True, but now we’re punishing the children who need so much help. As a former kindergarten teacher, I know just how much help they need before they get to the big school. I will never understand how Congress let things get so out of control. Oh, wait, I do understand. Let’s bow to the King!
That was my thought, exactly, when I heard that Warren Co. was going to have to end Head Start unless federal monies were received. While I feel for the children, to the parents, all I have to say is....you're getting what you wanted. Cruel, sadly, but true.
I know our area is commonly portrayed as "red" or "deep-red," but we need to keep in mind that 47 percent of Warren County voters cast their ballots for Harris/Walz. That, to me, is still a substantial portion of residents. The fact is, there is not overwhelming support for Trump/Vance in our nation or in our county.
In any event, all the children losing the support of Head Start are being victimized by the likely loss of funds and services, regardless of how or whether their parents voted.
Remember just a few short years ago when Headstart bestowed the 2022 "Promise Award" on Eli$e $tefanik for her--this is rich--budgetary advocacy for the program. Maybe someone who still lives in the area needs to remind her to fight for kids in her district, and against the Trump administration who will hurt the kids of the North Country, and by fighting for kids in her district, it's not about "restoring funding," because that implies she wasn't a player in causing the fear and disruption by supporting the Trump GOP chaos of the last 9 years, especially as it relates to education funding.
1000 people protesting here in "Trump Country", in the small village of Sackets Harbor yesterday marched to the Summer home of Tom Homan, whose ICE troops earlier this week, detained as "collateral investigation" a mother & 3 kids, sent them from Northern NY to Texas & separated them, for the "crime" of not yet having finished the immigration process they were fully cooperating with. Trump's firing of immigration judges makes the legalization process longer than it needs to take, helping ICE meet their detainee quota of 1200/day. It was cold & windy on these old bones.
There was national news coverage of your amazing turnout of Sackets Harbor residents, with all the powerful poster messages, and a reporter’s narration of Homan’s history - past and current - of sadistic, racist rhetoric and actions.
You and all the members of your community are applauded for your courage in taking such a strong stand - despite the bone chilling shivering cold - whether standing or marching yesterday! 🙋♀️
Both Stec and Stefanik are absolutely responsible for these cuts. They put Trump in office and every single Republican is responsible. And once again Stefanik gets credit for funding she opposed. Research reveals her blatant dishonesty and outright lies. Guess Betty Little is only pro life in the womb, not the world.
Some thoughts I have on Trump and this second term:
He is not smart, but he has a certain venal craftiness, and an uncanny ability to mesmerize susceptible people with his gobbledygook speeches. During his first term he nominated people for important positions who, while they were suck-ups who turned a blind eye to many of his faults, at least had some expertise in their field and some residual respect for the Constitution. This time around there’s no one who is even remotely qualified for their position even if they know something about it, because they were all chosen for their loyalty to him and him alone. But is Trump crafty enough to recognize true loyalty? I don’t think so. I think most of his sycophants are like Elise Stefanik, using him as a stepping stone and figuring out how to keep him purring while they maneuver behind his back.
So I go back and forth on this. Are these horrible things all coming from him, or are they putting ideas in his head and letting him be the mouthpiece and take the credit? Is he actually directing things, or is he happy to stand on a stage and look and feel important and be the center of attention while they plunder and destroy? Who is really in charge? Take the tariffs, for example. He announces he wants tariffs, they get applied in a way that makes no sense, the stock market tanks, and lots of people with money and foreknowledge are probably buying up stocks at bargain basement prices right now. Then in a week or month, he declares victory and removes them and the stocks go back up and they’ve all made billions. His MAGA cult followers have already proven they will believe anything he says, so there’s no harm to his ego and he’s surely dipping his beak in that grift as well. But is he the puppet master or the puppet? Are immigrants being rounded up and disappeared the way they are doing because that is how Trump wanted it done, or did he say “start rounding up immigrants” and washed his hands of it? I can’t decide if things are being run a la Dr Evil by a cabal of amoral villains behind a figurehead, or by one amoral villain with a bunch of henchmen.
No question in my mind he’s NOT one to care about details or planning, so ‘they ARE putting ideas in his head and letting him be the mouthpiece and take the credit. He is not actually directing things. He is quite happy to stand on a stage and look and feel important and be the center of attention while they plunder and destroy.’
Something was knocking around in the back of my brain, and I finally got ahold of it. This clip from South Park, about the underpants gnomes. It kind of describes the entire Trump economic plan in a nutshell, only replace underpants with “tariffs” and profit with “America is great again.”
I apologize for the crudeness and vulgarity…South Park isn’t for shrinking violets!
Replace the current Oval Office inhabitant’s name with any of the strong, brilliant women that voters could have placed there in the last 10 years, and we all know they would have long ago been crucified by the far right. They would have been impeached immediately following the Jan 6 ‘21 insurrection, which of course never would have happened.
"Marci said she was contacted Friday by Dan Stec, who said he was forwarding her letter to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s office."
So our State Senator Stec is forwarding a letter to our Congresswoman Stefanik concerning the delayed funding of Warren County’s Head Start program.
Oh my, Mr. Stec. What a strong stand you’re taking! Forwarding a letter. You’re really putting yourself on the line for the kids likely to lose their Head Start support. I’m so proud of you! Always fighting hard for your constituents!
Question: Are you attending any protest rallies regarding these federal program defunding actions? You know, like the one you attended and spoke at when the Great Meadows Correctional Facility closure was announced?
Opponents of the Trump takeover of our country need to create a countrywide central clearinghouse detailing how the Trump cuts in spending have affected ordinary citizens, and what they can do to fight it. It is not just Head Start. All over the country, short staffing has disrupted essential federal functions. Social Security appointments. Passports needed for travel. IRS returns. Even an efficient Post Office. If all the cuts and their effects were posted online with an easy way to find out how local impacts are playing out, citizens could have access to credible reliable information. Any demonstrations in my area? Want to overwhelm a website to make it crash? I can't always get to protests, but if I can find a way to counteract this tyranical administration I will do it. We are looking at the loss of many great programs like Head Start. Time to fight back.
We all SEE what Donald Trump is doing....as do ALL the republicans in Congress..sooo..WHAT THE H_LL IS THE MATTER WITH THEM? The republican majority in Congress can shut him down in an instant....I want to know WHY NOT? Are they all compromised? I hate hearing and reading allthe conspiracy theories floating around out there....how do we get past this?
The idiots who run our country will dispose of pre-schools then all decent schools soon unless we rise up. The clock is ticking for all of the United States. Sorry.
Regarding the Shakespeare quote about the "GOOD" being interred with their bones....there will be NOTHING there with our current "king's" bones.
The Glens Falls Hands OFF rally yesterday was so full of enthusiasm....now we need to funnel it into some next steps. Can millions of people really make a difference, finally???
The immigration issues and Head Start problems are heart breaking....the people in your column, Will, are remarkable but they probably don't care about the praise we all give them...they want action. Where, and how????
Yes stay tuned on that one. This is an unconscionable act on the part of our government
I wonder how many of the Warren County Head Start families bothered to vote last November and for whom they voted.
True, but now we’re punishing the children who need so much help. As a former kindergarten teacher, I know just how much help they need before they get to the big school. I will never understand how Congress let things get so out of control. Oh, wait, I do understand. Let’s bow to the King!
That was my thought, exactly, when I heard that Warren Co. was going to have to end Head Start unless federal monies were received. While I feel for the children, to the parents, all I have to say is....you're getting what you wanted. Cruel, sadly, but true.
I know our area is commonly portrayed as "red" or "deep-red," but we need to keep in mind that 47 percent of Warren County voters cast their ballots for Harris/Walz. That, to me, is still a substantial portion of residents. The fact is, there is not overwhelming support for Trump/Vance in our nation or in our county.
In any event, all the children losing the support of Head Start are being victimized by the likely loss of funds and services, regardless of how or whether their parents voted.
Remember just a few short years ago when Headstart bestowed the 2022 "Promise Award" on Eli$e $tefanik for her--this is rich--budgetary advocacy for the program. Maybe someone who still lives in the area needs to remind her to fight for kids in her district, and against the Trump administration who will hurt the kids of the North Country, and by fighting for kids in her district, it's not about "restoring funding," because that implies she wasn't a player in causing the fear and disruption by supporting the Trump GOP chaos of the last 9 years, especially as it relates to education funding.
1000 people protesting here in "Trump Country", in the small village of Sackets Harbor yesterday marched to the Summer home of Tom Homan, whose ICE troops earlier this week, detained as "collateral investigation" a mother & 3 kids, sent them from Northern NY to Texas & separated them, for the "crime" of not yet having finished the immigration process they were fully cooperating with. Trump's firing of immigration judges makes the legalization process longer than it needs to take, helping ICE meet their detainee quota of 1200/day. It was cold & windy on these old bones.
There was national news coverage of your amazing turnout of Sackets Harbor residents, with all the powerful poster messages, and a reporter’s narration of Homan’s history - past and current - of sadistic, racist rhetoric and actions.
You and all the members of your community are applauded for your courage in taking such a strong stand - despite the bone chilling shivering cold - whether standing or marching yesterday! 🙋♀️
Has there been any word at all regarding this mom and her kids since they were taken?
Both Stec and Stefanik are absolutely responsible for these cuts. They put Trump in office and every single Republican is responsible. And once again Stefanik gets credit for funding she opposed. Research reveals her blatant dishonesty and outright lies. Guess Betty Little is only pro life in the womb, not the world.
“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid. “ - Benjamin Franklin
Any many are very hard at work.
Some thoughts I have on Trump and this second term:
He is not smart, but he has a certain venal craftiness, and an uncanny ability to mesmerize susceptible people with his gobbledygook speeches. During his first term he nominated people for important positions who, while they were suck-ups who turned a blind eye to many of his faults, at least had some expertise in their field and some residual respect for the Constitution. This time around there’s no one who is even remotely qualified for their position even if they know something about it, because they were all chosen for their loyalty to him and him alone. But is Trump crafty enough to recognize true loyalty? I don’t think so. I think most of his sycophants are like Elise Stefanik, using him as a stepping stone and figuring out how to keep him purring while they maneuver behind his back.
So I go back and forth on this. Are these horrible things all coming from him, or are they putting ideas in his head and letting him be the mouthpiece and take the credit? Is he actually directing things, or is he happy to stand on a stage and look and feel important and be the center of attention while they plunder and destroy? Who is really in charge? Take the tariffs, for example. He announces he wants tariffs, they get applied in a way that makes no sense, the stock market tanks, and lots of people with money and foreknowledge are probably buying up stocks at bargain basement prices right now. Then in a week or month, he declares victory and removes them and the stocks go back up and they’ve all made billions. His MAGA cult followers have already proven they will believe anything he says, so there’s no harm to his ego and he’s surely dipping his beak in that grift as well. But is he the puppet master or the puppet? Are immigrants being rounded up and disappeared the way they are doing because that is how Trump wanted it done, or did he say “start rounding up immigrants” and washed his hands of it? I can’t decide if things are being run a la Dr Evil by a cabal of amoral villains behind a figurehead, or by one amoral villain with a bunch of henchmen.
No question in my mind he’s NOT one to care about details or planning, so ‘they ARE putting ideas in his head and letting him be the mouthpiece and take the credit. He is not actually directing things. He is quite happy to stand on a stage and look and feel important and be the center of attention while they plunder and destroy.’
Something was knocking around in the back of my brain, and I finally got ahold of it. This clip from South Park, about the underpants gnomes. It kind of describes the entire Trump economic plan in a nutshell, only replace underpants with “tariffs” and profit with “America is great again.”
I apologize for the crudeness and vulgarity…South Park isn’t for shrinking violets!
https://youtu.be/a5ih_TQWqCA
Trump is skillful at taking credit for things that are a success. He's also skilled at ducking blame when things go wrong.
Hmm. Who else do we know who does that…? (Think empty chairs on empty stages.)
...he is president- regardless of who's behind [if anyone else is] this-or-that catastrophe: the "buck stops" with him...
He’ll just put it in his pocket and deny he ever had it!
Replace the current Oval Office inhabitant’s name with any of the strong, brilliant women that voters could have placed there in the last 10 years, and we all know they would have long ago been crucified by the far right. They would have been impeached immediately following the Jan 6 ‘21 insurrection, which of course never would have happened.
"Marci said she was contacted Friday by Dan Stec, who said he was forwarding her letter to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s office."
So our State Senator Stec is forwarding a letter to our Congresswoman Stefanik concerning the delayed funding of Warren County’s Head Start program.
Oh my, Mr. Stec. What a strong stand you’re taking! Forwarding a letter. You’re really putting yourself on the line for the kids likely to lose their Head Start support. I’m so proud of you! Always fighting hard for your constituents!
Question: Are you attending any protest rallies regarding these federal program defunding actions? You know, like the one you attended and spoke at when the Great Meadows Correctional Facility closure was announced?
Something needs to be done! Dan Stec is worthless so is Elise.
Opponents of the Trump takeover of our country need to create a countrywide central clearinghouse detailing how the Trump cuts in spending have affected ordinary citizens, and what they can do to fight it. It is not just Head Start. All over the country, short staffing has disrupted essential federal functions. Social Security appointments. Passports needed for travel. IRS returns. Even an efficient Post Office. If all the cuts and their effects were posted online with an easy way to find out how local impacts are playing out, citizens could have access to credible reliable information. Any demonstrations in my area? Want to overwhelm a website to make it crash? I can't always get to protests, but if I can find a way to counteract this tyranical administration I will do it. We are looking at the loss of many great programs like Head Start. Time to fight back.
Greetings, Carol
One of the best ways to find out what is going on locally is to watch INDIVISIBLE ADK/Saratoga's website: https://indivisiblesaratogaadk.com/#events
I would also recommend Jessica Craven's Chop Wood Carry Water substack. She provides daily actions.
We all SEE what Donald Trump is doing....as do ALL the republicans in Congress..sooo..WHAT THE H_LL IS THE MATTER WITH THEM? The republican majority in Congress can shut him down in an instant....I want to know WHY NOT? Are they all compromised? I hate hearing and reading allthe conspiracy theories floating around out there....how do we get past this?
Time to SUE! The only way they'll get any money is if a Judge orders it...
...re: the photograph of [grisly] remains:
Matthew Arnold: "Nature is cruel, man is sick of blood..." /
["...and man doesn't seem so very sick of it." --Robert Frost]...
I will volunteer to help during the time funding is delayed. Additionally, I can & will rally retired teachers to also volunteer. We can help!
Please contact me and/or leave a comment on how I can follow-through.
The idiots who run our country will dispose of pre-schools then all decent schools soon unless we rise up. The clock is ticking for all of the United States. Sorry.
Regarding the Shakespeare quote about the "GOOD" being interred with their bones....there will be NOTHING there with our current "king's" bones.
The Glens Falls Hands OFF rally yesterday was so full of enthusiasm....now we need to funnel it into some next steps. Can millions of people really make a difference, finally???
The immigration issues and Head Start problems are heart breaking....the people in your column, Will, are remarkable but they probably don't care about the praise we all give them...they want action. Where, and how????
Will, we can all draw courage from our many many citizens protesting at the Hands Off rally in Glens Falls on April 5!