It’s capitalism, not socialism

To the editor:

I’m baffled by your “Corporate Socialism” editorial on the power line issue. I’m against the power line. That means I prefer higher electricity prices to the environmental and quality-of-life damage of the power line. If we’re successful at blocking the project, either no transmission line will be built, or one will be built along a more expensive route. Either alternative increases electricity costs. If we’re not successful, our opposition will drive up the cost due to increased legal fees, concessions to localities and perceived risk to investors (who will demand a higher return in consequence). In fact, the whole idea of opposition is not to physically stop construction, but to make the project so expensive that it is abandoned.

How can an honest opponent of the power line be outraged that NYRI wants higher electricity rates to compensate it for the cost of the opposition? That’s not corporate socialism, it’s old-fashioned socialism. The line cannot be built without government support, through eminent domain, pre-emption of local laws, utility regulation and financial subsidy. More opposition means the project requires more support to be viable. We hope the government will figure the price is too high before we get tired of fighting.

NYRI just wants to make money—from the government or ratepayers, it doesn’t care. If its costs go up, it wants more money, or it won’t build the power line. That’s capitalism, and it’s what we’re counting on. If electricity prices go up, people will use less. That’s more capitalism, and good again. We win if capitalism, pleasing the consumer; and democracy, pleasing the voter; trump socialism, faraway bureaucrats drawing lines on maps of places they’ve never seen and telling people what’s good for them.

Corporate socialism doesn’t enter into it. It’s a self-righteous charge and it unfairly paints NYRI and the federal government as the parties trying to raise electricity prices. Confusing the issues weakens the opposition to the power line.

Too good to be true

To the editor:

Hopefully, the financial calculations made by property owners in regards to gas drilling will come down to each landowner deciding whether the peaceful enjoyment of their land, the relationships with their neighbors and community, their respect for the environment and the preservation of the area for future generations will outweigh a suspect get-rich scheme from a large out-of-area corporation. As they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it normally is.

Eliminating highway position

would create confusion

To the editor:

I would like to remind the public that this coming Monday, the 12th of May, at 7:00 p.m., the Tusten town board will vote to put a referendum on the November ballot that would seek to eliminate the position of Highway Superintendent and replace him with a politically appointed Commissioner of Public Works, thus combining the water, sewer and highway departments. This will only serve to blur the lines between the tax jurisdictions. How will the taxpayer know if the taxes he/she is paying are for service he/she is receiving?

If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can write to the town board to express your opinion and have your letter read into the minutes.

You can’t blame Bush for everything

To the editor:

After reading the column entitled “The best of times, the worst of times,” by Skip Mendler, I must say I am surprised such nonsense was published. Of course, I recognized many people in the Narrowsburg area are transplants or locals, with the transplants making most of the smoke with their political views. I for one am tired of left wing trash and enviro-nuts always getting their way with the media outlets, such as your paper. You certainly must recognize George Bush can’t be blamed for everything, and very few care what opinion the media has or promotes. Your job is to report balanced news, and only balanced, and not crybabies and left wing agendas, such as that trash piece of writing.

Thanks for community support

To the editor:

On behalf of Wayne Interagency Network (WIN), I would like to express our deep appreciation for those who supported our breakfast event on April 10 with our state legislators. We were gratified by the enthusiastic turnout from the community. In particular, we are thankful to Rep. Mike Peifer, Rep. Sandra Major and state senator Lisa Baker for their willingness to share their time with all of us. My thanks also to Pam Dirkson, Helen Connors and Michele Young for all their help and to Cordaro’s Restaurant for keeping things running smoothly. We hope everyone enjoyed the morning and benefited from it as much as we did!

For those who provide service in the community and would like to come to our meetings, we meet the first Monday of the month (no meeting in August and the second Monday in September) at 11:30 a.m. at Cordaro’s Restaurant on Route 6, Honesdale.

Happy Mother’s Day

To the editor:

I myself am a mother, grandma and great grandma. Therefore, I feel that I have the go-ahead to say a few words of praise to all of the above.

We have plenty of love to go around. Not only for “our own,” but for anyone looking for some old-fashioned understanding and a smile here and there. No matter how many disappointments and bitter moments we have been through, it is always nice to hear, “love ya, Ma,” (or “Grandma,” “Nana,” etc.). And believe it or not, it doesn’t cost any of us a cent. So go on, try it.