Readers’ Column for the week of May 22, 2016

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.

The East Newark Cemetery Association is having their annual meeting on May 25 at 7 p.m. It will be held at the home of Kip and Karen Brinser at 900 Catherine St. in West Corners. For information call (607) 642-8587.

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I have a Bledsoe arc brace for the left arm/shoulder that sells for about $800 that I no longer need. If someone is anticipating surgery or an organization that circulates them can use it, it is available free of charge. Please respond to this column.

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Had I known that they were selecting frivolous names for the Professional Binghamton Baseball Team I would have selected the POTHOLES. Binghamton always has the most potholes and every time people go in them in the summer they would be reminded of the baseball team and in the winter they would be reminded of spring training. So let’s hear it for the Binghamton Potholes. It sure is as inviting as the Bullheads, Gobblers, Rumble Ponies, Stud Muffins or Timber Jockeys, none of which correlates anything to the Parlor City.

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To live in New York any gun owner no longer can have confidence in the privacy of the doctor – patient relationship. Passage of the New York Safe Act has caused thousands of residents to be placed on the government’s “No Second Amendment Rights” list. An anonymous call from a medical professional with “concerns” is enough to get you on the list of dangerous, unbalanced or insane and to take away your right to gun ownership. As little as a report of “seems depressed” will put you on the list and in a position to have to spend the time and huge amount of attorney fees required to go to court and prove that you’re not crazy. It is absolutely none of the doctor’s business whether or not you legally own a firearm. If your doctor asks anything about firearms in your home, don’t just say, “I’m uncomfortable discussing that” or bring up privacy issues because that leaves them free to interpret the answer, as they will. If or when you are in their office for your annual check-up or because you broke your ankle, and they ask “Do You Own a Firearm,” just lie through your teeth and tell them there are no guns in the house. If the government wants to know, if you’re a threat to society, let them figure out a system that gives you the advantage of being innocent until proven guilty. Going to the doctor’s is depressing enough without having the government coming into the office with you.

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Hillary Clinton plans to put Bill Clinton in charge of the economy? Bill Clinton co-brokered the repeal of Glass-Steagall, clearing the way for bank deregulation and the eventual economic crash in 2008. Bill Clinton’s trade deals sent American jobs overseas. Bill Clinton cut the social safety net and accelerated growing economic inequality. The Clinton’s have become multi-millionaires through their Wall Street connections. They are members of the elite one percent that has amassed most of the new wealth created in this country. Meanwhile, seniors and others dependent on Social Security were deprived of even a small increase in benefits this year. Hillary Clinton favored the TPP trade deal that is certain to cost even more American jobs. She called it the gold standard of trade deals. Working people have a choice between a Democrat multi-millionaire and a Republican billionaire in this election. A populist third party that would vigorously represent the interests of working people is the only hope for salvaging America’s middle class. We can’t keep supporting political parties that don’t really work for us. Wake up and smell the coffee.

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If someone were to video people running red lights and post the video to YouTube would the authorities be able to use the video as evidence?

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We voted for the historic FIRST African American President. In the list of firsts connected with Nobama and his administration, we have additional firsts. 1) 19 trillion dollars in debt. 2) 94 million Americans out of work. 3) 43 million Americans on food stamps. 4) Middle class shrinking and losing money big time. 5) Our friends don’t respect us; our enemies don’t fear us in the world today. 6) Violent crime increasing in many major cities in the U.S. 7) More people without medical insurance coverage than ever and the list goes on and on. That old historic first thing has really worked out well hasn’t it? And Hillary represents more of the same!

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When Clinton left office, our debt was not zero. There is debt, which carries forward from year to year, and there is the deficit, which is a yearly figure. The first six years of Clinton’s period were all deficits and the last two were surpluses. Also, the first two years of G.W. Bush’s term were surpluses, too. If you are talking debt, Clinton grew it by 4 percent per year from $4.2T to $5.7T. Bush grew it 11.6 percent per year from $5.7T to $10.6T, much of that due to starting a war. However, Obama has them both beat by growing $10.6T to $14T in just his first term, a 15.2 percent per year growth! His second term is not looking much better, growing it from $14T to $20T (by the time he’s out), a 9.3 percent per year growth. Obama has been very expensive, on many fronts. All this data is available on the treasury website.

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If you know the youngster who lost a garden notebook, please tell him or her that we have it safe and sound at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County. The book is full of hand-written notes about gardening and we would like to return it to its owner. The notebook is spiral bound, with a gray cover with stickers.

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I see that Representative Tom Reed was the second congress member to support Trump. I also read that he doesn’t want to have a picture taken with Trump. Too quick Tom? Do the people who endorse Trump endorse his outrageous behavior, beliefs and level of moral depravity?

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Why would the Town of Tioga ever cut down huge beautiful trees in Ransom Park? God forbid that we should have some shade while watching our grandkids play ball!

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In some schools, history before the 1900’s is no longer being taught. Why? Simple, so no one discovered what the Founders actually had in mind when they wrote the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and other founding documents. If this is happening in the school where your kids are enrolled, I’d advise making a strong complaint. They are trying to short circuit current generation knowledge of the principles behind the founding of this country for their own benefit and it’s NOT a good thing.

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It is interesting to read this column and see what “important” things others send in for consideration. How about considering something else for a change, like the fact that Europe being overrun with hordes of Muslim so-called refugees fleeing their homelands. Homelands where they have been fighting each other for thousands of years. Now, all of a sudden, the rest of the world must take them in and submit to their ways of life (how has that been working out, anyway?) and literally be overrun by militant throngs of people without any form of identification, hell bent on killing anyone in their path that resists. We here in our country, (yes, OUR COUNTRY) are very lucky we have two oceans for borders and at least Canada is a country we can work with (they have their own problems with immigration – ask any native born Canadian), while Mexico is just a mess, a total mess. Trust no one there; it is so corrupt. Build a wall? How about building new military bases too. We are going to need them. Wonder why gun registration is going nuts? Wonder why people are buying ammo like it going out of style? PAY ATTENTION to the important things going on in this world, the small irritations are just nits that will take care of themselves.

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I have a question about the May 12 Candor Pride Revitalization Campaign public meeting. WHERE WAS OUR VILLAGE MAYOR? Looking around the room I only saw one village trustee, ONE! The Candor Chamber of Commerce, specifically Dave Astorina, has obviously put countless hours into the initiative of this project to clean up and revitalize our community, so where is his local support? The community members that were there seemed to do nothing but pick this project apart. I hope we can come together as a community to make this project a success.

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Follow the news. Hey Bernie, the chairwoman of the Democrat National Committee just told you that the system is not rigged against you and you should just shut up and sit down. Yessiree Bernie, Hillary has the super delegates all sewed up tight. You are whistling in the wind if you think you have a goat’s chance of winning. So much for Democracy in action. Hey Bernie, Donald Trump is looking better and better.

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Senate leaders Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell met today with the Donald. They termed the meeting a success. Well folks, there goes your social security and your Medicare programs, as you know them if these staunch Republicans are falling for Trump bait.

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Political support and your future. There are only five members in Congress including the House and the Senate who refuse to endorse Donald Trump for president. The hundreds of the others support and endorse Trump. These are the people who have been trying to cut your social security, put Medicare on a voucher basis and so called entitlements that benefit the middle class and older Americans. These are the politicians who control your future. Be very careful when you decide to vote.

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This is for the person in last week’s Pennysaver that said they were in need of a good psychic. I’d sure like to know what in the world you’d need a psychic for. If you want to know the God’s honest truth, study the bible. All your answers are right there in black and white.

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I have a small bench that needs to be re-caned. If there is anyone who does caning could you please leave your number and I will get back to you?

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The dictator of political correctness has gone too far this time. For the sake of the touchy feelings of a very small percentage of students, the vast majority will now be subject to embarrassment, danger and fear. There will likely be a national uproar about this issue. I would not be surprised if millions of parents pull their kids out of public school or keep them home out of protest until this insanity is dismissed.

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How can it be legal in New York State under the Star program for people to put their homes in their kids’ name to avoid other payments that come with old age, but the kids take the star exemption because the parents are there and they are elderly and are under the Star guidelines for not paying taxes up to a big amount. However, they don’t own it anymore, the kids do!

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What kind of grandma would Hillary be for our children? She would think that it’s okay to be crooked and to lie and to think it’s okay to get away with things they do wrong. She is not a good example.

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Cal Harris is innocent. It is time we leave the poor guy alone and let him go back to his family. It’s also time to move on!

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I would like to know the law if a neighbor shoot cats, birds, squirrels, possums, raccoons anything and everything, wildlife, pets, that are on his land and throw them in trash bags.

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Who do you call how to get a hold of anyone throwing their garbage into creeks when the water is high or burying it along the side of back roads. I’d like to know who to contact.

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I am amazed how some people believe everything in the news and they never question and find out if it is true! There are no secret emails, 13 hours and a committee who finally said they found nothing and it was done because they were afraid Hillary would run. Many government employees did emails like she did. The movie about Benghazi is a farce – it was admitted by a republican committee and it was set up once again to destroy her. Hillary knows every country, every leader, and every government function. She can change our country from fraud to helping the poor, the mentally ill, and everyone have a better life!

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Let’s talk about bullies. Who attacked conservatives and tea party people? Why it was nobama’s IRS and the justice department. Who attacked the dozens of women who were subject to unwanted advances? Why it was Bill Clinton and also Hillary Clinton. Who tried to force the little sisters of the poor to go against their moral principles? Why it was again, nobama, the leader of the democrat socialist. Who doubled the previous national debt of all the other presidents combined and forced future generations to pay through the nose and who calls honest opponents bigots, racists and homophobes? The really bullies are the Marxist democrats again. Go Donald Trump!

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I don’t mind Muslims coming into this country as long as they assimilate and love Elvis.

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Have you heard about the new business idea? A local developer claims he’ll be making millions building bomb shelters if Trump becomes president with his hands on the nuclear button. Keep your eyes on the sky.

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Did our governor use poor judgment in giving Solar City one of the largest loans ever while writing the contract so only one company met those specifications, a company who had donated large amounts to his re-election campaign. Solar City’s plant in the Buffalo area is costing New York’s taxpayers. The plant is not completed and has lost $281 million in three months. According to its SEC filing the employee number has fallen from 1,460 to 500 employees. Thank you WHCU for informing us regarding the corruption being uncovered in Albany.

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Political forecast. If you watch television lately you’ll notice Bernie Sanders is working night and day to hand his presidential election to Donald Trump.

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Is this Cal Harris ever going to end? You know he’s going to get off, money talks. He elected to have no jury so he’s got one man to convince. One other witness doesn’t come until one year later seeing them argue. What’s with that? Why wait so long, he didn’t think it was important? Come on! Now he found clothes and articles after 15 years, boy if that doesn’t sound fishy! I’ll be glad when it’s over; it’s kind of getting a little old. We know that money’s been talking, we know he’s going to walk and we don’t need another trial.