Herkimer County needs spokes branching from Webb’s tourist hub

This spring break it was my choice to hit the road up and down the east coast, spending a trip with my parents.

We decided to visit colleges throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region, planning on gracing eight institutes of higher learning with our presence. Spread over just an eleven day trip, this meant we could kiss a stress-free vacation goodbye.

First on the list was

Gettysburg College, in the famous Civil War battle town. Since the interview and tour of campus were scheduled for Monday, March 26th, the preceding weekend we headed down to poke around the small city.

Playing tourist for a while certainly reminded me of my hometown Adirondack Mountains.

The people in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania live to serve travelers and visitors just as a large portion of the population does in Old Forge.

In Adams County, there are twenty-one townships. One of them, Cumberland Township, which surrounds Gettysburg, has roughly 5.6% of the county’s population (i.e. – About 1 in 20 people live there).

Simple math would show this to be a roughly proportionate: Cumberland represents 1 of 21 townships, and 1 out of 20 people live there.

But is the value of Gettysburg proportional? Continue reading →

Sports & Politics: Notoriety rises, falls with funding levels

Most anyone who knows anything about winter sports has heard of Lindsay Vonn… but I’m sure few have heard of Marit Bjoergen—in our country anyway.

Bjoergen, the most dominant female Nordic skier in the universe, does not gain anything near the American publicity that Vonn, the downhill queen of the world, captures daily.

This is the story of most cross country skiers’ lives, unfortunately. Our sport, equally as athletic and entertaining—as fans in other countries will attest—does not gain the attention it deserves.

Why? Anyone familiar with the two sports’ reach in the United States understands that it is due to one factor: money.

Money drives publicity and participation, which in turn drives the knowledge and popularity of each sport. Continue reading →

U.S. to celebrate birthday of its first monumental figure

On February 22nd, next Wednesday, our nation will celebrate the 280th birthday of George Washington, our first president, for his life as a great man and the contributions he made at our nation’s founding.

Several of his policies ensured our country’s continuance and safety.

These included a financial plan that eliminated debt from the Revolutionary War, and a foreign policy agenda that ingeniously included treaties with no one. Continue reading →

State of the Union themes meander between inspiration and futility

The President’s State of the Union address, an annual tradition typically delivered with grace, never ceases to interest me.

This past Tuesday, President Obama gave his third such address to Congress, complete with summaries of his administration’s successes, descriptions of current issues the nation faces, and outlines of some bold plans.

Predictably, he steered clear of topics that may hurt him in the upcoming presidential election.

The standard bombardment of handshakes and hugs greeted the President as he made his way to the podium. Seated behind him were Speaker of the House John Boehner and the Vice President Joe Biden. Continue reading →

Self-interest, fine; but corruption’s another story

Government of the people, by the people, and for the people”… the phrase originated by Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg address still inspires many elected representatives as they guide our government business today.

However, too many politicians seem to be crafting policy and enacting laws to serve their own interests rather than those they represent.

This is proof to many Americans that ours is a dysfunctional government—though self-servitude has motivated behavior throughout human history.

Self-preservation is wired into our DNA, according to behavioral experts.

Rarely is there a generous act not accompanied by an angle of self benefit.

If we look to the 19th century, we can see that our richest industrialists engaged in philanthropy, endowing such institutions as Carnegie Hall, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Vanderbilt University, and improving our country.

Yet, it is hard not to see these men benefiting as well by their own considerable generosity. Continue reading →

Iowa vote gives candidates green light, for others it’s red

’Tis the season… Gone is the fancy wrapping paper, sparkling lights and around-the-clock Christmas music.

But renewed is the media’s obsession with the Presidential Primary Season and its endless barrage of debates, front-runners, speculation, and scandal.

Newt Gingrich enjoyed big leads recently and appeared to have a lock on the first few caucuses and primaries, maybe more, with a combination of charisma, intelligence, communication skills, and confidence.

He has faded since with Iowans, but his skills and conservative message may give him a second surge, which becomes more likely with Michele Bachman having exited, Rick Perry sizing up the doorknob, and Rick Santorum still living out of his car when it comes to campaign cash.

But if Newt were to emerge as the nominee, Republicans might find him not to be the best challenger to President Obama. Continue reading →

Clubs and sports more important than many realize

Few would doubt the ingenuity of our country’s founding fathers, whose Constitution contains a revolutionary checks and balances to ensure limited government and maintain governmental order.

They weren’t total superheroes, however.

James Madison and his colleagues understood that there were several parts of this system that had to be maintained by the American people in order for our democracy to flourish.

America needed the mechanisms of a Civil Society.

Simply defined, it is all of the groups the public associates themselves within. Continue reading →