America walks out on the planet

To the editor:

I read a front-page headline in the December 10 issue of the Scranton Times-Tribune: “U.S. sits alone at climate meeting.” The article highlighted the “dramatic midnight walkout” by U.S. negotiators at the latest international talks by 157 nations on global warming—an issue now widely acknowledged by the scientific community. Then I looked at a smaller headline just below that article: “The president’s poll numbers rebound.”

I call it ironic when our nation turns away from the entire global community in refusing to reduce environmental pollutants, and yet “poll numbers rebound.” Wake up, America! When I was a child, one popular book was “The Ugly American,” which dealt with America’s plummeting image with other citizens of the world. Needless to say, our president has once again made us the ugly Americans. It just isn’t necessary, nor is it helpful, to look only at the short term in regard to the environment. Before too long, we shall have to pay a heavy price for our ignorance and greed. I urge you to take action. Write your representative or senator. Demand greater environmental stewardship. Let us pull our heads out of the sand before the sand buries us completely.

Letter to PA Public Utility Commission

To the editor:

We are writing to you to express our dissatisfaction with the exorbitant rate increase recently granted to Pike County Light & Power. No doubt that the costs attributed to the generation of electricity has increased, but an increase of 73 percent is certainly an unfair burden to be placed on any individual or agency in one lump sum. Besides the fact that there was no prior notification to any of the Pike County Light & Power customers that any type of rate increase was being sought, this exorbitant increase will no doubt be a major burden to all of those serviced by Pike County Light & Power.

County, local government and school district budgets have already been compiled, prior to being notified that a 73-percent rate increase had been granted. Be aware that the increase further burdens all of the taxpayers of Pike County and places a double burden on those businesses and residents being serviced by Pike County Light & Power who have already been faced with increases in home heating fuel and gasoline. It is estimated that utility costs for both home heating fuel and electricity will approximately double from the previous years’ fees.

Pike County has examined its last electric bill, for the month of October 2005, during which the county expended $6,632.52 for its Milford complex. Factoring in a rate increase of approximately 73 percent, that bill will now total $11,474.26 per month. Please note that we have not factored in the costs associated with natural gas or home heating fuel, nor were they a factor in the preparation of the county budget for 2006. This will further burden the county taxpayers and businesses in meeting these unexpected rate increases.

The Pike County Commissioners ask that you reconsider granting such an increase and grant some relief to the individuals and governing bodies that are continually asked to do more with less.

Karl A. Wagner Jr.