When it came to research science and medicine, along with our higher education system, we were the envy of the world. Not so much now. We will be relying on China and other countries to come up with new vaccines and cures for diseases. Question will be if we can even afford them.
Though Stefanik opted out of serving the needs of North Country residents many years ago, if Warren County Airport was one of the “rural” air fields shut down, you can be sure Rich Schermerhorn would be screaming “No Way!” to his hero Trump!
"The CBO estimates that the tax cuts and additional spending for the "Big Beautiful Bill" passed by the House last week will increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion."
As long as most of the country views taxes as a duty and a hardship, as in "tax burden," we'll be caught in this cycle of cutting taxes while increasing spending.
We need to shift our values so we see taxes as an opportunity to support a civilized society -- one where we can take care of each other as well as ourselves. And we need to strike a better balance in setting tax rates for those individuals and businesses who can easily afford to pay their share.
Unfortunately, in these days where civilization itself is under attack and society is seen as nothing more than a set of transactions, I hold little hope of achieving this.
The new farmer's market is beautiful. Hooray for government done well that serves so much of the community: the farming community, the local consumers, and good health to boot. Well done. Thanks for sharing the news, the rest of the update was the typical whiplash of this era. The deficit. Sigh. What a legacy. Trump has not "saved" us any govt money at all, nor relieved the average taxpayer. It's a sham.
Local lore has it that the Liberty Bell (which as you noted had a flaw and needed to be recast a couple of times) cracked a final time when it last tolled on the death of the great Chief Justice John Marshall.
The Franklin Institute is actually super nifty and they have the Barnes Museum on the Parkway now, too. (Barnes used to be in the suburbs and hardly anybody could see it, as per the will of the donor; there was controversy when they moved it into the city and opened it up to the public).
When I was a kid, Independence Mall, Carpenters Hall didn't need tickets and the Liberty Bell was outside on a stand you would just go up and touch it, feel the crack etc. (I think after 9-11, they started paying attention to security etc)
I was from a very large family, we didn't have a lot of money, so did a lot of free stuff. Fairmount Park was always fun, and I liked the Betsy Ross house (she made the first official American flag). I think you could probably still go see Ben Franklin's grave and stuff like that free. University of Pennsylvania had a cool museum with mummies, though I don't think they display the mummies any more out, out of respect for the fact, they were once people.
Once things start charging admission or requiring tickets, I guess they improve, but lose a little local appeal. I feel that way about the NY Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, which was free when I was young except for the conservatory (which was maybe $1). It is much, much spiffier now, but also seems to attract more suburbanites and Manhattanites rather than Bronxites now that it comes with a hefty price tag. I liked it better before.
I am enjoying your road trips with your brother, Ken! You both remind me fun it is to be with a sibling and of places we all can visit that aren't that far away. You also remind me why our history is so important and how fragile it is. Like the Liberty Bell it seems our present day has a Crack in it.
As a transplant to the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania from Glens Falls, I want to add that the Liberty Bell WAS taken from Philadelphia, along with other bells, before the excursion you mention -- in 1777 (ironically on September 11) in order to save it from being melted down for the British army. It was brought to Allentown, some 50 miles north of Philadelphia, and hidden under the floor of what was then the Zion Reformed Church. On your next history trek, do come to the Lehigh Valley! Bethlehem, founded by Moravians in 1740, had pivotal roles in the Revolution, including serving as a hospital for Washington's troops -- and for the recuperation of the Marquis de Lafayette -- after the battle of Brandywine.
The hits keep on coming.
“The wicked become even worse when they are tolerated.” - Leo Tolstoy
When it came to research science and medicine, along with our higher education system, we were the envy of the world. Not so much now. We will be relying on China and other countries to come up with new vaccines and cures for diseases. Question will be if we can even afford them.
Though Stefanik opted out of serving the needs of North Country residents many years ago, if Warren County Airport was one of the “rural” air fields shut down, you can be sure Rich Schermerhorn would be screaming “No Way!” to his hero Trump!
Probably true.
"The CBO estimates that the tax cuts and additional spending for the "Big Beautiful Bill" passed by the House last week will increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion."
As long as most of the country views taxes as a duty and a hardship, as in "tax burden," we'll be caught in this cycle of cutting taxes while increasing spending.
We need to shift our values so we see taxes as an opportunity to support a civilized society -- one where we can take care of each other as well as ourselves. And we need to strike a better balance in setting tax rates for those individuals and businesses who can easily afford to pay their share.
Unfortunately, in these days where civilization itself is under attack and society is seen as nothing more than a set of transactions, I hold little hope of achieving this.
Especially for those who can afford a little more in the way of taxes.
True. And there are a number of individuals and businesses that should pay more than nothing, which is what they pay now.
The new farmer's market is beautiful. Hooray for government done well that serves so much of the community: the farming community, the local consumers, and good health to boot. Well done. Thanks for sharing the news, the rest of the update was the typical whiplash of this era. The deficit. Sigh. What a legacy. Trump has not "saved" us any govt money at all, nor relieved the average taxpayer. It's a sham.
Local lore has it that the Liberty Bell (which as you noted had a flaw and needed to be recast a couple of times) cracked a final time when it last tolled on the death of the great Chief Justice John Marshall.
The Franklin Institute is actually super nifty and they have the Barnes Museum on the Parkway now, too. (Barnes used to be in the suburbs and hardly anybody could see it, as per the will of the donor; there was controversy when they moved it into the city and opened it up to the public).
When I was a kid, Independence Mall, Carpenters Hall didn't need tickets and the Liberty Bell was outside on a stand you would just go up and touch it, feel the crack etc. (I think after 9-11, they started paying attention to security etc)
I was from a very large family, we didn't have a lot of money, so did a lot of free stuff. Fairmount Park was always fun, and I liked the Betsy Ross house (she made the first official American flag). I think you could probably still go see Ben Franklin's grave and stuff like that free. University of Pennsylvania had a cool museum with mummies, though I don't think they display the mummies any more out, out of respect for the fact, they were once people.
Once things start charging admission or requiring tickets, I guess they improve, but lose a little local appeal. I feel that way about the NY Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, which was free when I was young except for the conservatory (which was maybe $1). It is much, much spiffier now, but also seems to attract more suburbanites and Manhattanites rather than Bronxites now that it comes with a hefty price tag. I liked it better before.
Lots of security for bell. Longest wait was to go through metal detector.
I am enjoying your road trips with your brother, Ken! You both remind me fun it is to be with a sibling and of places we all can visit that aren't that far away. You also remind me why our history is so important and how fragile it is. Like the Liberty Bell it seems our present day has a Crack in it.
Well put. We've found that breaking up each day's driving with a historical visit really makes the trip north - or south - a lot more fun.
Republicans....it's why we can't have nice things.
As a transplant to the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania from Glens Falls, I want to add that the Liberty Bell WAS taken from Philadelphia, along with other bells, before the excursion you mention -- in 1777 (ironically on September 11) in order to save it from being melted down for the British army. It was brought to Allentown, some 50 miles north of Philadelphia, and hidden under the floor of what was then the Zion Reformed Church. On your next history trek, do come to the Lehigh Valley! Bethlehem, founded by Moravians in 1740, had pivotal roles in the Revolution, including serving as a hospital for Washington's troops -- and for the recuperation of the Marquis de Lafayette -- after the battle of Brandywine.
I've included a link with more information:
https://www.discoverlehighvalley.com/blog/post/the-liberty-bell-museum-in-allentown/
Yes, that's true. My context was in regard to its status as a symbol of liberty and not during the war.