Teachout’s carbon fee plan returns revenue to households

I am scratching my head over comments made recently in the the 19th District congressional campaign about solutions to the greatest challenge (and opportunity) of our generation and for our state: the need to quickly transition to a clean energy economy to grow jobs and save us and future generations from the escalating costs and damages of climate change.

I am a member of a local chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a non-partisan group organized to protect us all from these costs. Scientists and economists tell us that, if not addressed now, the costs to our communities and to our health will skyrocket and land in the laps of our grandchildren. And the U.S. and New York State will lose out in the global race to be leader in the new clean energy economy.

Ms. Teachout’s proposal, Carbon Fee and Dividend (CF&D), is increasingly regarded as a sensible, effective, market-driven, consumer-friendly solution and is supported by many conservatives. I am seeing attacks on this program in our local papers with scary numbers that apply to an entirely different program, a plan from 2009 that did not return revenues to all U.S. households, which CF&D would do. CF&D will protect the majority of us from increased energy costs.

I would love for Mr. Faso to take a closer look at CF&D, and join other conservatives who want to be on the right side of history, like economist George Shultz, who served under four Republican presidents and Exxon Mobil Corporation.

He will see that under this program, real disposable income for an average family of four in our region would rise an average $2,477 annually in 10 years and $4,002 in 20 years. This incorporates increases in energy prices and even gasoline prices at the pump.

The website citizensclimatelobby.org provides more information.

Iona Lutey

Hillsdale, NY

Fresh air

In this dismal election season, there are a few bright spots on the political horizon. We have the opportunity to elect two political newcomers who are determined to restore balance and fair play to our political process.

In the congressional race, John Faso faces off against Zephyr Teachout. Faso served 15 years in the state Assembly before losing bids for statewide office in 2002 and again 2006. But Mr. Faso didn’t suffer in defeat. He became a lobbyist—another politician passing through the proverbial revolving door.

His opponent, Zephyr Teachout, is both a teacher and a student of the American political process. She understands the high principals that shaped our democratic institutions and the corrosive influences that threaten to undermine them. If Teachout is elected to Congress, she will be in the forefront of renewed efforts to take big money out of politics.

The State Senate race is also a study in contrasts. Incumbent John Bonacic has been in Albany for 26 years. While he’s seldom had to face an opponent at the ballot box, he’s managed to amass $750,000 in campaign contributions. A lot of that money came from corporations with business before the state.

His opponent, Pramilla Malick, is an outspoken opponent of pay-to-play politics and would work to prohibit campaign contributions from corporations seeking state permits and contracts.

The way I figure it, we already have enough lobbyists in Washington, and too many pay-to-play politicians in Albany. I’m voting for Zephyr Teachout and Pramilla Malick on November 8.

Bruce Ferguson

Callicoon Center, NY

Clinton and open borders

In terms of immigration, open borders would mean allowing people to travel between two countries freely or with few restrictions.

Hillary Clinton has never proposed this; in fact, her proposal doesn’t even include cutting funding for border control, and in 2013 she said she supported a bill that would have invested billions more in border security. Clinton has also explicitly said that she will enforce immigration laws, including deporting criminals and individuals who pose a threat to public safety.

In Wednesday’s debate, however, debate moderator Chris Wallace pointed to a paid speech given by Clinton and published by Wikileaks, in which Clinton used the term “open borders,” which Trump has previously used as validation for his attacks.

However, the full quote reveals that Clinton is not talking about immigration — as she said during the debate, she seems to be talking about energy trading (although, as her campaign has refused to release the full speeches, it’s difficult to tell precisely what within trade and energy she was getting at).

Here is the quote in its entirety:

“My dream is a hemispheric common market, with open trade and open borders, some time in the future with energy that is as green and sustainable as we can get it, powering growth and opportunity for every person in the hemisphere.”

Both Trump and Wallace were taking the quote out of context.

Allan Rubin

Cochecton, NY

I’m voting for Bonacic

I am a registered Democrat, and I am voting for Sen. Bonacic because of all of the good things that he has done for the people of Sullivan County. He worked with Alan Gerry to help create Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center. He was the lead advocate for the Montreign Resort, which will create new private sector jobs. He has worked very hard with our hospital, and for his outstanding efforts in health care, the emergency room is named in his honor.

He is a very honest and humble man who works tirelessly for the people of Sullivan County, and he has the results to prove it. Because of these things, I am dismayed by the outright lies coming from his opponent. Sen. Bonacic’s opponent is a radical activist who has never run for public office and has never voted for anything or anyone in this area. A Supreme Court judge recently wrote that plaintiffs challenging her campaign on the grounds that she had not been a resident of the district for a sufficient length of time had presented “clear and convincing evidence” that Malick does not satisfy the one-year residency requirements, though he did rule against the plaintiffs because they had not filed suit within the statute of limitations.

I am a Democrat, and this candidate, in my opinion, is not suited to represent our senate district. My family and I will be supporting Sen. Bonacic on November 8.

Mark McCarthy

Sullivan County Legislator, District 3

Grahamsville, NY

Lies count

We all know about lies. Any dictionary will give you a definition. And most of us would agree that, if awards were presented for the best liars, lawyers and politicians could be expected to top the list of candidates.

Hillary Clinton is one of the worst due to her despicable lies to the mothers, fathers, wives and children of the men who died in Benghazi, Libya. Our U.S. Ambassador to Libya and three other America patriots lost their lives there, in part due to Hillary’s inaction as Secretary of State. First she lied by saying these Americans were killed due to some anti-Islamic video (tinyurl.com/gue6uv6), when in fact they were killed by a well-organized group of anti-American Islamic rebels. Then she lied about what she said (tinyurl.com/zfht5fo).

What other lies has Hillary perpetrated? How many times did she lie to Congress? Let’s just say several. What about her lies regarding her unsecured server? Originally it was just one server, then there turned out to be something like 13 other devices. Is that one lie or 13? How many times did she lie about her 33,000 e-mails? Should this be 33,000 lies? When interviewed by the FBI, she responded some 20 times that she “couldn’t remember” in response to the FBI questions. Really? Should we count this as 20 lies?

We can’t forget her lie about border security. She has told foreign bankers that she favors open borders. Is that one lie or a lie for every one of the millions of foreigners who would flood the U.S. under such a policy? Then, of course, there are the lies she perpetrated regarding those classified e-mails. She said none of the emails were classified; the FBI said there were over 100, three of which were marked as such. If you don’t want to vote for a proven liar for president, then vote for Donald Trump on November 8.

Robert E. Moore

Barryville, NY