FOOD FOR THOUGHT Don’t Scare, Bankrupt Voters, Or Undermine U.S. Economy During the past few days, President Biden has signaled flexibility on the size of a minimum-wage increase, skepticism about $50,000 in student-loan forgiveness and openness to negotiation on his immigration reform plan. Progressive moans of protest have been muted but audible. Some young activists questioned Biden’s “courage.” Criticism from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was less personal but still pointed: “Our job is to deliver for the American people. Period.”…
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Opinion - Page 222
BOUND VOLUMES February 25, 2021 200 YEARS AGO At a meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Otsego, held at Captain Stephen North’s, William Sprague, Chairman and Isaac Williams, Secretary, the following nominations were made: William Sprague, Supervisor, George Pomeroy, Town Clerk; Ambrose Clark, Buckingham Fitch, Israel Loomis, Assessors; Buckingham Fitch, Israel Loomis, Postmasters; Hezekiah Loomis, Abraham Van Horne, William McCrombie, Commissioners of Highways; John H. Prentiss, Abraham Van Horne, Issac Williams, Commissioners of Schools; Stephen Williams, Constable and…
LETTER from RICHARD STERNBERG Stay Vigilant! But There’s Actually Some Good News This marks the 50th column I’ve written in this series. It’s hard to believe on many levels: How long we have been restricted or locked down, that I am still doing this weekly when we figured we would need to do this for at best a few months, that there remain new things to write about (in fact, every week brings new information), that my publisher makes me…
LETTER from CHIP NORTHRUP Get Jabbed – Or Get Lost To the Editor: Got my second C-19 vax the other day at a public center. Only fainted once this time. No wait, no line, plenty of technicians and vax. All paid for by the government. Ain’t socialized medicine grand? We are truly blessed to have these vaccines available to us. So where was the crowd? Where were the lines? Why are so many people still refusing to get vaccinated? Since…
EDITORIAL In Time Of Pandemic Hope Blooms Master Gardeners: Our National Mission ‘Extension Master Gardener programs educate people, engaging them in learning to use unbiased, research-based horticulture and gardening practices through a network of trained volunteers directed and supported by land-grant university faculty and staff.” Underneath the quiet of pandemic strictures and social-distancing, the world hasn’t completely come to a stop. Just as, soon, crocuses (not, croci, we’re told) will begin poking through the snow, so will the Otsego County…
LETTER from P. JAY FLEISHER In Winter, Global Warming Pushes Arctic Air To South To the Editor: How can a warming climate lead to a “frozen Texas”? Media coverage of freezing conditions, power outages and millions of desperate Texans summarizes the life-threatening conditions brought on by freezing temperatures and snow that are foreign to that part of the country. It may seem contrary to “climate change,” but in fact that’s exactly what is causing this and other extreme weather; but…
LETTER from TERRY BERKSON Brussell Sprouts & Billy Joel Brussels sprouts are just about the last thing we harvest from our garden. I can remember many a deer season when I’d walk out in the snow-covered yard to get some. Alice likes to simmer them in chicken broth and later pour some honey on them. Several years ago I drove over to our local nursery to pick up some vegetable seedlings. Alice was weeding when I got home and she…
EDITORIAL Chamber Looks Past COVID And So Should The Rest Of Us With herd immunity headed our way – by mid-summer or earlier – it IS time to look toward what’s next. So interim Otsego Chamber President Al Rubin’s letter to members, which arrived Monday in e-mail boxes, is ideally timed. The letter was an appeal to members to volunteer for chamber committees: Marketing/Education, Membership Services/Events and Finance/Audit. “We want your input, we want your voice,” wrote Rubin, “and we…
LETTER from CHIP NORTHRUP Impeachment Burnished At Least One Politician To the Editor: We saw something this week in the Impeachment trial that is a rarity – a politician who followed the law, not his party line. The idea of being faithful to the law is the essence of the inscription at Thermopylae, where 300 Spartans held the line against the Persian army. Herotodus mentioned the plaque commemorating the battle: “Go tell the Spartans that we 300, ever faithful to…
EDITORIAL With Seward, Bassett Reclaims Some Of County’s Ebbing Clout Someone was remarking the other day that, over almost four decades, Otsego County had two key players that could be called upon in any crisis. One, Bill Streck, Bassett Healthcare Network president/CEO since 1984, who spent years developing contacts in Albany. A Democrat, he was a go-to guy around here, someone who could call the Governor’s Office and expect an answer. Two, state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, who served in…
