Ramblings
In response to "CO" on 02/18. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't see any conclusive point made in that entire rambling. I did enjoy the quote from "Rambo II," though. That was entertaining!
Politics
Politics in Albany and Washington are out of control. Personal gain, greed, corruption and self-serving politicians seems to be far too common these days. Governing for the people appears to be a thing of the past. Bipartisan gridlock makes government ineffective. Elected officials should remember they are put into office to serve the public and improve the standard of living. Unfortunately, they are bankrupting our state and nation with out of control spending and unwillingness to pass legislation that would put an end to poor governing. Something must be done.
Remember
This is in reference to the proposed closing of two North Country prisons. I would like to offer a different angle that you all might want to consider. First of all was that in the '80s, the downstate area didn't want any prisons. So we asked for and got them. An unexpected benefit was that the prison population was counted as general population. So we get more representation in D.C. Now downstate wants that representation and of course the money for their areas that those representatives bring in. We get left with nothing.
Meaning
To the person who wrote Reflective. You really made me think about our North Country. I see what you mean, and it is 100 percent correct. I guess it take an outsider to see the inside.
Musicians
I think it's great that there's so much support for local athletes and that they're treated like hometown heros. I just wonder where is the support for local musicians, who also spend their lives honing their craft, striving to achieve excellence and putting their bodies on the line for the sake of entertaining others.
Shame
Shame on Naj Wikoff and the P-R for publishing "Canadians blamed for luge facility." This opinion by the author is totally anti-Canadian and has no substance. Why in heavens sake would Canada create a dangerous facility? Lies by the author. Canada has already won 5 medals.
Stand up
Senator Evan Bayh, a moderate Democrat, this week called on all Americans to send a message and vote out all incumbents from both Parties. Stand up fellow citizens take back your country in November!
Teachers
Your editorial regarding teachers needing to sacrifice too, is right on. Taxpayers are losing their jobs and having difficulty making ends meet. Other states are already furloughing teachers, forgoing pay raises and taking many other cost cutting measures. Teachers used to be members of the communities in which they taught. Today, this may not be the case. If this were the case, they might relate more closely to the hardships other members of their communities are dealing with and do what is right.
Oasis
With March's cabin fever coming soon, maybe it's time to do something to lighten the mood. Thinking about vacations? Can't afford one? Can't afford a vacation house? Can you afford a house where life is like a vacation year round? Can you give your house a face lift and make it more of a retreat? Get rid of the clutter. Clean out closets. Donate or set stuff aside for a yard sale. Invest in bins and organizers. Paint soothing colors in the rooms used for relaxing and vibrant colors in the family rooms. Create an oasis in this harried world.
Census
Why am I getting a letter from the government telling me that I will be receiving a Census form in the mail in a few days? What a waste of money!
Blotter
Recently, I found a copy of Cardinal Points, the student newspaper published at SUNY, Plattsburgh. If you log on to cardinalpointsonline.com and then type in Police Blotter you'll get an "eyeful" of what is going on in your city neighborhood. The current report covers the time frame from Jan. 4 through Feb. 6, but you really need to go back to early fall to get a true flavor of the transgressions that have and are now occurring. In addition, you will be appalled at the number of trips the Fire Department makes to campus in response to fire alarms being set off. By the way, none of this information appears in our local newspaper, and we hear very little on the radio. Why not?
Reading
I agree with the person who wrote in about the decline of our chain bookstore. Despite the disheveled appearance of the store, the thing that bothers me the most is that the children's section has been overrun by toys. I used to be able to take my kids and immerse them in books. Now, the kids are so distracted by the toys that it is a struggle every time we go, and we don't go nearly as much as we used to. It would be nice if that section could be re-organized as it was before, to promote reading.
Professionalism
It seems that almost on a daily basis we hear COs complaining about their chosen occupation. Yet we never see letters from police officers or the military both whose occupations are as equally if not more dangerous. It's called professionalism.
For layoffs?
To the individual who wrote "Airline" on 2/18: Those responsible for closing the prisons are N.Y. state officials, not federal. Your congressman is a federal representative. Goodness gracious. BTW, if it wasn't for the Dems and the Stimulus Bill, there would be more layoffs in schools, police and fire departments. The Chamber of Commerce and local Republicans must be for the layoffs as they opposed the bill.
Workers
Hey, Wyeth, thanks for letting all the help leave. Now the remaining is left handling the work load. My spouse is coming home stressed and late every night. Seems the supervisors are not stepping up to the plate to assist your workers. When will you start letting the supervisors go? Hopefully this will end soon; my marriage maybe counting on it. Too many chiefs, not enuff indians.
Prisons
First of all I know cuts are being done to our schools and hospitals. And its bad but as far as correctional facilities the North Country has no country clubs — Dannemora is one of the oldest prisons in the country, far from a country club. Ray Brook isn't either and COs and staff support the communities. You want to do something re budget, tell the governor and Albany to stop letting companies like Bombardier to come in tax free putting the tax burdens on homeowners. So what if they give jobs. When they are done using Americans they leave. The prisons stay. So do the folks that build their lives here.
Union
Correction officers: If it were not for your union in this state you would not have a contract with good benefits, pay and retirement. Look at other states that have no union and make less than you do. It is the same job and duties you have, and they do not complain about it because they do not have a contract. They are content with the job they chose to do. Do not use the argument cost of living either because in certain areas of this state you can live reasonable. State retirement and Social Security retirement is easy street for correction officers.
Medicaid
In response to the article of Medicaid, why is so easy for certain people to receive it and not others. There are guidelines that are supposed to used is this county. Some cases need to be reviewed or looked at when people receive other money or had certain assets that the county does not know about. The ones that need it for disability have to fight to get help from the county.
Scary
Listened to a scary interview yesterday on CNN of a Mr. Roth who was representing the Club For Growth PAC in Washington, D.C., Club For Growth you'll remember was the big supporter of Douglas Hoffman during the congressional campaign with lots of cash for TV. Mr. Roth stated that the stimulus bill actually encourages people to stay home and not work with unemployment benefits and when pressed to explain he said that these people would rather be home, get paid and not work. I wonder how that statement sits with the millions of unemployed Americans and Mr. Hoffman.
Book
I'd like to "Speakout" about a serious new book that is just full of the kind of information citizens need to know in order to save America for future generations. It's Ralph Nader's "Only the Super Rich Can Save Us."
Embezzler
I'm so glad that we have a district attorney who needs to learn lessons to be able to do his job correctly, at the expense of the community. Since when did Judge Clute go soft on people who embezzle. Judge Clute stated she believed that Mrs. Santamaria violated the trust repeatedly of a person in her position over a 10-year period and that deserved jail time. What happened, Judge Clute, to your beliefs? Maybe, you should resign if we can't put our trust in you to administer the law fairly to all.
Mess
In response to Production on 2/15, why would big business bring their production back to the U.S. when they are enjoying low cost manufacturing without union hassles, benefit packages and bloated wages? Unfortunately, we have put ourselves into this mess and let's face it, stockholders only care about bigger dividends. So, until we start caring more about self-sufficiency and pride in taking care of our own instead of greed, I wouldn't expect a change any time soon.
Deal
Maybe we should all go embezzle $111,000 and ask for our cases to be heard by Judge Clute and prosecuted by Derek Champagne's office for only 30 days in jail and get the benefits of $111,000 for 12+ years with no repayment terms, sounds like a real deal to me.
Lesson
Must be nice to embezzle $111,000 for a 12-year period and still be able to have a nice house with pool, a garage in Wilmington, and a farm in Black Brook with horses, with no time frame for repayment. Who else is on the take here to let this injustice happen? How come no assets were seized to repay this debt? Maybe the D.A. needs a lesson on how to do that as well.
Ashamed
As I read the line scores for area basketball games I wonder where the sportsmanship is. I see some schools call off the onslaught and pull the starters in the 3rd and 4th quarters but other schools pound away. Being ahead by 40 and out scoring your opponent 29-3 in the fourth quarter indicates a lack of respect and a skewed pointer leader board in the newspaper. Coaches, school administration and athletic directors should be ashamed of this repeated conduct. I know we have a student that can lead the section in scoring but the coach benches this player in routs.
Disaster
To blame poverty as the sole reason why this disaster has claimed so many lives is an unfair assessment. I am not fully disagreeing with you, as living conditions is definitely a factor. But that is not the only reason. Atlantic coast communities are not as prone to earthquakes as those on the San Andreas Fault, thus builders may not be required to retrofit homes like those in California are required to. Remember when we got the earthquake years ago? Multiply that intensity by 100 and add a few million residents. Plattsburgh wouldn't be the same.
