Morning, all.\u00a0 Here’s a look at some of the opinion and commentary this weekend in the North Country’s newspapers and blogs.<\/p>\n
The Plattsburgh Press Republican<\/a> laments the fact that, their view, some government leaders seem hostile to public access and public opinion.\u00a0\u00a0 The editorial cites two examples, in Malone and Plattsburgh.<\/p>\n Most of the school and government boards in the North Country offer public-comment time at their meetings, and they should be applauded for that.<\/p>\n But you wonder how many actually want to hear from those pesky citizens. Do they really listen? Are they truly open to suggestions?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Glens Falls Post Star<\/a>, menawhile, is praising school districts for what the newspaper describes as “fiscal responsibility.”<\/p>\n Of the 32 school districts in The Post-Star circulation area, 17 of them – 53 percent – are projecting a decline in spending next year.<\/p>\n Of the remaining districts, one district froze spending at last year’s level and the other 14 will increase spending – although none higher than Ticonderoga’s 4.89 percent.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Adirondack Daily Enterprise<\/a> is chiming in on a big debate in Saranac Lake, where a village trustee has said the community “should seriously look at no longer running a Mount Pisgah Ski Center.”<\/p>\n If a private entity really wants to lease Pisgah, the village board should strongly consider it. But as the people’s stewards of this fine facility, board members should take responsibility for making sure it is there for future generations. Don’t just dump it and run.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Watertown Daily Times<\/a> has a special commentary about Canada’s elections, noting that Kingston, Ontario, is one of the few places in the country where Liberals prevailed.<\/p>\n Ted Hsu, a bright newcomer to elected politics who replaces the legendary Peter Milliken as MP for Kingston and the Islands. Interestingly, Kingstonians bucked a national trend in English-speaking Canada and chose Ted, a Liberal.<\/p>\n Kingston was in fact one of the few places you could find Liberals smiling as the results came in. The once proud party that was led in the past by giants like Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Lester B. Pearson, Mackenzie King, Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chretien, is now the third party in the House with a paltry 34 MPs in their caucus.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n