Setting aside our usual lessons in military history and how they play into our current lives, let’s look at some veteran related issues that although they seem to be all of that, also affect every tax paying citizen. As we review the forms to send our hard-earned dollars to the government, ...
The New York State conventions of the Democratic and Republican parties have ended, and the race for Governor has begun. Six months from now you will feel numbed by what is likely to be the most expensive and possibly the most negative race for Governor ever. The Republicans, of course, will blame all of the problems in New York upon Kathy Hochul. The issues they will hammer on will be “cashless bail,” high electricity costs and restricting hook-ups for natural gas. Hochul is trying to address these issues and move to a more middle ground, but she and her party are vulnerable ...
When President Trump began in early 2025 imposing various tariffs on countries and products around the world there was debate about who would wind up bearing the cost of the Trump tariffs. (They are called Trump tariffs because the President has claimed the power to impose them with no further Congressional approval.) The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has now resolved the debate In 2025 the Bank found that American consumers and businesses bore about 90% of the cost of President Trump’s sweeping tariffs. The average U.S. tariff rose from 2.6% to 13%, about 10 percentage ...
The OBSERVER editor has assured me that I can use this column to write about whatever I like. And while it may be a bit risky for some writers to pen a column criticizing their employer, I’m not all that worried about it. I do not get paid to write these articles. The OBSERVER gets to print these priceless and entertaining words of wisdom absolutely free of charge. I realize the difficulties that must come with managing print media in this day and age of electronic communication. I understand that headlines are meant to be attention grabbing and the language used in articles is ...
Last month’s article on loneliness was OK, but I feel I didn’t give the readers everything they expected. So, in addition to last month’s, this month’s will put the cap on loneliness. As stated, “feeling lonely from time to time is a part of life.” However, for many seniors and older adults, loneliness is all too common. More than 50% struggle with it. When these feelings linger, they can contribute to anxiety and depression. Last month I left out talking to a therapist, which can help you make positive changes in your life. Someone asked me if I take my own advice, and ...
Few things are more important than access to high-quality health care services. Although most local concerns have recently been focused on facilities, as some have closed or required renovations or replacement, the necessity of adequately staffing facilities that continue to operate can’t be overlooked. Serious challenges in healthcare staffing have been growing nationwide for a long time and are likely to persist. Recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals can be especially difficult in more rural counties, like Chautauqua, for many reasons. In addition to concerns ...
