Ann

When I worked for a local law firm I remember a conversation with one of the attorneys. He admitted that attorneys, at least locally, want to get on local Boards and government positions for the benefits…period. At that time the law firm did not provide any benefits except for paid holidays but the attorneys and their families had bennies, especially health insurance and pensions through the State. Term limits, absolutely. I’d go further and advocate no benefits once leaving office. Service to your community is awesome but not for how it benefits you.

I read his views and he makes excellent sense. Executive Session is an extremely overused option and effectively keeps information from taxpayers.

I remember the eat at counters in Woolworth’s, I think Newbury’s had one too. Both stores were on West Water Street in Elmira when there was an actual downtown.

I was never a big fan of the Beatles but I do like this.

Have you thought about starting a pot of basil indoors instead of moving outside to inside?

Have you tried drying your basil?

Be careful of what you ask for, you may get it along with the dire consequences of asking.

You’re right, it sucks. This weird idea popped into my head, remove all the children in the area to safety, let all the men and women duke it out physically, face to face. Put your fists (no weapons) where your ideology is, last ones standing wins. Before anyone calls me out, I know this is a ridiculous idea. War has become so easy when you don’t see who you are killing. Push a button, drop a bomb, roll your tanks. Kill and destroy everything in sight and claim victory.

I believe there is enough blame to be shared equally by both sides. I also believe that if left to the every day average Israeli and Palestinian, they would be able to co-exist. I have to believe they want the same things: live, raise families, worship in their own way. The problem is with the radicals, on all sides. These groups are so wrapped up in their ideology that they even treat their own Muslim countrymen and women badly let alone so called non-believers. What are you supposed to do when you have these groups and some Arab countries calling for the elimination of another group of people? Certainly we can pull back aid to Israel and let them take on the radicals themselves. What happens if Israel is eliminated? Who will be next on the terrorist hit list? Do we get involved if it’s another Mediterranean country? A European country? Why aren’t the more moderate Arab nations doing more to try to rein in these groups? I don’t have the answers. I do know that I am so angry that after two World Wars we haven’t learned a damn thing. I am so angry that once again we define ourselves by religion, ethnicity, ideology, politics, power, instead of what we are. Human beings who just want to live our lives without fear of what will happen next. The human race has been pretty much a patriarchal society since it’s beginning and how has that worked out for us? Perhaps it’s time for that to change.

I can agree with your first statement. I don’t believe there are very many Americans who are happy with the way this Country is run on a National, State or local level. The good thing is that the people can change things with their votes. I don’t agree with lumping “a good percentage of the population” together. Unfortunately, with social media and the need for instant gratification, the loudest voices are the ones heard. I do not believe the majority of Americans agree with what is shown on the news. When you can’t have open, honest, respectful discussions without shouting down those whose opinion may differ, no one will learn anything. I still believe that the majority of Americans are good, hard working, kind and generous people. America is not perfect but the principles that founded this Country are what makes America a great Nation. Thousands of men and women since this Nation’s founding have believed enough to serve and sometimes die for this Country and its people. To denigrate, in any way that service is simply disrespectful but anyone’s right to do so. We, as a people, are able to express openly our views and opinions, no matter how disagreeable some may find them because of those who were and are willing to serve to protect those rights. We have had troubled times in the past and we learned from those mistakes. We are in troubled times now but I have hope and a strong belief we will learn and do better in the coming years.

I hope they reverse the asinine resolution that allowed McCarthy to be ousted. I saw Gaetz briefly on a radio talk show mouthing off about the danger of this Maga Speaker. Gaetz kept his mouth shut after McCarthy’s ouster and during these last three weeks. Now that there’s a Speaker he starts in again.

I can’t help but wonder, based on recent protests at Universities, if the quality of mental health care professionals has been compromised by the lack of actual education in that field with more focus on “equity” care. It has become very obvious the the education system in this Country is in serious trouble at all levels.

Weren’t Jews there when Rome ruled the area? When Christ walked the earth and thousands of years before that. Jews, like other peoples, migrated or were forcibly removed, from their home land. That doesn’t change the fact that their ancestors walked those same lands and they can not return if they wish. Eliminate the radicals and I believe the average Jewish and Arab/Muslim/Palestinian, whatever, could live in peace.

Owning a home includes more than just paying the mortgage, taxes and insurance. Maintaining the property is also the responsibility of the home owner, not the taxpayer. Adding a budget line for that purpose is shifting responsibility to taxpayers.

If they haven’t realized that in 3000+ years I don’t believe they ever will.

And here we are with no competent leadership, no respect as a Nation or self respect as a people. Trouble doesn’t even begin to describe the world of hurt potentially coming at us.

US leadership on all levels couldn’t find its way out of a carnival fun house. 60 billion to Ukraine, 14 billion to Israel, 7 billion for Taiwan, 10 billion for humanitarian assistance for both conflicts, and finally 14 billion for US border security, none of which will be used to close and secure that border. Again the American people come in last with this administration.

Disgusting!

Scratch that candidate.

That won’t make any difference at all. The anti-Israel movement is growing, including current protestors inside the U. S. Capital.

We had this when the boys were small, it drove my husband nuts. It was also my favorite toy to give on a first birthday 😂

Both articles were very interesting reads, I learned something and that is always a good thing.

Sorry I missed that article.

Saw on the local news that Chemung County is receiving a 1.7 million dollar taxpayer funded grant to set up a composting area at the landfill. This is to helpChemung County residents reduce the amount of material going into the landfill. At least they got that right this time. Anything from the government is taxpayer funded. You want to reduce garbage in the landfill, stop taking garbage from out of the area.

Perhaps Egypt is concerned that some Hamas will slip through their borders with the refugees. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t want to help.