Editorial: Election Reform - 27 East
logo logo logo logo

Opinions

Sag Harbor Express / Editorials / Opinion / 1895282

Editorial: Election Reform

Editorial Board on Feb 6, 2019
What a difference an election makes. The anti-Trump Democratic tide that rattled Republicans all over the country in November and returned the House of Representatives to Democratic control also wrestled... more

You May Also Like:

Let It Play Out

My response, Harry Mainzer, to your argument that Pete Hegseth is unqualified for nomination and confirmation as secretary of defense is: Let the process play out [“Kakistocracy,” Letters, December 19]. My disagreement with you is primarily with the faceless, anonymous sources that have been used to contaminate the fairness of this nomination. For Donald Trump supporters, it is all too reminiscent of the innuendo, lies and outright subterfuge of the initial Trump presidency by a Democratic Party and its complicit media, which abandoned its journalistic responsibilities to amplify doubt and falsehoods. It is clear that you don’t see it from ... 20 Dec 2024 by Staff Writer

Reap Joy

I immersed myself in the Hamptons Doc Fest this December, both as a volunteer and a filmgoer. I hadn’t attended more than a handful of films over the festival’s history, now in its 17th year; however, my recent involvement electrified me with the intoxicating breadth and vitality of this magnificent event! From founder Jacqui Lofaro and her mainstay of directors, to its staff and boards, to its sponsors and patrons, the Hamptons Doc Fest is a hard-driving jubilee rivaling any international film festival. I read a quote that film festivals are “niche businesses.” Upon offering my aid shortly after eye ... by Staff Writer

A Safer World

Thomas Jones’s letter, “A Safer World” [December 19], prompted me to write this letter. Mr. Jones crows about Donald Trump’s leadership. He says Trump’s leadership will make the world safer. I would like to see President-elect Trump show some leadership with gun safety here in the United States. Just the other day, a 15-year-old girl in Madison, Wisconsin, shot and killed a student and a teacher and injured several others before she killed herself. This shooting in Wisconsin is the 83rd school shooting recorded in 2024, surpassing 2023 for the most school shootings in a single year since CNN began ... 19 Dec 2024 by Staff Writer

Candy Canes and Lumps of Coal

CANDY CANE: To East Hampton Town and state officials, for taking steps to address troublesome intersections — adding turn lanes at the Route 114 and Stephen Hands Path intersection, a turn lane into the Ross School from Route 114, and roundabouts at Two Holes of Water Road and Three Mile Harbor/Springs-Fireplace Road. It’s not just about traffic flow; there are safety concerns at some of these locations that should make them priorities. They seem to be, and for that residents should be grateful. CANDY CANE: To Guild Hall, for completing a massive renovation and its decision to preserve the design ... by Editorial Board

The Twilight Zone

On January 20, a draft-dodging “patriot” who has already spit on the U.S. Constitution by trying to overturn a free and fair election and mobilizing a violent mob to attack our Capitol will put his left hand on a Bible, raise his right hand and swear to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” “The Twilight Zone” never had such an insane episode! And they’d better have a firetruck standing by, because that book will probably burst into flames. Alex Burton East Quogue 16 Dec 2024 by Staff Writer

End the Embargo

I read the viewpoint “Cuba Teeters on the Brink of Collapse” [Opinion, December 12], and I didn’t find any mention of the 64-year-old embargo on Cuba. The embargo was designed in 1960 to bring hunger and misery to the Cuban people, with the expectation that it would lead to the overthrow of the Cuban government. It hasn’t worked — only the hunger and misery has worked. I witnessed the life of the Cubans on my numerous trips to Cuba doing mission work with the First Presbyterian Church. We have lived in their homes and in their church, experiencing their way ... by Staff Writer

A Safer World

I’m glad to see that Paula Angelone, Ph.D, in “The American Way” letter [November 14], acknowledges that President-elect Donald Trump will end the war in Ukraine and bring peace to the Middle East. Ms. Angelone criticizes the president-elect if he solves all the problems that plague us as wrong because they are solved via a skewed narrative. The Trump narrative. That, Ms. Angelone, is called leadership. Something that in the last four years we saw nothing of the kind. The reality is, solving conflict in complex situations requires compromise by all parties. If Trump had been our president the last ... by Staff Writer

Heartfelt Thanks

On Friday, December 6, Eastern Suffolk Ducks Unlimited hosted its annual December dinner. This year, we hosted just under 200 supporters of Ducks Unlimited. The Eastern Suffolk Ducks Unlimited Committee is a group of dedicated volunteers of all ages from eastern Long Island. Through the efforts of these volunteer committees, Ducks Unlimited is able to pursue its mission of conserving, enhancing and restoring North America’s wetlands. The Eastern Suffolk Chapter made the top 100 fundraising chapters numerous times. Fundraising efforts by chapters throughout the states are the backbone of the organization, constantly making a difference for North American waterfowl populations. ... by Staff Writer

Kakistocracy

I read with interest Ed Surgan’s take regarding Pete Hegseth’s nomination for defense secretary, along with some other issues [“Savor the ‘Miracle,’” Letters, December 12]. Mr. Surgan states that Hegseth is “uniquely qualified.” I doubt that “uniquely qualified” means a lack of “senior or national security experience,” and that he “would have the least amount of military experience of any defense secretary in recent history” (Fox News). Additionally, Mr. Surgan characterizes Hegseth’s “advocating for veterans” as “sterling.” “Sterling?” What is “sterling” about “frequent public intoxication, poor leadership and the toxic work climate he fostered” at the Concerned Veterans for America ... by Staff Writer

The Final Step

As Southampton Town considers aggressive action on sand mines, with plans to use amortization — a tool last used effectively to rid the town of nightclubs and bars the town considered nuisances — to finally end the practice, it’s important to cut through the rhetoric and state some facts. Sand mines serve a clear purpose and have economic value in a region where construction is a primary driver. But the town quite simply does not allow sand mining — that decision was made years ago, and what mines exist today are preexisting and nonconforming. Amortizing the properties is the last ... 11 Dec 2024 by Editorial Board