They want it all

To the editor:

The gas and oil industry is not satisfied with control of U.S. towns, mountains and rivers for their unregulated, unlimited gas drilling; now, they also wish complete control of U.S. oceans.

Beyond the green door

To the editor:

The devil’s at the door, we are all in this together, let’s work this out. Should the person who wrote about the devil’s door be ashamed? Accused of not being bipartisan nor civil? Should gas drilling be conducted properly?

In a perfect world that would be great. But the evidence from other areas and past events is overwhelming. This is random drilling and fracking, with vague regulations, and it has posed major health and environmental problems elsewhere. I understand the financial incentives, believe me. But we need to step out and see this in the right perspective, the big picture.

Numerous events have occurred that some warned of, but were ignored, for example, global warming and the Iraq war. I am sure that five years ago, many who foresaw these problems were thought of as tree huggers, alarmist city people and terrorist sympathizers. Some still think this way.

But global warming proved to be real, Iraq proved to be a catastrophe. When will we face the facts? The present energy sources are harmful and a thing of the past. Trying to downplay future safe energy like solar, wind, etc., and not placing them as priorities, is a grave mistake. This should have been activated 30 years ago, in a slow transition. The fact of the matter is anyone who said global warming was a hoax and the war was patriotic and gas drilling is all right is opening a door we may not be able to close. Let’s open the door of sustainable energy—the very same door the energy corporations try so hard to close, and just give us a peek occasionally. It just may prove to be profitable, and, in a 10-year transition, we can have something we all can be proud of together.

Equinunk, PA

Don’t blame Democrats

To the editor:

Gas prices are out of control, but this problem didn’t start yesterday. Throughout the Bush presidency, gas prices have risen. Republicans ruled Washington for most of those years and passed all sorts of drilling legislation.

But, as Congressman Maurice Hinchey has pointed out, oil companies aren’t using 68 million acres of the Republican-created drilling leases. Instead, high gasoline and fuel prices are used to renew Republicans’ perennial push for drilling in the environmentally sensitive Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

Republicans can talk about increasing supply, but it’s Democrats who are trying to force energy companies to start drilling by introducing a bill that would assess a fee for acres of dormant land. Democrats want oil companies to start using present leases rather than waiting for the cost of gas to go even higher, so they can charge higher prices to consumers.

In addition to increasing the supply of oil in the United States, Congressman Hinchey is strongly promoting sensible energy alternatives—lowering demand through increased fuel economy and energy efficiency standards and meeting energy demand through the rapid development of alternative and renewable sources.

Quality early education yields big returns

To the editor:

Now is a time when our commonwealth needs to take a serious look at how we spend our money. We need to make sure that our spending is an investment in our future. Investing in quality early education is one of the best investments we can make in Pennsylvania’s future.

Quality early education provides our children with the guidance, support and learning opportunities that they need when they can benefit from it most. Many of the skills that can help them succeed as adults, such as being team oriented, literate and numerate, are capacities that are essentially shaped by age five.

Research, such as recent results from the Pre K Counts Public-Private Partnership ( www.prekcounts.org ), show that all children benefit from quality early education and children at risk of school failure can “catch up” with their peers developmentally before they reach kindergarten.

Quality early education affects our commonwealth’s bottom line in two key ways: tax savings and increased tax revenue. Children who attend quality early education programs do well in school, graduate, go to college, get good jobs and buy homes, so they positively contribute to the tax base. Because they are so successful, they are less likely to require special education services (which can cost schools twice as much as serving the average student), remediation, incarceration or public assistance. Studies show that for every $1 we invest in quality early education, we can save between $7 and $17.

I urge our legislators to support the governor’s proposed increases to Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, Keystone STARS, Child Care Works, Early Intervention and Nurse-Family Partnership. This is an investment we cannot afford to ignore.

Unfair, unbalanced

To the editor:

Fox News has been known for its right-wing slant, but this is pure muckraking at the lowest level. Remarks reported on Fox like “terrorist fist jab,” Obama’s “Baby’s Mama” (which is a slap in the face to every woman and black person) and Brit Hume’s so-called verbatim statement of Obama’s brother saying “Barack would make a good president despite his Muslim background,” are all trash. I listened to that interview and that was never said, because Obama was never a Muslim. Remarks like these diminish us as knowledgeable citizens because we have a so-called “fair and balanced” news network that is not interested in the issues, but is interested in advancing a point of view using what ever lies, innuendo or rumor it can.

The Federal Communications Commission should pull Fox’s license to operate over our public airways. Citizens deserve the truth and honest straightforward reporting, not this yellow journalism full of untruths and flat-out lies. This particular time of our country is too important for such things. I certainly don’t see Fox reporting on John McCain’s saying “I didn’t really love America until I was deprived of her company.” He didn’t really love his country. Hmmmmmm. (Please Google it before you say he never said that). I guess John is in the right (pun-intended) political party. Brit Hume, Sean Hannity, all of you at Fox—be real journalists and stop being the mouthpieces for Fox News Network.

Paterson is out of line

To the editor:

In a government of, by and for the people, it is sometimes necessary to remind (educate?) elected officials of their responsibilities and vested (fully and unconditionally guaranteed as a legal right, or privilege) powers. Separation of powers is power divided among government bodies as a precaution against tyranny. The legislature is an elected body vested with the responsibility and power to make laws. The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the laws; the executive is responsible for implementing, supporting and enforcing the laws.

There are lawsuits in progress to remind Governor Paterson he does not have the vested power to rule on “same sex marriage” by fiat (authoritative command to do something). To declare “let it be so” is not his prerogative (a special right, or privilege). There are bills in the New York State Legislature (S5884—ability to marry; S5994—marriage license may not be denied on the grounds that the parties are of the same sex; A8590—ability to marry) that will or will not become law depending upon a majority vote. Then the courts may interpret and the governor enforce. Duh. (used to express actual or feigned ignorance or stupidity).