however they have continue to grant “corporate welfare” in the form of PILOT, sliding property tax payments and sales tax exemptions for equipment and construction materials to businesses.

We need these tax revenues much more than the companies that receive them! Recently, the county  awarded Ontario Fruit $600,000 in corporate welfare to put an addition on their building and hire 10 workers. That’s $60,000 for each minimum wage job! Should county residents be footing the bill for this? If the company expects to process over 220,000 more bushels of apples, shouldn’t they plan for their own expansion? That’s what good businessmen do rather than groveling to the county for welfare! Come on guys, have you no shame?

In years past, we have had county legislators who approved the construction of the county jail (the monstrosity) next to the Courthouse, which shows the ineptness of former county officials. You can see from this example that legislators don’t always make the best decisions on behalf of county residents. (In my opinion, the county should tear down that jail and send felons over to the Albion Correctional Facility. There’s plenty of room over there with most of the criminals on the street now!)

Maybe the county needs to start sharing services with the state! Also, did the county really need to spend $319,000 on an armored “swat” vehicle? Albion already has one! Save us all some money by sharing it with them for whatever reason you need it!

We currently have some legislators who have taxpayer interest in mind, however we have some that do not. Many legislators are re-elected with no one challenging their position. This sends the message to them that either they are doing a good job, or that no one cares what they do. I think they believe both.

One serious drawback to the rising cost of  county government is that it strains the limited resources that families have causing them to do without. Those who can’t pay their bills wind up needing county resources to get by. Of course this is what keeps governments growing. Without dependency, government has less purpose.

Maybe we need a few more creative people to work on the taxpayers’ behalf. I urge you to keep up with what county government is doing and contribute in whatever way you can to slow the decreasing quality of life caused by our government, with its voracious appetite for your dollars. President Reagan said that “big government IS the problem.” This could not be more true here in Orleans County!

Respectfully submitted,

Gary Deiboldt

Albion (resident for 33 years)

Editor:

Susan Howard appeared before me when I was Orleans County Court Judge hundreds of times over the course of two of my three decades on the bench. She was one of the most active attorneys in Orleans County.

She was consistently well prepared and professional. She handled a wide variety of cases, but her career has been mostly devoted to criminal prosecution. As first assistant to District Attorney Joseph Cardone, she handled felonies, taking them to trial whenever justice demanded. She is a fine trial attorney. Her work ethic, intelligence and knowledge of the law were always evident.

Susan has a polite and kind demeanor, but she has demonstrated great toughness when it was called for. She has dealt with some dangerous characters boldly and without fear. Is I see it, this combination is the best of all worlds.

I served as Orleans County District Attorney and I know what is required to do the job. Susan has what it takes, and I am confident that she will make a fine District Attorney. I am happy to endorse her candidacy without reservation.

She is motivated by her desire to contribute to the county she has called home her entire life. She will not let you down.

Sincerely,

James Punch

Medina

Editor:

It is very sad that speeches given by our president, Joe Biden, seek to divide the people of this great country by repeatedly banging the “anti-MAGA,” fear-the-threat-to-our-nation white supremacy drum.

It is disingenuous on his part to demonize white conservatives and Republicans who, in his opinion, harbor a deep sinister hatred for people of color. Talk about smearing half of the American population.

I pivot now to the article in the Orleans Hub that covered the huge fundraiser held by residents to support Saul Harrison, an Albion man who has cancer.  Photos show nearly one thousand residents—of all ethnic and racial origins in Orleans County—rallying to donate to this man’s family in a time of need. Perhaps our president should be shown this Hub article, as this truly is indicative of America that I know and love.

Biden’s own words at Howard University last May might be a chilling statement that ironically reflect his own need to divide America: “There are those who demonize and pit people against one another. There are those who would do anything and everything, no matter how desperate or immoral, to hold onto power.” Enough said.

Christine Bronson

Crossville, TN

Formerly a Barker resident and teacher at Medina HS

Editor:

NYS has a mature economy. The boom years are eloquently portrayed in articles by the County Historian. Processors and manufacturers have moved on to states offering various advantages.

If one examines the demographic distribution of earnings it becomes quite clear that an imbalance exists in this state. I will use South Dakota as an example given it is the destination of a Clarendon resident and I have experience there.

South Dakota is fiscally balanced. Seventy percent of the population earn their income through self employment or employment in private enterprise. In stark contrast, NYS is exactly opposite. The majority here earn their living from funds derived of taxes, fees, grants etc. I encourage you to contemplate that for a while. Consider all of the individuals in your circle and how their earnings are originated. Teachers, prison guards, municipal employees, even garbage collection.

All of it is just a redistribution of wealth not new generation. It is fiscally unstainable and yet also self perpetuating. How unusual is it to find one of these earners to vote for anything that would negatively affect their earnings.

Please don’t misinterpret my point. These are integral positions in our society and who does not seek to better themselves? However we must be cognizant of this precipitous decline in balance. It should, at least, be considered every time a new social worker is added for mental health treatment, a grant for a new fire truck or a high school stadium; the examples seem endless. To quote Llewellyn Rockwell “Someone, somewhere, sometime has to pay.” Furthermore, when governing bodies are comprised mostly of these wage earners, the decision making tends to flow with the philosophy of “budget increase” and “spend it or lose it.”

This State has many great attributes. One has only to be removed from it a short time to appreciate the diverse topography, moderate climate and bounty of produce. If we disagree on everything else, perhaps we can at least begin there. I remain optimistic and hope to convey a more mindful approach by decision makers.

Charles Hartway

Medina

Editor:

Clearly, America was made great again in large part by a Republican President from Illinois. President Lincoln’s crusade for social justice ended when the Union Army defeated the Confederates and ended the Civil War. About a dozen states had attempted to secede from the Union to protect the “freedom” of slaveholders to maintain slavery. Lincoln was assassinated for his commitment to American ideals.

In the approximately 160 years since then, the United States has moved steadily forward. It confronted much of its’ shameful past and became arguably the greatest country on the planet. Coming to grips with that past is one of the things that defines America’s greatness. But it is not the only one.

Others include our leadership roles in two world wars, standing up to totalitarian regimes in the Soviet Union, North Korea, Cuba and communist China, and being instrumental in creating the United Nations. The list is a long one.

Whether the tyrants were fascists such as Hitler, or Mussolini, or communists such as Stalin, Mao or Castro, the United States has been there regardless of the party our President belonged to.

The Presidents of the later 20th century responded affirmatively to calls from leaders such as Martin Luther King. Jr. and Gloria Steinem for desegregation, equal rights under the law, and greater rights for females. They acted in a manner consistent with our history generally, and the 14th and 19th amendments, in particular, as well as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I suspect Presidents Washington, John Adams and Jefferson might have applauded them.

Reagan, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, McKinley, Truman, Roosevelt and others have answered the call. Being there for a nation such as Ukraine has plenty of historical precedent.

While we have made our share of mistakes, America has slowly—but surely—moved toward greater heights with the passage of time regardless of the political party our President came from.

Hopefully, we won’t “pull the plug” on a major thorn in Russian dictator Putin’s side after the Ukrainian people have sacrificed so much already.

As far as I can tell, America has never needed to be made “great again” as it never ceased to be great after Lincoln led us through the Civil War.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent

Albion