Letters to the Editor Policy

In Response

This letter is in response to a letter written by Donna Coleman which appeared in your September 12 issue, regarding quarrying and New Milford RESCUE.

Mrs. Coleman wrote ... "I believe that laws should be followed. I also think they should be changed if they are unfair. " Mrs. Coleman, laws are rarely, if ever followed if there is no, minimal, or inconsistent enforcement of the laws. Witness the littering problem along our back roads and interstate highways – the end result of a law which is either unenforceable, or is not being enforced. Such is also too-often the case with both federal and state regulatory agencies – developers of the laws, but all-too-often negligent in their enforcement. History is replete with examples of this in the coal mining, oil, and yes, in the mineral extraction industries.

Mrs. Coleman does not think that "quarrying operations or bluestone should be regulated the same way as coal mines," based upon her faulty premise that "there is never long-term damage" from these type of operations. Any type of mineral extraction operation, whether copper, uranium, lead, bluestone, or whatever, can and does have almost immediate environmental and social impacts, and, if left to go on without any, or only slip-shod regulation, will absolutely have long-term effects – not only upon the environment, but also upon those who live in proximity to the operation. The primary reason for this is that, historically, all-too-many operators have allowed their concern for monetary gain to far outweigh their concern for either their neighbors or for the environment. Please, Mrs. Coleman, do a little self education, take a trip out of this county, and talk with people who have lived near poorly run and regulated mineral extraction, gas, and oil industries, and find out what the impact has been, and whether "Mother Nature" has settled and re-grown their communities.

Finally, a closing comment regarding Mrs. Coleman's request that " if you don't like bluestone quarries, don't move to Susquehanna County." This is a bogus, arrogant argument used to distract the reader form dealing with New Milford RESCUE's main concern, which is the failure of regulatory agencies to do the job which they were set up to do – that is, regulate those industries which Congress and the state legislature have instructed them to regulate, because failures to do so in the past had often resulted in both environmental and social disasters. Moreover, Mrs. Coleman, lest you've forgotten, Lyncott Landfill – hazardous waste operation outside of New Milford – was closed by DER because of local "activists" like New Milford RESCUE, and because of the invaluable involvement of concerned legal consultants from outside of the area, without whose help, this operation might never have been shut down. Lastly, did any of our ancestors – before moving into this area – ever bother discussing with the Delawares, the Oneidas, the Iroquois, or other tribes who inhabited the beautiful Northeast, what their ongoing "industries" were? Had they done so, and then moved here under the pre-condition that they must first adhere to and accept these ongoing "industries," guess what both you and I would be doing today – trapping beaver and muskrat, tanning deer skins, trying to survive the onslaught of tuberculosis from "outsiders" just south of us, and best of all, not worrying about the impact of a proposed massive mining operation right at our front doorstep!

Sincerely,

John Drann

New Milford Twp.

Christmas In The Park

On November 24, Old Mill Village, in conjunction with New Milford Borough will again be celebrating “Christmas in the Park” at the borough park and old Presbyterian Church on Main St.

There will be Santa, a beautiful “Victorian tea,” music by local artists, a silent auction, and crafters demonstrating age-old crafts.

This event is one way the village raises funds for the renovation of our buildings. The entire day’s happenings are “free” to the public, with donations very much appreciated.

If you can help us in any way, we thank you.

Monetary donations may be sent to: Old Mill Village Museum, P.O. Box 434, New Milford, PA 18834 (please make notation on check, “Victorian Christmas.”)

Any other donation can be picked up by calling Dixie Russell, 879-4894.

Sincerely,

Dixie Russell and

Old Mill Village Board of Directors

From Russia, With Love?

You see, I read a lot, publications that are reliable and, I hope, at least 99% correct!

Russia was once a Communistic country, I think most remember that. Putin is the present commissar, he is prior KGB in his younger days, and now after his many years of service to his country, the Russian government is made up of over two thirds former KGB members. Trouble ahead, I think. The Russians have recently tested a huge rocket vehicle for nuclear purposes.

We recently made our intentions (we, USA) known of putting up nuclear defense systems in Poland and other small countries nearby. Not a smart idea, for it put Russia on the defensive and I can understand why! Blunder, blunder on USA’s part. President Reagan wished to start a nuke defense program on USA soil, never got off the ground. Blunder, blunder!

China, who we support with the many imports we all buy and share, is in trouble with skyrocketing inflation, mostly on food items. Why? We Americans have established the many factories in China that employ the cheap labor to make the many, many items they produce and we Americans consume. Where did all these Chinese factory workers come from? You are so right. Many from the farms that produced the food the Chinese are short of now. Not a strange phenomenon, but something the USA and China cooked up to boil over into their laps.

As Jackie Gleason used to say, “How sweet it is.” Well, it ain’t so sweet any more!

Sincerely,

Hayden B. Aldrich

Great Bend, PA

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
Letters To The Editor MUST BE SIGNED. They MUST INCLUDE a phone number for "daytime" contact. Letters MUST BE CONFIRMED VERBALLY with the author, before printing. Letters should be as concise as possible, to keep both Readers' and Editors' interest alike. Your opinions are important to us, but you must follow these guidelines to help assure their publishing.

Thank you, Susquehanna County Transcript

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