Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.
The Yeah But School of Thought
There are many big-time schools of thought. Most have fancy names. My favorite is one nobody writes or talks about — the “Yeah But School of Thought.” We see “yeah but” thinking in lots of places. That includes the Federal Reserve. Don’t go to sleep on me, now. I won’t bore you with dry stuff […]
What It Means to Live in these Polarized Times
We live in a divided country. And I don’t just mean politically. Our economy is creating winners and losers, with no clear way up the ladder for millions of Americans. The last few decades have produced great inequality of wealth and with it, unequal access to the levers of power. We’re split along regional lines. We’re
New York State Remains an Agricultural Leader
Too often it goes unrecognized, but New York state is a leader in agriculture. The farmers in our state grow and produce a diverse range of commodities and Upstate’s nutrient-rich soils give way to some of the best products in the nation. Year after year, New York farms produce award-winning dairy products, wines, and apples that
Poverty is Crushing Upstate Communities
Troubling new statistics from the Census Bureau highlight the stark reality of how bad upstate New York’s poverty rates have become. In fact, three upstate cities — Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester — have among the top 25 worst childhood poverty rates in the nation. Under Gov. Cuomo’s neglectful watch and misguided liberal policies, upstate New
Here’s Why I Believe in America
It’s so easy these days to despair about the future of our country. It feels like half the people I run into just want to pull the covers over their heads and ignore the news. There’s dysfunction at the highest levels of government. Recent reports — the new book by Bob Woodward and a New
Viewpoint: No Better Time than the Present to Prepare for Disaster
As this year’s hurricane season continues, small-business owners across upstate New York are urged to start preparing for emergencies. September is National Preparedness Month, and
Outmigration is Draining New York’s Valuable Human Resources
Student enrollment in public schools in New York state is down to nearly its lowest point in close to 30 years. The reason for the drastic drop shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone living through our state’s appalling economic conditions — people are fleeing in droves to escape sky-high taxes and the cost of
Businesses Should Stick to Business, Stay Out of Politics
Suppose you run a small business, maybe a diner, or a shop, or a repair service. And suppose you hold strong political and social views. You hate this candidate and love his opponent. You hate — or love — gun laws. You love — or hate — Planned Parenthood. You think climate-change deniers are idiots —
What Are Political Parties Good For? Plenty, Actually
If you take a dim view of our political parties, you’re in sterling company. So did George Washington. In his famous Farewell Address, our first president warned us against “the baneful effects of the spirit of [political] party.” A political party, he wrote, “agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity
You are Being Watched and Rated by the Tech Giants
You are being censored. You are being “watched” and rated articles you might read are being withheld from you. If you are on any social-media platform, that is. Welcome to the era of Big Brother. If you use its service, Facebook rates you. According to what you read and write. It catalogues your comments and
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.