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September 27, 2023
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But that’s the rub. Who makes that call. Who decides what is age-appropriate for who? I could argue the Bible should be in the fiction section of the library, too.

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It’s sad that the Rockwell Falls Library seems to be a victim of politics. I’d hoped we were above that in NY.

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Sacrifices made for the greater good. These strikes need to happen and people need to make a living wage. CEOs continue to make more and pay less in taxes while the working people who get them their treasures suffer to survive. That doesn't even begin to touch the need to reign in AI before it is out of control.

Regarding the library-I never thought I'd see the day that politics impacted every aspect of our lives the way it does now. My mother won't go to Target or read a book with the Oprah label on the cover. I'm so tired of the craziness....Thank you Republicans for making life just one big political insane asylum.

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I used to believe that people were open to voting for the right person even if they were in a different party. But those were the good old days.

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September 27, 2023
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Good point!

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I believe that statistics show something different. More people are choosing to be unaffiliated with any party. Why is that? I think that some are drifting away from a major party they used to affiliate with, but also, younger people are tending to avoid political affiliation. There is a perception that the 2 major parties are basically the same. It is clearly not true but it is a perception fed by candidates who run on party lines that are philosophically in opposition to each other.

Here in Warren County it is clear that many people cross party lines in voting. Republicans have long held an enrollment advantage and since 1856 the Republican candidate carried Warren County by large margins for 27 straight presidential elections until 1964 when local GOP apparently could not stomach Barry Goldwater and went for Johnson. Then we returned to form until Clinton carried Warren County once. In the last 7 presidential elections the R won 4 and the D won 3. The last 4 elections were split evenly and in the last 8 elections the GOP broke 50% only 3 times and in 2016 Trump barely passed 50% (50.15%) and won Warren county by just 57 votes.

GOP account for about 43% of registered voters in the county and Dems roughly 28% (those numbers are off the top of my head but close) so clearly many people are crossing party lines with their votes … and that’s good news!

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September 27, 2023
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Sorry, in my haste my post wasn’t clear and accurate. The 57 vote difference was in the 2020 election where Trump beat Biden 17,699 to 17642, but another 808 voted 3rd party. In 2016 Trump had 15751 to a combined Dem & 3rd party vote of 15,657. These were 2 very high turnout elections locally and while Republicans like to boast that they dominate, they don’t in presidential election years.

Unfortunately in off year elections like this one voter turnout is very low and in those circumstances Rs generally turn out in a slightly higher proportion than Ds.

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More good data.

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Only if they are crossing to be Democrats!😅

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That was the lede that I buried. Doing a bit of simple math here…43% Republicans, 28% Democrats … Republicans falling short of 50% in big races that Dems are winning…that means large numbers of unaffiliated and GOP are regularly voting for Dems!

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Some good historical information here.

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Extremely sad if this is true.😟

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Great little piece!!!

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Trump said Unions don't have the best interest of workers in mind?

I'll I'll think about that...

Meanwhile Joe Biden stands on a picket line

with auto workers?

Standing in a busy crowd hearing all the chatter and someone brushes up walking quickly by...my wallets gone...

Your boss just left shift and your stuck on a 16 or more hour shift...my kids wondering when he'll see me this week cause I am mandated three days in a four day week.

This is hypothetical but it has happened.

Think about that.

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Rockwell Falls Library, book bans, politicians…

Well, as a newly minted politician myself I guess I better check my need for ego gratification, but I’m not sure ideology is really a problem. We are a nation founded on a simple ideology that just powers are derived from consent of the governed. Seems like a good ideology to me…but maybe that’s my ego talking.

Anyway, my complaint about a lot of local politicians is that they don’t seem to stand on any particular principles, aren’t transparent, and if they’re not simply lazy they are ineffective. Supervisor Gene Merlino has hidden from the library controversy. I haven’t seen Dan Stec step up to cool the debate, but then I don’t remember Stec or Betty Little ever stepping in to cool tempers in Thurman when they had so much strife at board meetings. Not in the job description.

In the case of the Luzerne library it might be more a problem of theocracy than ideology. The ideology of the library had been clear: to provide information and services, along with diverse programming to the rural community. So I guess it is a problem of ideology, the ideology of openness vs the ideology of social control.

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I can’t tell you how wonderful your article of today is! I strongly support unions. I’m glad Biden is mostly on board with UAW. Keep writing this great stuff!

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Mike, that is great and awesome news!

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Ken can give me a call 518-817-8399?

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You state “National events can have local implications”.

So true.

I tried to arrange to have my nearly new vehicle repaired at the dealership on a warranty issue and....necessary parts required to fix the problem are “ on order” ...E.T.A....nobody knows. The auto plant workers are on strike.

I’ll have to wait.

Patience and fortitude.

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