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Conservatives, liberals see human nature differently

CHAUTAUQUA—A law professor has articulated a principle infrequently heard from higher-education faculty. Why infrequently? Because many colleges and universities hire few non-liberals. The law professor is George Washington University’s Jonathan Turley, a frequent contributor to broadcast-television and cable-television news programs. Speaking to Advocates for Balance at Chautauqua, or ABC, on July 13, Turley said rights came not from government but from God. That’s framed differently than, yet on the same side of the philosophical spectrum as, what you, faithful reader of ...

Dealing with the heat of summer

One day, a week or so ago, when it was 91 degrees, I drove by the electric power plant run by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in Jamestown. I thought, and it turned out to be true, that the natural gas turbine there was running at full bore—pumping electricity into a statewide grid that needed it badly. Jamestown, itself, didn’t need the power—it gets most of what it needs from the Niagara Power Project at Niagara Falls. But, the statewide grid needed every available resource online to ensure that the air conditioner load in New York City and the metropolitan area didn’t ...

America at 250, service is our greatest strength

America’s 250th birthday is a special anniversary in the history of our nation; the success of this great experiment should be celebrated and, this year, I would encourage you to reflect on what it is that has made America so special. Alexis de Tocqueville, a political philosopher who studied and toured America in the 19th century, once commented that America’s culture of voluntary association is one of our nation’s greatest strengths. Ordinary citizens coming together in groups, clubs, churches, charities, civic organizations, and local committees to solve problems together ...

The legacy of 1776 in Chautauqua County

Before the Declaration was penned, a 17-year-old fought for the American cause in the Continental Army at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He continued serving throughout the Revolutionary War, including at Saratoga, Trenton, and Princeton. At Oriskany, his courage—alongside that of a fellow lieutenant—helped turn the battle, forcing the British to withdraw and preventing a major enemy victory. He made his mark in securing our nation’s freedom. After the war, he made an even greater mark when he was called to preach. Sent by the Connecticut Congregational Missionary Society, John ...

Tax cuts are only for the rich

All we ever hear from Republicans is, we must deny benefits in order to reduce taxes. In reality our tax system is forever increasing taxes on those who have the least and reducing taxes for those that have the most. In fact many of the wealthiest people in this country pay no income tax, at all. If people really cared about reducing their tax burden, they would stop voting for those who deny earned benefits to those with lower incomes, so grants and contracts can be provided to those who already have all the money. In theory we have a progressive system of taxation. Since the ...

Greatest indicator of upward mbility may be surprising

CHAUTAUQUA—What’s the greatest indicator of children’s upward mobility? Think about that. What do you suppose the answer is? American Enterprise Institute fellow Naomi Schaefer Riley raised that question during her presentation to Advocates for Balance at Chautauqua, or ABC, on July ...