This is column number 80 since August 1, 2017. Each Wednesday, with one exception, there are usually 700 words strung together and published for your assessment. In my computer where these columns begin, there is a file labeled “drafts.” In the draft file there are many essays which have a paragraph or two started, but I can’t quite get finished for various reasons.

What follows are some possible future column topics which have enough interest to start a conversation, or an argument, but may not be worthy of page four commentary. So here are some random thoughts from the draft file in no particular order.

The old high school building on West Main Street in Norwich was built in 1896 and used for teaching students until 1980, which is 84 years. This makes me wonder if the current Norwich High School on Midland Drive, built in 1964, will still be in use as a school in 2048, which will be 84 years.

New York Department of Motor Vehicles went to herculean efforts to implement enhanced driver’s licenses to comply with federal security regulations. Enhanced licenses require US citizen residents to produce several source documents proving their identity. Soon, NY DMV, by legislative decree, will issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. Weren’t the “proof documents” the biggest part of getting the enhanced license?

It is now all the rage for governments to ban single use plastic items such as straws, spoons, forks, and cups because they are wasteful and they are produced from evil petroleum products. At the same time, many of these same government entities are giving away single use plastic hypodermic syringes to heroin addicts.

Not one law written under the guise of firearm safety has ever worked to keep guns away from criminals. The only people who are ever affected by these laws are honest citizens.

Why is it kids cannot bring homemade cookies or cupcakes to school because another student might have an allergic reaction, while simultaneously parents may send their kid to school unvaccinated, potentially bringing measles to all?

It is almost certain New York will try to close the multi-billion dollar budget gap by shuttering a state prison or two.

In the past couple of years, several states, counties and cities became sanctuary jurisdictions to shield illegal immigrants from federal law enforcement. This is done by local politicians passing laws forbidding law enforcement from investigating or even asking about a person’s immigration status. If local governments can pick and choose which laws they like, why can’t Chenango politicians make our county a sanctuary for firearms in protest of the Safe Act? It would probably work with local police agencies, but those pesky state troopers get their orders from Albany.

I’ve always wanted to write a column about the history of Eicke’s diner on East Main Street. I don’t dare do this because Laurie, the owner, said ‘No.’ I certainly don’t want to upset someone who prepares my food, but it is a story that should be told.

When it comes to climate change, we are told we must “believe the science,” because science doesn’t lie. And from the mouths of the same people we are told we should disregard DNA, biology and human anatomy when it comes to a person’s birth gender, their chosen gender and which restroom they want to use. So, which is it? Believe science or not?

In regards to the 2nd Amendment: when the founding fathers wrote our Constitution they were creating a government which wouldn’t infringe on people’s rights. Everything in that document limited the power of the federal government over the people. In the 1st and 4th amendments the “right of the people” is all inclusive. Why would the 2nd amendment be construed to mean the “right of the people” is somehow limited? The authors knew the USA would need a military; it’s right there in Article 1, Section 8 - “Congress has the power to organize, train and arm a militia.” Why would the authors then make a redundant comment about arming the militia? They didn’t. In the 2nd amendment they are talking about citizens being armed because they had just completed a war where average individuals had to take up personally owned weapons to put an end to their former government.

Some of these thoughts may be seen again as a full column. Others might be limited to a conversation over coffee or a heated debate. Right now I have to think about column number 81.