Readers’ Column for the week of July 21, 2019

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. 

To the person that thinks that the Amish that have moved here do not pay school taxes, you are incorrect. They pay school taxes just like you do, whether you are single with no kids or not, anyone who owns property pays taxes to the school district that they live in. And just because you are single with no kids makes it no more right than the Amish having to pay school taxes when they home school their children. Do not fret; they pay taxes just like everyone else does.

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In the July 14 edition of the Owego Pennysaver on Page 13, a person calling into the column is quoted as saying; “There are 62 billion people on Social Security.” According to United Nations estimates, the population of the entire planet Earth is 7.7 billion people. Ironically this person ended their rant by saying, “This person needs to take a course in basic arithmetic.” The real takeaway message is that this column should be considered for entertainment purposes only.

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Coming over the Court Street bridge, where you sit at the light to go onto 434, that Owego sign that is made out of concrete is a disgrace needs a good power spraying; and the weeds and trees that cover that need to be cut as well. Also, the green post and railing needs to be painted that goes over to the entrance to Owego on the bridge. Let’s be proud of our town.

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Would the McDonald’s patron who litters the foot of Chestnut Ridge Road with their trash PLEASE throw it away at home! 

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From July 16 to July 20, in 1969, 120 Americans died in Vietnam! Today, fifty years later, I can not get excited about two guys walking on the moon.

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I was interested to read about the person who noted the lack of butterflies around their property; on the very day I noticed the increase around mine! The plantings are the same but I am overrun with all sizes and colors of butterflies this year. However, there is a lack of honeybees (to pollinate flowers and veggies) and bats (to eat mosquitoes), along with Robins (to cheer up the morning with song). It would be wonderful to hear from Cornell; are these changes due to climate change? The flood? Use of lawn pesticides and herbicides?

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Why can’t they allow marijuana in nursing homes? It could calm some people down in there, especially those with cancer. I use it to help me relax and give me some peace of mind and get some sleep in the night, no back pain either.

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They should make marijuana legal in New York State because it was put on this earth for a reason just like everything else.

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I lived in Candor all my life. This is the first time driving through that I noticed a few businesses don’t display the American flag in front. I wonder how many other towns and cities are like that, it means freedom. Well I have one on my home well displayed and proud of it. I’m not a business either.

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In 2017 the budget for the new town garage was $3 million and then in December of 2018 it was increased to $6 million. Today, stage one of construction is $11.1 million and is climbing. I just wanted to ask Mr. Castellucci, “Why you are doing this, why are you and those other two yes voters putting all of us in 30 years of debt without even a chance for taxpayers to vote on this outrageous subject.”

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I see a lot of comments in this column about the bad roads. I don’t think Owego is unique about this, I think it goes across the county and across the state probably. The highway maintenance people apparently don’t have enough training in how to fix a patch in the road. There are some manhole covers being put in but they’re filling in the hole with stones and then coming back later to put a layer of asphalt down, probably one inch deep, and then do the whole road. One inch of asphalt is not going to last, it will last a year and it will all be broken up and you’ll have a whole bunch of manhole covers. These highway maintenance people need better training and instruction on how to fix these roads instead of coming back every year and fixing them again. 

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I am the past owner of some of the properties that the Amish people have recently purchased in this area. The people that bought the property are from Ohio and they do pay school taxes and they do pay property taxes, because that is one of the things they wanted to know before they bought our properties. It’s a very misconception that the Amish do not pay taxes; they do pay taxes.

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If you want some kind of deer repellent it’s got to be something that smells. The repellent at Agway has a main ingredient of rotten eggs; so whatever it takes to smell bad, that will be a deer repellent.

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Parking garages and sewage plants seem to have problems with their design and construction. How competent was the design and how competent was the construction? Extra water added to the concrete is cheaper than a good mix of concrete. Who are the designers and inspectors? The World Trade Center collapsed because of poor design and possibly poor construction. Following those collapses, New York City had four pages of new construction requirements for high-rise buildings.

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One reason for all the infrastructure deficiencies is because the load requirements for highways now is 80,000 lbs on a truck where it used to be 40,000 lbs. When you double the load on something it’s probably going to make it fail sooner. 

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The taxpayers of Tioga County need to be refunded their money for the horrible job that was done on Sulphur Springs with the bridge over the creek. They fixed it by putting bump signs on either sides with a dip that is a foot and a half deep. Fix it please!

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Found! Three-month-old kitten at Exit 63 in Lounsberry. May have ridden on the undercarriage of a vehicle. Must identify by calling (607) 759-7467. 

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It’s a myth that the Amish don’t pay taxes. They most certainly do. They respect the laws of the state and they pay the appropriate taxes including federal and state income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes and public school taxes, even though most of the Amish send their own children to their own privately run school. 

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I’m looking for somebody in the Owego area that does sewing of clothing. Please leave your phone number in the Pennysaver and I will contact you. 

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I’m calling about the woman who made a comment about motorcycles racing up and down Main Street. The motorcycles were also racing up and down Watkins Avenue and Holmes Avenue. It’s not just motorcycles, it is ATVs and go-carts, and law enforcement has been made aware of it but can’t seem to put an end to it. Holmes And Watkins Avenue is where they gather with the motorcycles and ATVs. 

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Does Candor school offer veterans exemptions on their tax bills? If not, is that a board of education decision? Maybe that’s something they should start working on.

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I read that the Candor High School didn’t sing the National Anthem or say the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the graduation. I know that I’m old school, but is that the norm these days for all schools? Why is it that traditions have become offensive, especially when the tradition is a part of the cornerstone that makes this country so desirable for so many to come here? Now our traditional ways are offensive? We need to stand up to these people whether it is administration, congress, media, or the guy next door, and say enough of their crybaby meltdowns and be proud of the red, white and blue.

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I agree with the caller that it is ridiculous while watching the 4th of July parade in Candor, that they wanted them and their family to move because it is their property. I’m sure for that short period of time they would not be hurting it. This is the way we treat other people on this day of all days? They should be ashamed of themselves. 

National Political Viewpoints

When a shipment arrives in San Diego from China, Walmart pays the U.S. government a 25 percent tariff, which they pass along to their customers. This tariff is, in reality, simply a sales tax on the American people. It is an attempt to plug the giant hole in revenue created by the Republican tax cut, which has led to the largest deficit in our history.

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One day last month, Saudi Arabia beheaded 41 civilians including two teenage boys for demonstrating against the government. Before that they had tortured and killed an American journalist. President Trump wants to sell them $430 billion dollars worth of our most advanced weapons and give them access to nuclear technology. Sometimes you have to wonder just whose side he is on.

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 “When a woman is pregnant she can feel a new life gestating within her. We are collectively pregnant now, the consciousness of humanity a womb wherein is forming a new state of being. As with any pregnancy there are uncomfortable moments, but the miracle of new life is on the way.” — Presidential candidate Marianne Williamson

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I see nothing racist about the comments President Trump made regarding the “Squad” of Socialist Democrats. Love it or leave it is a long established comment and thought. Where is the gratitude from Ms. Omar for having been rescued from Somalia at U.S. taxpayer expense? Why is there none? Why is she allowed to be married to two men, one being her brother, for income tax purposes? Why is Congress not censuring her for her foul mouth?

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On July 16, New York Democratic Senator Schumer announced his backing of reparations. This is great. My great, great, great, great, great grandfather was killed at the Battle of Shiloh. Assuming a death compensation of $1,000 (1862 dollars) and a 7 percent interest / inflation rate, this amounts to $3,357,788. Union deaths were 360,000. Total reparations for descendants of Union Army deaths (amputees not included) are $1,209,549,246,861 or one thousand two hundred trillion. The estimated 37,000,000 descendants of Union dead would get $62,690 each. This is almost enough to buy a new BMW 530i. This dwarfs the reparations imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles and so shall the deleterious effects on our society. Oops, Schumer does not support reparations for Union dead. 

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Has anyone else noticed the number of apparently healthy military age males in these seeming unending invasions of illegal aliens? Question: why aren’t they working to fix their problems in their own country instead of bringing their problems here for us to deal with? Revolt, fight, DO SOMETHING. We fought the Revolutionary war to free ourselves from oppression. Why can’t they?

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Mr. Trump, the great Commander in Tweet is showing his racist comments again. Someone who is supposed to uphold the country and be a leader just tosses away the belief that we’re all created equal. If he doesn’t like it he can go back where he came from – under a slimy rock, and take his swamp members with him!

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I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m wondering if anyone has looked into how the group now known as the “Squad” got elected? Was it legitimate and above board, or filled with shenanigans? None of the polls concerning them indicate their constituents in the home districts want anything to do with them or ever did; so how did the get elected? They also indicate no future vote for any of them. Check it out yourself if you don’t believe me.

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Here is why “Medicare for all” can’t work; they calculate Medicare will run out of money in 2026. That is after we contributed to the fund for over 30-plus years before starting to use it. I contributed $10,217 to the fund, and in my name my employers matched it for a total of $20,434. Plus Medicare is not free; we pay $1,626 for part B each year. Without this 30-plus year nest egg per person, how can the Democrats keep immediate “Medicare for all” solvent? They can’t! Plus what’s so good about healthcare? In 1976, Los Angeles doctors went on strike and the death rate went DOWN 18 percent! Strikes in Bogota, down 35 percent, Israel down 50 percent. You might want to think again about that elective surgery! ROAR!

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The first responders to 9/11 are lobbying for more compensation. These are and were good people. However, they are police and firemen who knew the risk of their occupation and are compensated with salaries, pensions and benefits, which reflect this. Our government failed to protect us from the 9/11 terrorists. Today, the murders, rapes, and robberies by illegal aliens are a daily event. Our Federal and State governments can prevent this. Victims of illegal aliens get no compensation for government violation of their duties. It is time to compensate these victims of State and Federal government and prevent further illegal flooding into the country. Compensation to victims should first come from the lucrative salaries and benefits of sanctuary city and state governors, mayors, etc. End the hypocrisy of Democrats.

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“The dumbest president ever to run a country?” Before you hate on someone, get your facts straight. It was Obama that tripled the national debt, not Trump. You forget Obama accumulated more debt than all the presidents before him? Children in concentration camps, you cheapen those that were in real concentration camps! As for Trump being the dumbest president, I’d like to see your IQ data, as IQ doesn’t seem to be your strong point! ROAR!

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“The psychotherapeutic – psychopharmacological – industrial complex is one of the most threatening forces in America today. Putting our children on psychotherapeutic drugs does more to cause depression than to heal it. Parents awaken.” — Presidential candidate Marianne Williamson

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The squad 4 is trying to run the country. They are trying to convince “We the people” that their way is the way to go. Well they are so wrong. They aren’t putting out any ideas about immigration solutions. They want to let everyone in. We need immigrants to come here, but they need to do it the right way. President Trump has not done anything wrong to be impeached. In fact, he is doing a lot of good things. The economy is booming, and unemployment is the lowest in years. We got a tax break, and we are not getting penalized if you don’t have insurance. There are also lower drug costs, and numerous other things. How can you not see how good the country is doing under his leadership? Please people, wake up and see how good we have it and try hard to get along. You can’t always get what you want, but keep trying and don’t give up and when it all works out for you then just see how good you will feel knowing what you accomplished with cooperation and hard work. God bless our men and women who have fought and died and are still serving to protect us and give us the right to speak our mind.

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Come on folks, where is your pride? When I was growing up my parents had a family of eight to feed and clothe. We may have eaten the same thing every night and my mother washed our clothes out at night as we usually only had one or two sets to wear. When did it happen that we, the public, are responsible for feeding and clothing everyone nowadays? Get some pride back.

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Okay, this is to make you smile all day Sunday when you get the Pennysaver. Now we find out what’s behind Trump. He can do anything, he can say anything, he’s perfect and he’s growing what he’s smoking! Thirty-seven plants and no he didn’t touch them. Haven’t we heard that story before? Have a great day, have a wonderful weekend.

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The homeless situation in California is well out of control, much of it due to drug addiction. What did the democrats expect when they legalize drug use in their state? They all said come on in and we won’t bother you. So why aren’t the democrats outraged at the situation half as much as they are about the illegal’s at the border? Now President Trump will now have to go in there and clean up the mess they have created. The democrats make the mess the republicans have to clean it up. Trump doesn’t have the time for this nonsense. This should never have happened in the first place, but then again when you have democrats running the state this is what you get. 

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So the democrats are fighting now within themselves. It’s getting deeper and deeper and they want to run the country? I don’t think so. 

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Nancy Pelosi and the democrats would be delighted to have the census question taken off the voting ballots. They want a few million extra voters who are not citizens and then they would have a very good chance of winning all the legislative seats, including presidency. It is illegal, but that’s what they want. 

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Hey Einstein, there are not 62 billion on social security! That’s three times the population of the entire earth! Maybe you’re the one who should get the education in math. 

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To the person in last week’s Pennysaver that said Trump tripled the national debt. I’ve got news for you; Obama is the one that had more debt than all 43 presidents before him. Not Trump, Obama! I know it’s hard to understand because you’re probably a democrat, but try real hard, you can do it.

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To the person that said there are 62 billion with a “b” people on social security in last week’s column, we only have 327 million with an “m” people living in the United States. Where are these 673 million other social security recipients living? 

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Do you think Trump could pass the citizenship test that people have to take to become a U.S. Citizen of the United States? I don’t think so. Trump doesn’t read or study like other presidents do. He just likes to show off and talks a lot. Pathetic!

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Why is it that when the fab four speak they don’t know anything of what they are saying? They spew nothing but lies. I can’t stand to even listen to them. 

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I read where the Amish people don’t have to pay school taxes in your column last week. Also, legal and illegal immigrants don’t have to pay school taxes either. I guess American citizens are being played for the fools by our government and the school systems.

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The person who claims there is 62 billion people on social security should investigate the population of the country; it’s more like three and a quarter million. Million with an “m” not billion with a “b”. 

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Why do we have to continue to hear from the has-been’s? Who cares what Michelle Obama has to say? She says the country and the American people no longer have hope. But I guess we did with Barack? Well, we did. Hope of a failing economy, hope of high unemployment, hope of no money, hope of not being safe, hope of Benghazi and the Iran deal. She must not know the meaning of the word because we have hope now and it’s in the air. We had no hope with her and Barack. She can only wish Barack was half as successful as President Trump.

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Just imagine; if Trump didn’t tweet we wouldn’t know how stupid he is. So maybe it’s a good thing that he tweets. 

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This is to the person who said that Obama took the citizen out of the census. The citizen hasn’t been in since 1950 but if you want to still blame a democrat, Harry Truman was the president then.

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