You may call the Owego Pennysaver Readers’ Column at (607) 687-2378 24-hours a day, or e-mail comments to readerscolumn@stny.rr.com. We reserve the right to revise or reject any message.
Thank you for removing the grate at the end of East Beecher Hill. For the first time in years I didn’t slide through the intersection while raining.
~
Evidently Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama do not believe the famous words of Lady Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain when she said, “Socialism is a wonderful thing, until you run out of other people’s money.”
~
Just a quick shout out to the person who thinks the road up the hill to your home has maid service. Does your significant other know about the fast food you gobble up on your way home? How do you feel about viewing your garbage on the side of the road every day? How do you think everyone who lives here on the hill feels about you using it as a dump? Save me and mine from cleaning up after your disrespectful butt and take your garbage home with you. You’d be much appreciated by the neighborhood.
~
Republicans in Congress are trying to make the formula that calculates Social Security’s annual Cost of Living Adjustment meaner. Because Social Security benefits are already stretched thin for seniors and people with disabilities, this is a bad idea in any year. But for 2016, when Social Security will receive no Cost of Living Increase, calling for cuts is crazy. Social Security has never contributed one penny to our nation’s debt. It is independently funded by the payroll tax and should be left out of any discussions about the debt ceiling and the federal budget. Contact your Congressman now – Reed at (607) 222-2027 or Hanna at (607) 723-0212 and tell them NO cuts to Social Security.
~
To the party who refuted my statement that approximately, on average, firearms are used about 220 times per week in this country to stop a crime, save someone’s life, etc. Positive uses of firearms. Let’s suppose you are correct, that this number is incorrect. Suppose it’s a 100 times per week, or 50, or even three! Why doesn’t the media present that information, instead of a steady drumbeat of negative uses of firearms by bad guys? Why always pushing the agenda of the gun grabbers? The Second Amendment is there for a reason, and it’s a valid reason!
~
After seeing a picture in a local paper of the new elementary extravaganza that is being constructed in Owego, it is easy to see why Superintendant Bill Russell is retiring at the end of the school year. He does not want to be around when the dirt hits the fan.
~
I think Patricia Halstead would enhance the Town of Candor by being the upcoming Town Clerk. She has excelled in many areas of business, working with the public, being available for extended hours, willing to learn, multi-tasking, loving to learn, always being pleasant and putting the people of Candor first! I highly recommend Pat Halstead as the next Town Clerk of Candor and I know you won’t be sorry by casting your vote for her on Nov. 3 in the Independent Party column.
~
Coming this Obamacare year, enrollment based on actual 2015 numbers and 2016 projections, people did not sign on and won’t be signing on to buy crappy, overpriced health insurance. They can’t afford it. And the longer the enrollment numbers stay low as is projected, the less viable the plans are because the risk is spread across fewer people. Democrats and other Obamacare advocates, who passed the program, want the federal government to double down and be more aggressive by imposing the penalty of the individual mandate believing that will force more people into enrolling. Think of it as “Getting Blood out of a Stone”. The very people who have not enrolled, those not poor enough to get a subsidy, but not rich enough to pay the premiums, are the very same ones who cannot afford the policies of High Premiums, High Deductibles and Co-pays to begin with. They now want to nail them with a higher income tax bill for what they couldn’t afford in the first place. A vicious cycle. This should drive a few people to the hospital for health related stress issues. Before Obamacare, even if you found yourself in the poor house, the hospital may forgive some of what you owe or be open to negotiate what you could afford. But, the IRS never forgets nor do they forgive. If your democratic candidate isn’t talking about this, then perhaps your candidate is the phlebotomist who knows where your blood vein is. Candidates should be aiming at reduced coverage mandates of substance and compliance, an end to the tax penalties and market-based reforms that emphasize incentives over coercion, if not outright repeal. Unless your candidate is the Vampire, plan on arranging now for blood transfusions until we’re all a nation of Zombies.
~
“There are two modes of invading private property; the first, by which the poor plunder the rich – sudden and violent; the second, by which the rich plunder the poor, slow and legal. — John Taylor (1814)
~
Is there anyone out there that can come clean troughs out and sweep the leaves of a small semi-flat roof for me? I am a disabled senior citizen on a very small fixed income, so I can’t afford to pay much. I am unable to do it for myself anymore and would really appreciate it. Call Ken at (607) 625-4080.
~
Scapegoating without the facts can make you look pretty foolish. Do immigrants take away American jobs? No, actually they create jobs by increasing economic demand. Is legal and illegal immigration increasing? No, the net rate of illegal immigration into the U.S. is less than zero. The number of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. has gone down from 12.2 million to 11.3 million since 2007. Immigrants drain public budgets? No, immigrants pay taxes. The ITEP reports undocumented immigrants paid $11.8 billion in state and local taxes in 2012. Under comprehensive immigration reform, nationwide state and local tax contributions would increase by $2.2 billion. The U.S. has too many immigrants? Wrong. Without further immigration, in 15 years there will be two workers for every retiree. That’s not enough to support our retirees. Right now there are three workers for every retiree. Twenty-five years ago there were five workers for each retiree. We are a nation of immigrants, built by immigrants. They are not the problem the loose talkers would have you believe.
~
Is there anyone out there who would be interested in helping to volunteer to clean up the summer gardens and cut down some brush at Riverview Manor? Perhaps a group of individuals or an organization, church groups or boy scouts. If anyone is interested please call Riverview Manor at 687-1100.
~
Talking or texting while driving is very dangerous. Three times as many people die talking or texting on a cell phone than drunk driving. I think talking or texting while driving should have the penalties that driving drunk has.
~
I am looking for someone to clean my house. Call 687-1821.
~
A friend of mine was driving through Candor not too long ago and he got a ticket from an over zealous officer for guess what? Bird poop on his back window. They said it was obstructing vision. So if you have birds in your neighborhood out in the Candor area you better scare them away or carry Windex and paper towels with you or you might be this officer’s next contact.
~
I found a child’s coat on Sulphur Springs Road near Sibley Road. Call (607) 222-8637 and I’d be happy to return it to whoever can describe it.
~
Follow the news. It’s a rare opportunity for us to see buffoons in congress deliberately wasting more than $5 million in one go. That’s what we’re seeing on this so-called witch hunt Benghazi hearings against Secretary Clinton. What is it that these guys are not doing that enables them to continue to waste taxpayer dollars allegedly on our behalf. Wake up! Look at Republicans for what they are.
~
I’m watching the Benghazi hearings, which I think is a nice investigation. I’m watching a whole row of men badger a woman named Hilary Clinton. Talk about bullying! Any child watching it will get a whole lesson on how to bully.
~
Is it true that when the Benghazi Committee of Republican buffoons are finished they are going to take on Ronald Reagan and his failure to protect the 222 marines who died under the terrorist attacks during Reagan’s administration? These guys need to get real jobs! What a waste of time. What a waste of money. What a waste, an absolute waste but that’s typical of how the Republicans act.
~
Don’t forget the Republican buffoons who are in the process of wasting millions of tax dollars on the so-called Benghazi investigation feel personal delight when attacking Secretary Clinton because she is a woman. Women are always second-class when it comes to Republicans. Don’t let us forget that.
~
God Bless Hilary Clinton! I liked her before and I like her even more now!
~
I’m having trouble getting my dog to the groomer. I’d like to have someone come to me. If you would please give me a call. My number is (607) 972-1714. I look forward to hearing from you. Also, I’m still looking for parts for a touch lamp.
~
To whoever is removing the elect Court and Ashkar signs, you should be aware you are committing a criminal offense. They don’t belong to you.
~
Talk about flawed Marxist economics. Job creation is sadly lacking over the past seven Obama years because job creators do not trust obamanomics. It has lowered interest rates so there is no gain in town except the stock markets, and that is a great benefit to investment bankers but the bubble in the stock market will soon pop. But don’t worry Marxists, the feds will try to keep rates low to help Hilary win in 2016. As far as the Great Depression and government spending, what a laugh! The rest of the world came out of the depression five to seven years ahead of the U.S. by decreasing spending, not FDR’s big spend policy. FDR’s own Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau during the 7th year of FDR’s administration said this, “we have tried spending money, we are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work.” What brought us out of the Great Depression was WWII and that’s a fact.
~
Could someone tell me the name and phone number of the Christmas Tree Farm in Spencer?
~
This is for the pro-noise buffoon who says, “I let my kids create any noise they want so they won’t get fat.” You know zero about responsibility, homework, unsupervised kids or local noise ordinance. I just moved to Tioga County from New York for peace and quiet but just to make you happy I’ve decided to buy a trail bike. You should be overjoyed next spring when I ride around, especially at night.
~
I think it’s time to stop criticizing the people that work for the fire department, ambulance, and everyone that is giving of their time to rescue and save lives. If they don’t like it and have a complaint they should be out there serving the community and doing what all these people do that they complain about. It’s ridiculous!
~
Marcus Rubio says fire the V.A Government workers who don’t do their job. That’s what I call a massive layoff. Donald Trump says let the Veterans have the option to go to the local hospital or the V.A.; I couldn’t agree more. The V.A. has gotten some bad press, but rightfully so. It hasn’t gotten any better because the Vet’s barely get the care they were promised. Surprise, surprise. God Bless America.
~
I don’t think the stores should rush Christmas so soon. Here it is not even Halloween and already the stores have Christmas stuff out. I think it’s better to wait until after Thanksgiving to get Christmas items out and take the economy one at a time.
~
One quick question for the Town of Tioga, why, when you are working on roads and you have part of the road blocked, don’t you have flagman out here. It’s very dangerous when you are coming around the corner going 35 mph and there’s a backhoe sitting across the road. It’s totally ridiculous!
~
Hats off to Richard Hanna who finally has the guts to stand up and speak the truth about his party. I’m sure he will get slapped on the wrist but I’ll tell you, as of right now I’m a Democrat and I’ll be voting for Richard Hanna as long as he wants to run. At least there’s one honest person in politics. This Republican circus is a joke!
~
I finally saw that new school of ours. If that ain’t a piece of work! That guy, no wonder he’s going to retire.
~
Town of Owego residents, it’s time to vote for the new Town Highway Supervisor. Take a ride up Whittemore Hill and down Walker Road then you will know who not to vote for. He needs to be replaced in the next election.
~
It would be interesting to know who left all the beautiful apples at the Countryside Community Center on Oct. 20. There was a small table full of apples and they were great for anyone to take.
~
Is it legal for Southern Tier supervisors to be seeking secession to Pennsylvania while representing the citizens of New York?
~
Praise and sincere thanks to the people at the Tioga County Sheriff’s Office who answer the Link to Life emergency phone calls. In the past year I accidently activated my system two times. The calls are responded to instantaneously with extreme competence, kindness, patience and concern. I feel very grateful and safe that the Tioga County Office of Aging offers such an invaluable service and the sheriff’s department has such wonderful people to help in what could be a very frightening, serious situation. Thank you that I am safe in my home.
