Opinion

In the days following former President George H. W. Bush’s death, it was impossible to ignore the mood that settled over much of the country: a yearning for the civility, dignity, and inclusiveness that the former president represented. It was a form of bipartisan nostalgia for a time when the nation seemed to work. As […]

A week at the Mayo Clinic got me thinking. About NFL teams, my high-school basketball team, and our Constitution. And whether Americans are exceptional. Whew! Yes, the clinic boasts many top doctors. It is famous for them. But it also boasts a superior system. The system allows the doctors to work at their best. It

The other day, a friend asked what surprised me most about politics. This may seem strange, but I’d never really thought about the question.  My response was off-the-cuff but heartfelt. The biggest surprise is also among my biggest disappointments with American political life: the ongoing effort by politicians to suppress votes.  When I began in

We are like the frogs that don’t leap from the pot as the temperature rises to a boil. When it comes to the White House press corps we are. As are they, the press guys and gals. By that, I mean that we have gradually grown accustomed to behavior from them that is more and more

Patriotism has been on a lot of people’s minds lately. Just ahead of the mid-term elections, The New York Times noted that two clashing visions of patriotism were heading to the polls. President Trump and Republicans saw patriotism as “conspicuous displays of respect for the traditional expressions of America — the flag, the military, the

Each quarter, New York State’s Division of Budget releases updates to the state’s financial plan. The latest report, which was published in November, included, once again, details on state debt. As one might guess, with our state’s reputation for spending, the state debt load is among the highest in the nation. Our outstanding debt is nearly

But many critics say taxpayers got hosed Amazon recently announced it will place half of its second headquarters (HQ2) in Queens. This will eventually bring 25,000 good-paying jobs to the Big Apple. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo proclaimed this as a huge victory. But many a critic

One thing we should be proud of in New York state is our history. And, because of technology, it has never been easier to learn about our past. With the advent of online archives and searchable databases, what once required a trip to the local court house or hours sifting through library archives has, in

The results of [the recent mid-term] election are in — Americans delivered a split decision on the makeup of the next Congress. In the House, Democrats won control from the Republicans and now hold the majority. In the Senate, Republicans maintained power and even [likely] added [two] seats to their majority. This means that we’ll be

Everyone knows that New York’s property taxes are among the highest in the nation. According to the Tax Foundation, New York’s state and local property taxes on a per-capita basis were $2,789 making them the 4th highest in the nation. The main reason is unfunded mandates. In Oswego County, 80 percent of the county’s budget