Vote for the planet
Editor:
Plastics! Fossil fuel companies are attempting to shore up their finances, as transport and heating fuels dwindle, with plastics. I went to the Price Chopper the other day to get a broccoli salad. Gone was the fried chicken, the freshly made salads,–everything fresh. Instead, everything arrived pre-packaged in plastic from a central warehouse.
Plastic is ubiquitous. We eat, drink and breathe it. It’s in our blood, organs, even our brains. It’s in placenta. Babies are born with micro-plastics already in their bodies.
Plastic is everywhere, even in the polar regions and the Himalayas. Huge mounds of plastics, our waste, lie in the Far East, in great gyres in the oceans, and along roadways and streams. Tony Horwitz, in “Blue Latitudes writes about Tahiti in 2002, “—Stepping my toe in the surf, I found cocoanut shells intermingled with flip-flops, plastic containers of Nestles Lair Concentrate Sucre, soap bottles, and Coke cans.”
The Earth is drowning in plastic. If we want to save this beautiful creation for our youth, we need to elect someone who will be a good steward of the Earth. Trump is only a good steward of himself and anyone who supports him by giving him money, like the fossil fuel companies.
Jahnn Swanker-Gibson
Johnstown
Thank you Elise Stefanik
Editor:
I am writing to thank the Supreme Court and hardworking Republicans like Elise Stefanik for upholding our First and Second Amendment rights in the face of flagrant abuse of power by the politicians and bureaucrats in Albany.
Targeting law-abiding gun owners and their right to free association through the NRA, NY leaders sought to pressure private insurance companies and banks to break ties and censure their speech in exchange for leniency in unrelated legal proceedings. Albany politicians sought to circumvent the constitution to disarm and disempower the people of New York State of their constitutional rights.
However, the recent decision by the Supreme Court in the NRA V. Vullo has upheld the principle that the government cannot use its regulatory powers to coerce private businesses to punish those who disagree with the government. This decision protects our Second Amendment rights from the excesses of government overreach and our first.
New York’s attempt to privatize oppression has failed. The next stop is applying these same principles to private entities, our courts, and our large media conglomerates.
Steve Tavormina
Queensbury
Re: Save Great Meadow
Editor:
I’m a little confused by a letter writer’s statement in a letter titled, ‘Save Great Meadow’. She was thanking Elise Stefanik for “her hard work on behalf of the North Country in reversing the disastrous closure of the Great Meadow Correctional facility”. I hope the letter writer realizes that the closure has not been reversed. About all Stefanik has done about it is hold a rally in December of 2021, and showed up to bash Democrats at the more recent rally in Fort Ann. Part of her statement from the rally says, “Hochul has used the opportunity to advance the Far Left Democrats’ agenda of rewarding criminals and punishing the victims of their crimes.” Now I have to say that THAT is the most HYPOCRITICAL statement she has made in awhile! This coming from a so-called representative of this state who has been calling the January 6th insurrectionists, or CRIMINALS, as being “prisoners”. These extremist criminals who beat police officers with pipes, flag poles, and anything else they could get their hands on, including bear spray! Talk about “rewarding criminals!” And “punishing the victims!” How DARE she make a mockery of those officers who were severely injured in the worst attack on our Capitol and Democracy! I see yard signs in the area saying Elise “backs the blue”. She most certainly DOES NOT! Calling the Capitol rioters “prisoners” is the biggest slap in the face to law enforcement that she has done! The ONLY person she supports is Donald Trump. Not law enforcement, the prison system, or the North Country! It’s a political tactic, and nothing more.
Alice Green, a previous Deputy Commissioner, stated, “Stefanik shouldn’t prioritize incarceration in an effort to keep state employees employed or to push her political agenda”.
That is all you will get from her.
June Woodard
Queensbury
Censure is not enough
Editor:
The recent censure of Queensbury Supervisor-at-Large Brad Magowan by the Warren County Board of Supervisors is a blatant example of corruption that demands more than just a slap on the wrist. Censure is not enough – Magowan must resign immediately.
Let’s be clear about what happened: Magowan voted to funnel $49,000 in taxpayer funds to ADK Excursions, a business owned by his close associate, and then personally profited from it by doing work for that very business. He didn’t just fail to disclose this conflict of interest—he hid it, violating the Warren County Code of Ethics and then compounding that violation by leaving it off his financial disclosure forms.
If Magowan is willing to cover up this shady deal, what else is he hiding? Who else is lining their pockets with taxpayer money behind closed doors? Warren County can’t afford this kind of secrecy and self-dealing from someone who is supposed to be working for us. This isn’t just about one vote, or even the six ethics violations Magowan racked up. It’s about the fundamental trust between the people and their elected officials—a trust that Magowan has thoroughly betrayed. Warren County taxpayers deserve leaders who are transparent and ethical, not career politicians who use their power to enrich themselves.
Magowan’s actions aren’t just unethical—they’re disqualifying. If he won’t do the right thing and resign, then the residents of Warren County need to step up and demand his removal. We deserve better than this.
Jackson LaSarso
Queensbury
Earning Citizenship
Editor:
My friends took well over a year to get to become citizens, to earn the right to vote. I was so proud when they took their oaths. It takes an average of 15 months to become a naturalized citizen of the United States of America. Because of the legal paper work, passing the citizenship test before pledging the oath to our country to take part in our election process. Today undocumented immigrants are being given the ability to cast ballots compromising the credibility of our elections and weakening the voices of those who have legally become U.S. citizens.
In states like New York, some radical minds work to allow non-citizens to vote. I find that allowing illegal immigrants to vote goes against any principles of our democracy, our Nation. My friends, and perhaps some of yours, have earned the right to vote and so should others.
This problem is exacerbated by the continuous crisis at our borders, North and South, resulting in a sharp increase of illegal immigrants, some proven to be gang members and convicts. This crisis makes it more difficult for us to protect the rights and benefits of citizenship. For this reason, and many more, I support our Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. Elise has consistently and constantly fought to follow the law and to secure borders. Her actions are not to say she will try, she actually does it! Chairwoman Stefanik supports the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, to remove non-citizens from voter rolls and require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. Hopefully this will trickle down, with her help to local elections as well.
I wholeheartedly support and urge you as well to return Elise Stefanik to Congress on November 5 insuring the integrity of the American voting system.
Win Belanger
Willsboro
Elise has gone above and beyond
Editor:
In New York’s 21st district, agriculture is foundational. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has gone above and beyond in making agriculture not only a focal point of her platform but of the national stage as well. Elise’s work for New York farmers goes beyond the smoke and mirrors and political messaging that plagues much of our political landscape.
Congresswoman Stefanik has been awarded “Friend of the New York Farm Bureau” every year in Congress because of her strong legislative voting record and leadership standing up for New York agriculture. Elise’s willingness to reach across the aisle to achieve agricultural policy goals has led the way for crucial bills. Such as the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act, which will protect our national security by preventing foreign adversaries from taking any ownership or control of the United States agricultural land and agricultural businesses.
Elise understands that our government must support farmers as she led the charge to pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act to continue to provide students the various milk options of flavored and unflavored whole milk. Rep. Stefanik understands that the only way to create effective policies for the North Country is by directly listening to the people who live and work here, our farmers.
That’s why she opened an online portal and survey for North Country farmers to register their opinions on issues while she was working to create the annual five-year federal Farm Bill.
Elise’s ability to deliver on her constituent’s most important issue is what sets her apart in Washington.
Patti Doyle
Elizabethtown
Trump calls for universal coverage of IVF
Editor:
Your August 30 article “Trump calls for universal coverage for IVF” repeats the Trump-Vance statement that Trump “does not support a national abortion ban” and “would veto such legislation if it landed on his desk.”
It appears that pro-life candidates Trump and Vance are pandering for votes and being less than honest. A more honest answer would recognize that House members, being closest to the people, are more cognizant of constituent opinions on abortion, and thus a president should await Congressional action.
In overturning Roe v. Wade, Dobbs v. Jackson found that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, and the authority to regulate abortion is returned “to the people and their elected representatives.”
While abortion is supposedly returned to the states, abortion remains a federal issue. In their dissent, Justices Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan warned that “no language in today’s decision stops the Federal Government from prohibiting abortions nationwide, once again from the moment of conception and without exceptions for rape or incest.”
There are dozens of bills in Congress to protect and restrict abortion, abortion funding, parental rights, abortion drugs, abortion survivors, and to protect pro life and abortion facilities. Democrats also want to pack the Supreme Court to expand abortion rights, and some Republicans want to pass a Life at Conception Act.
Both common sense and science say that human life, personhood, begins at the moment of conception. The Fifth Amendment states that “No person shall….be deprived of life…without due process of law” and the Fourteenth Amendment confirms that “nor shall any State deprive any person of life….without due process of law.”
Let’s be honest, in matters of life and death, if Congress passes a Life at Conception Act, will a President Trump really argue that the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments don’t matter?
Robert Dufresne
Rensselaer
Who’s unfit to serve?
Editor:
“(VP Harris) is not fit to serve the role as commander in chief,” Rep. Stefanik. On the occasion of Liz and Dick Cheney endorsing Harris and declaring Donald Trump unfit, a Liz quote. “I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible: there will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain.” She probably had Stefanik in mind.
Former Queens Democrat and current convicted felon came out on his approaching penny stock status social media platform and declared Dick Cheney a RINO. Sad comedown for a man long considered Darth Vader by Democrats. Stefanik probably decrees the Cheney’s far left socialists. Or FAR LEFT SOCIALISTS!
If you want to see unfit look at video of Trump, rambling supposedly about legislation he’d advance to make child care affordable, at the New York Economic Club. Somewhere in the word salad were tariffs which he considers a magical money machine. He still doesn’t understand Americans pay them, not the exporting country. His cognition isn’t going to improve over the next four years.
Goldman Sachs and 16 Nobel laureates have said Trump’s economic policies would ignite inflation and trigger a recession. A group of 88 business leaders, including James Murdoch (apparently the black sheep), signed a letter citing Harris’s “policies that support the rule of law, stability, and a sound business environment. The best way to support the continued strength, security, and reliability of our democracy and economy is by electing Harris president.”
Or you can elect Trump and have Elon Musk heading an “efficiency” commission to audit our government. Sure. Look how well he’s running Twitter. And RFK Jr. in the health related position he’s being touted for. Easy to see why Vladimir Putin backs Trump. Hard to see why patriotic Americans would.
Kevin Robbins
Fort Edward
Elise is a shining star
Editor:
Elise Stefanik is a shining star in the darkness of New York state’s dark corrupt political landscape.
She has been a leader bringing women into conservative politics as well as support for all republican candidates in New York running for Congress. She recognizes the lawfare being perpetuated against Donald Trump and has done what she can to bring it to light. She knows how her constituents suffer under the Biden Harris administration.
Being a wife and mother, she understands what inflation is doing to everyday people. She supports showing ID to vote and that new voters should for their initial registration prove they are citizens. Monmouth did a poll in 2021 that found 80% of Americans favor voter ID. Only citizens can legally vote in Federal elections.
Recently there have been states that have found non-citizens on the federal voter rolls. Why is it the democrats seem to always be against the people they serve when it comes to voting, border safety and the production of energy using clean burning natural gas and yes clean coal. Elise Stefanik supports those things Americans want and need.
The state minimum wage, now $15 and soon to be $16 is a form of price control which automatically causes inflation. It makes it harder for businesses to hire and train people especially when their current employees see years of well-earned raises evaporate through government control.
The last thing we need federally are Harris price controls that history has proven to cause shortage and hardship, Elise won’t allow it to happen on her watch. During this fall election season vote for Elise and the republican ticket to do what we can to fight the progressive policies that are hurting Americans.
Nicholas Collins
Glens Falls
Look. Listen.
Editor:
A bully, screaming his greatness, lying about a “stolen election,” rambling incoherently, threatening anyone daring to say or do something he doesn’t like– Republicans, Democrats, people who worked for him but couldn’t go against their consciences– judges, jurors, election workers, honest people all needing security guards protecting home and family from violence. Listen: the military (“suckers and losers”), immigrants (“vermin, poisoning, invading”). Praising violent insurrectionists attacking our Capitol: “patriots who have been treated unfairly,” promising to pardon them, to take vengeance against “enemies.” Listen: “Some very fine people” those waving Nazi flags in Charlottesville chanting ”Jews will not replace us.” Look at his “base”: “proud boys,” “moms for liberty” (banning books, screaming hate), white supremacists, Christian nationalists (ignoring Jesus’ teaching of love and peace).
If not elected, he’d declare the election rigged, rousing violence. If elected he’d overhaul the Federal Government, firing 50,000 government workers replacing them with loyalists. He’d eliminate departments focusing on renewable energy, remove funding for wind, solar, other green energies, regulations protecting air and water. “Drill baby drill” – no caring for children, life, or earth, our fragile home.
This election isn’t between Democrat or Republican. Cheney, Kinsinger, Judge Luttig, hundreds of strong Conservatives have endorsed Harris and Walz, a courageous reversal for committed lifelong Republicans, an integrity in seeing, understanding, resisting the grave danger of Trump. For greed and power, Stefanik remains “loyal,” selling her soul.
Convicting the Crumblies, parents of the boy who killed 4 students in Michigan, the judge said: ‘These convictions confirm lack of acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train, repeatedly ignoring things that make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of their neck stand up. Opportunity knocked over and over again and was ignored.”
To ignore, refuse to see, to not care, is criminal.
Bernice Mennis
West Fort Ann