New York State has too many overpaid government workers.  Also, New York State has too many government workers.  Those are the pair of conclusions to take away from a disheartening study by a conservative group called the Empire Center for New York State Policy. To summarize the Channel 2 story about...

Downtown Buffalo’s most common sight might be plywood.  Regrettably, the vertically-placed sheets aren’t particularly appealing to shoppers, tourists, or potential apartment renters.  The boarding-up-unused-places industry may be booming, but numerous other aspects of the city’s economy grow...

Expanding the Best Picture Oscar field to 10 entrants may water down the field.  But some competitions feature a plethora of worthwhile candidates.  Take trying to pick the Best New York State Democrat.  The academy that’s in charge of issuing the Democraties ™ would have to permit a similarly...

Liberals tolerate any lifestyle choice, unless that choice is smoking.  That little trail of fumes emanating from the lit end of a smooth, satisfying, delicious cigarette or rolled-up-phonebook-sized cigar frightens them far more than, say, radical Islam or unsustainable deficits. As evidence, the fun...

New York State is attempting to simultaneously help the economy and environment.  Yeah: they’ll do nothing for either.  Enticed consumers spent the weekend racing about trying to grab government entitlements for those outfitting their kitchens and basements.  They’re taking part in a transparently...

The one thing that’s better than making money is being handed some.  That’s why anyone who doubts the Earned Income Tax Credit is the most wondrous gift our benevolent government has ever bestowed upon us should read The Buffalo News. In particular, their January 31 take on the subject, helpfully...

Can you prove what you’re selling is yours?  Wait: why should you have to if you didn’t do anything wrong?  You’re not on trial to establish the chain of ownership for any wristwatch or DVD player you put in hock.  But you may get legally hassled anyway depending on where you are.  To wit,...

Barack Obama wants something.  Scott Brown doesn’t.  Brown wins.  Yes, last week’s special election provided the most awesome result of all time. But it could delightfully be topped.  The one thing more fun for conservatives than the phrase “Republican Senator Number 41″...

Guess the Hate Crime isn’t a fun game.  But it’s unfortunately being played in Erie County.  Consider two recent infamous attacks within the jurisdiction.  In both, it goes without saying that the victims deserve infinite sympathy while the perpetrators should face ample time in a cell...

It’s nice to agree with your congressperson every so often.  Concurring with one’s representative makes one feel, well, represented.  That’s true even if accord happens for some as rarely as seemingly every area of the country except Buffalo gets walloped with Christmas-week snow.  Anything...

The following letter to the editor by Erie County Legislator Ed Rath will appear in the Amherst Bee tomorrow: Dear Editor: Erie County has adopted its 2010 budget. I am happy to report that the budget keeps tax rates steady for next year. During these difficult economic times, it does not make sense...

Well, that was a fantastic atmosphere for the second Buffalo Bills home game not played at home. The matchup in the erstwhile SkyDome was as lively as a surgery being performed in a morgue.  Perhaps curious Canadians remain puzzled about the mysterious fourth down or why there wasn’t a team named...

The Artvoice Dilemma comes down to whether it’s worth pointing out any random article’s problems.  It’s usually best to avoid the chore of reading an issue, much less critiquing its contents.  But sometimes they churn out something so egregious that it deserves a shredding.  For...

Can we watch hockey without getting a political lecture?  Please?  Apparently, the answer is “Nope” regardless of how poorly the two subjects go together.  The Buffalo Sabres aired a packaged segment during the first intermission of Saturday’s game based upon the suspicious notion...

Imagine if the National Republican Congressional Committee had supported Doug Hoffman from the start.  Instead of throwing money at a left-winger who remained on the ballot after she quit and repaid the organization by endorsing her erstwhile Democratic foe, Hoffman would be running for re-election...

I don’t know Michele Iannello. Anyone on this site following that election can see I support Kevin Hardwick. Nevertheless, I must voice my thoughts on a story out yesterday about recent troubles facing Iannello and come to her defense. The Buffalo Teachers Federation is poised to withdraw its...