Readers’ Column for the week of October 21

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. 

Many thanks to the wonderful Woodlawn Avenue neighbor who puts my recycle bin up to the garage door. Hopefully I can repay it some day. Thank you! 

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I think that further definition is needed regarding zoning some property in the village. I have never seen a defined layout of the land that is involved. The people who are involved in this 19 acre deal should have a layout with a border highlighting the lands concerned. The  general public seems to know it is on the south side of the bridge, but that is about it. I think the property lines are Route 434, Montrose Turnpike, the west end of the Halstead development and an unknown fourth side. The developer should better define the area involved on a village map that is publicized in the Pennysaver and Courier for the benefit of all Owego residents. I am totally against PILOTS because so many bail out when it expires. See what it is doing to the Oakdale Mall!

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I am now almost 80 years old. My abuser, an adult male family member, targeted me at age 13. There was never a witness to the abuse. After four years he shifted his abusive behavior to my sister who was four years younger than me. I knew that no one would believe a child so I did not tell. My sister, however, was braver than me. No one believed her except for me. She was punished by being sent away to a boarding school for a year. Both my abuser and my sister have passed away. She and I were both damaged by his abusive behavior. We had severe self-image problems, which led to many poor choices in life. Even today I have spent decades trying to forgive and tell myself that none of this mattered. Although I did succeed despite his actions, I have never been able to quite feel that I have achieved all that I could have. There are, of course, many details that I have blocked from memory, but I am absolutely certain of two things – who my abuser was, and how long the abuse lasted. How can we as a society change? Helpful would be abusers first of all admitting to themselves that they made a person who was smaller or less powerful feel very uncomfortable or violated. Once that hurtle is crossed an apology might be in order. The best of all solutions is for us to teach our sons to respect EVERYONE, including girls. Violence forced upon another by word or deed serves no logical purpose except to exert one’s position when civil discourse fails.  

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I want to thank my neighbor for saving my life on Sunday, Oct. 7. I was walking with my dog when two dogs in the Village of Owego attacked me. It was a terrifying experience, and I am so thankful my neighbor was able to jump on the dogs to stop them from continuing to attack us. They knocked me to the ground during the incident, and I was pretty much helpless. If he had not stopped them from attacking us, I can only imagine what could’ve happened. These dogs were in attack mode, and I pray I never see them again. And, I hope that no one else ever has to encounter these dogs. I also want to thank the two ladies driving by who saw me being attacked and called 911. I truly appreciate it.

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If there’s a train going by on the other track you can’t cross anyhow so what’s the problem?

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Just went to the Ringo Starr concert at the arena. Circus was there. Cirque Musica coming up. Jeff Dunham show this week. Promoters rent the arena. Decision is up to them.

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In this column there was a question about Newark Valley office hours. When I read it again there was a comment about three full-time employees but nothing was mentioned about their diligence, work ethic or their dedication or anybody else that works for the village. I’m sure they all work hard at what they do! The question that was asked, is it feasible to shorten the hours? Do we need to be open five days a week? Can we get by with less? With all the other ways to get information, pay taxes, water bills, etc. Again, it was not meant to offend anyone or to question their dedication it was meant to have a open and honest conversation about the cost to the taxpayers of the Village. When you do go to a board meeting anymore everyone seems to be very defensive and contentious. I believe as a taxpayer we should be able to ask a question or question how things are being done without feeling or for lack of a better term, upsetting the apple cart. I believe the Mayor and Board are doing the best they can, but as taxpayers we should be able to express our opinions and concerns on any subject, no matter what it pertains too and not have the feeling of anxiety.

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Good morning Tioga County. We’re curious; we live on South Side and they’ve been putting a bridge in for over a month. What do they believe they’re building, the Golden Gate Bridge? There are things called wrenches. Four days a week isn’t going to do it. Let’s get it done! 

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Before the DRI goes too far down the road, they must outline the area of downtown on a village map so all the residents will know just where we stand. The current symbol is too vague. So let’s get it done.

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I agree with the one caller who suggested we should have more rock and roll shows at the Broome County Arena. I’m tired of Ice Capades and Globe Trotters. Bring back the rock and roll please! I thank you.

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This is to the person who wondered about recycling hearing aids and glasses. I believe there is a drop box in front of Sweeney’s Market in Apalachin or any Lions Club member can help you. 

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Two things. I’d really like to thank you for separating the political comments from the regular comments because I now know what not to read! I’d also like to comment on a group of teenage girls who meet Wednesday mornings at 6:30 at Dunkin Donuts for bible study. They have no idea the impression they are making on people. There is so much bad press about teenagers nowadays. They are examples of really good kids who are trying. I don’t know too many adults who would meet at 6:30 in the morning. Good job ladies, good job!

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I heard that they are trying to build low income housing in the village.  Don’t we have enough problems with drugs already? Whose bright idea is this?

National Political Viewpoints

Mr. Trump is heading out to his peps rallies today, guess he has no time for the Florida victims or the new reporter that was killed Jamal Khashogg. We all know his priority. 

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I would like to know if Donald Trump is friend or foe? Does anyone have an answer?

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God bless my Liberal friend(s) and the person who wrote, “President Trump corrupted the Congress, etc.” That person needs to look at Obama’s administration. Remember? IRS’s (Lois Lerner) attack on Conservatives? Fast & Furious: Guns to Mexico, Patriots dead followed by lies, i.e. “The video made them do it!” Need I say more? Regarding President Trump, the first non-politician elected to office, he’s doing exactly like he told American voters! Less taxes! More jobs! Corporations, with their money, back home! Working to drain the swamp! Boy! Are those “alligators” snapping back! He is also, which many haven’t realized, putting an end to “GLOBALISM”!  A 50-year experiment, started by Bush 41 that sent our jobs to China, Mexico, Europe, Asia and Canada. Result: eliminated middle class jobs, frozen wages, no increases and 1,000’s of jobs GONE! While America may have been ready for Globalism, much of the world was not! Result: America lost control and leadership in the world. Mr. I Hate Trump and “I’m going to leave the country,” let me offer to buy the ticket! How about Venezuela? I support President Trump! If you want what’s best for America, you will too!

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In last week’s column someone was trying to decide to which political party to belong to, Republican or Democrats. My personal opinion, no one party has all the answers and they refuse to work together, so try Independent and vote for the individual that best reflects your beliefs.
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called on Congress to rein in major government programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in order to slow America’s spiraling national debt on Tuesday, ignoring the fact the tax plan he recently passed has fueled further growth in that number. “It’s very disturbing, and it’s driven by the three big entitlement programs that are very popular: Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid. That’s 70 percent of what we spend every year,” he said on Bloomberg News Tuesday when asked about the national debt. “There’s been a bipartisan reluctance to tackle entitlement changes because of the popularity of those programs. Hopefully at some point here we’ll get serious about this. We haven’t been yet.” McConnell’s comments give Democrats more fodder for an argument that they’ve been making in campaigns across the map: That the GOP will ultimately try to pay for its tax cuts by slashing social programs. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected that the GOP tax cuts would add $1.9 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. The loss of government revenue from the cuts has been a larger proportional loss than what was caused by the Great Recession, according to the New York Times. McConnell had shied away from pushing for cuts to social programs like these before the election, even as House Republicans led by Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) had agitated to do so. But these comments hint at what may be in store if Republicans keep congressional control in the coming years. VOTE BLUE IN NOVEMBER if you or someone you know relies on these programs that we have paid into all our lives!

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Well, everything seems to be going great: a surge in company profits and near-record levels of optimism from consumers and businesses. To understand what is really going on, let me use an analogy. Suppose Trump issued a credit card to everyone, one with no upper limit and a requirement to only pay the bare minimum on it. You could take that dream vacation you always wanted, make all of the home improvements you always needed, send your kids to a private university instead of a state school, etc. When you maxed out the card you simply get a new one. The debt will grow and someday will have to be paid off, but who cares because by then you will be dead and it will fall on your kids and grandchildren. Well that is exactly what is happening with the Trump tax plan that he said could eliminate all of the U.S. debt in eight years. The enormous boost in wages ($4,000, guaranteed) that was promised never materialized; in fact, wages are stagnant as fuel and health-care costs rise. Federal spending has grown by 3.2 percent while revenue to pay for all of that has only grown by 0.4 percent. As a result we will have a 779 billion dollar budget deficit for the current year. Projections are that it will grow to over two trillion dollars in a couple of years. Corporate tax revenue has dropped by a huge 31 percent while personal tax revenue has grown by 6.1 percent. Obviously, this is unsustainable, so what to do? You can increase taxes, but there are absolutely no plans to do that. So the only alternative will be entitlements: social security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc., cuts that will effect everyone except the top 1 percent who receive over 80 percent of the benefits from the tax plan. So whom can we thank for this mess? Trump’s name is on it, but it originated in the House congressional Ways and Means budget committee. And who is on that committee? None other than our very own District 23 Representative, Tom Reed. District 22’s Claudia Tenney has her fingerprints on that mess as well by voting for it. So when all of you go to vote in November, remember the Republicans who are truly screwing you and vote instead for Democratic candidates Anthony Brindisi for District 22 and Tracy Mitrano for District 23. Your future depends on it.

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Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, has now joined the House Republicans in stating that Social Security and Medicare need to be cut. If you want to wait longer to get less go ahead and vote Republican. Those of us who think we’ve earned the benefits by our decades of paying into them don’t want to wait and get less will be voting Democrat. Think about your future before you vote.

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Vote Democrat and save social security, Medicare, Medicaid, public education, the elderly, the poor, the working middle class, the climate and yourself.

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Would someone please explain why, after years of Hillary, Obama, etc., it is now improper and traitorous to criticize Trump?

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We’re told there are several thousand “immigrants” headed north from Central and South America. They are leaving their country because of joblessness, turmoil and unrest. Since when do we have to be the problem solver for the rest of the world? Our early settlers didn’t run elsewhere to solve their problems. They fought and died in a war with Great Britain in order to improve their lot. Why aren’t these “immigrants” doing the same thing, instead of running away? Stay where they belong, work to fix the problem there instead of creating a problem for others to fix!

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Why are we still living in the “political ice age existence” of a two-party government that was created in the 1790s? What once was beneficial to the American people for the American people now has become a battlefield between Republicans and Democrats, leaving the voters as spectators to a bi-partisan circus instead of propelling us toward a better tomorrow. They live like kings and queens on our tax dollars. They have the best healthcare and retirement for life. Meanwhile, our healthcare system is still broken! One party tries to fix it with an idea, while the other party dismantles it. They have lost their focus on the world at hand and are quickly leading us into WWIII. They ignore the Constitution and abuse the law for their own profits. Hell, look how many people have even gotten divorced because of their voting and political differences; all by-products of a two-party system. We’re the only country in the world with such an idiotic idea. We are not united, but are separated by state lines, state laws, religion, color, Southerner, Northerner, Republican or Democrat, state flags and so much more. We only unite in crises by waving our flag. And even then, it’s only until the smoke clears.

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This message is for mainstream media and I hope they get it. What kind of news reporters get out there and bash somebody the way they were bashing Kanye West? I mean just because he went to the White House to have lunch with President Trump and the nasty things they were saying. The guy who is running for governor in Florida says said he needed to pick up a book and read. What kinds of people do that?

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The Social Security raise will be 2.8 percent for 2019; it has not been that high in seven years. This is due to Mr. Trump and the growing economy, so I’m asking all Trump haters to call their local Social Security office and tell them you do not want this increase, as you prefer the Obama increase of 0 percent. Please call early and I thank you in advance.

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Another amazing success for President Trump with the Turkish release of Pastor Brunson, and yet the fake news media would rather attack Kanye West and James Brown for their support for a truly great president. America is well on its way to becoming great again.

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The only thing the Democratic Party stands for is hate.

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Want to know the truth behind the swamp dwellers, also known as a Liberal Marxist? Just watch Diamond and Silk at dummycrats.com and be charmed beyond your wildest imagination. 

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No matter what your party affiliation is, one thing we all should agree on is that Cuomo must go! 

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It’s clear that Democrats want to make this a Socialist country. Also, look at the anarchy they’re spreading. Vote Republican in November.

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The Marxist Democrat mobs are being extorted by the Washington Post and New York Times’ fake news experts to get angry. Our great President Trump conversely exhorts all American patriots to vote in November. Even the dull Democrats can see the difference. 

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All you men and women accusing and being accused of unwanted sex should have had the talk when you went to college. You are going there to get an education and preparing for a good job, not to party and get drunk over and over, and then invite women to your room or go to a man’s room. Why do you think a man invites you to his room? If he is dumb enough to invite you and you are dumb enough to go, don’t either one be surprised when accusations come. 

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Hey great news, the Trump administration has given us social security people a 2.8 percent COLA raise for 2019 and we got a piece of one in 2018. Do you remember the last year Obama was in office he gave us almost a half a percent! Boy, why would anybody want the Democrats back in office? You tell me.

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Once there was this young man who was a servant, now the guy whose name is Joe was quite handsome. In fact, his boss’s wife got interested in Joe and tried to seduce him but Joe resisted. One day Joe’s boss’s wife was up to her usual tricks. Joe ran out of the room and left his jacket behind. She screamed and made up a lie that Joe was trying to rape her. When her husband came home she told him and he had Joe arrested and thrown in jail. This story would be possible today when a woman lies about sexual misconduct from a man. It’s based on the story of Joseph found in Genesis Chapter 39 of the Old Testament in the bible. 

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Trump has done nothing for the people in Puerto Rico. I think it was great of Cuomo to help. If you were in a similar situation which one would you choose? 

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President Trump has raised over $100 million for his 2020 re-election. Now what does that say? It looks like the American people want him re-elected!

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A news report shows the five best financially run states have Republican governors. States with Democratic governors don’t even come close. This is not a surprise to me. Vote Cuomo out in November.

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I see where Mr. Trump went down to Florida not to play golf, to see what the damage was. He forgot his towels! Of course he’s an idiot anyway. I’d like to see him show his taxes and his son’s, too.

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Cuomo thinks America was really not so great; maybe because he hasn’t done such a great job. New York is $4.5 billion in debt. Think about it. He must go now!

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McConnell from Kentucky suggests he wants to cut Social Security and Medicare. You fools keep voting Republican. As the saying goes, if you want to live like a Republican vote Democrat. Get it? Drop your loyalty to the Republican Party and start using your skull.

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Can someone respond to the column as to why the Democrats are so against the American people? Why are they for open borders that jeopardize our safety? Why do they not want jobs for our people to give them the sense of being needed and giving them high esteem? Why do they want their crumbs back? Why do they want to see us suffer? I struggle with these questions. If anybody has an answer I would love to hear it or read it in your column.

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When are people going to wake up and stop supporting people who lie to their face? The Republican Party is nothing but the party of the rich and the billionaires. They don’t give two craps about the middle class. You people better wake up before you put yourself right into the poor house. Come on and wake up! Vote right.

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Why is it when a TV station sends an invitation out to both a Republican and Democratic candidate for an interview that only the Republican responds and comes on? They constantly say they’ve extended the invitation to a Democrat candidate but they declined to come. That must tell you something. What are they hiding?

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Democrats are putting their political ambitions ahead of our country’s safety and security. We now have thousands of migrants pouring into our country illegally. The migrants claim they are seeking safer conditions, but if that’s the case they can find safer conditions right in Mexico. Why are they pouring into the United States? I hope the American people are paying attention, as this is a great reason to vote Republican this November.

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Well Cuomo did it again. Once again he showed his complete disregard for the Southern Tier by not providing any support for the Broome County Airport. Remember that in November.

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Democrats, we have some hard decisions coming up. Our party is no longer the party of our grandfather and some of our leaders are advocating civil disobedience, getting in the faces of the Republican Party, harassing members of the staff, creating problems in the halls of congressional buildings, and apparently to send a message to our leaders that we don’t like what’s going on. We have a choice. We can stay home and not vote or we can hold our nose and vote Republican, or conservative lying but we must stop this civil disobedience. It is not helping our country, it’s dividing people and we need to work together for the good of our country. 

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Those of us who hoped Donald Trump would bring positive change have been sorely disappointed. Now we have another chance to shake things up by voting out the entire House of Representatives. Let’s get rid of all the incumbents; its bound to be an improvement.

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I can’t believe that Trump is taking the Saudis for their word. I thought he was going to keep the Arab influence out of America.