Letters to the Editor Policy

Have You Forgotten Yet?

As I sit and ponder about what to say to you, I kind of wonder on where Freedom of Speech ends and where it begins?

It has been hard for me, to wonder about news agencies, television, and even newspapers being afraid to speak of God. Everything you see either in print or televised is heavily edited because of religious views. God forbid if that word God sneaks by in one of our newspapers or television.

And yet, we only remember that word God when some tragic moment happens in our lives in America, such as 9/11. We remember him when our soldiers are sent overseas to do our work. We remember him when we lay those same soldiers that fought for our freedoms, to rest. We have the 10 Commandments portrayed in our Federal Buildings. We have In God We Trust printed on our money.

We seem to forget how this country came about and what our forefathers fought for. I am afraid all of this will change and apparently it is in the works, while I write. In every aspect in your life, God will be simply deleted as if he never existed!

My son-in-law was interviewed by one of the many news agencies about the death of his only daughter, Megan Madeline Thomas. Megan was my only grand-daughter and she was killed by just another drunk driver here in America. My son-in-law gave his religious point of view to the news team. Megan was killed by the drunk driver 5 years ago; she just turned 5 that year. The news team got their interview but everything that my son-in-law had to say about his faith, or God was edited. His views never aired on these points because we delete God and faith from these interviews.

I console myself knowing God did not forget Megan; you may wish to hope and pray he does not forget your, either.

Sincerely,
Edwin I. Lindsey Jr.
Susquehanna, PA

Trial And Error

Over recent weeks we have watched as a Trial regarding the alleged murder of a child has been going on, gaining more and more publicity. The news and info-tainment media have kept pouring on fuel for outrage. When the jury brought back a verdict which, by that time, was not at all popular with the now emotionally-charged public mindset, “all hell broke loose.” Wherever you were, whatever TV talk show you watched, people were screaming for vengeance, totally angered and confused as to why the jury voted as it did. The public’s attention was glued to the trial. This trial had become a witch-hunt!

The fact that the prosecuting attorneys could not produce the evidence, and chose, instead, to “play” to what they expected to be an emotionally pliable jury, was completely missed by the public. They had not brought out evidence as to when, where, or how the child had died or been found. A jury must decide according to evidence presented, not according to their emotions. Having been thus instructed by the judge, (juries are always instructed to base their verdict on the evidence presented), the jury had no choice but to acquit on any charge of murder, since the evidence required to convict was not presented. If you are ever in a position of being accused of a crime, and the public’s emotion is whipped up into a fury against you, as has been done in this case, you may then understand why conviction by emotion is wrong.

“In the meanwhile, back at the ranch,” our esteemed Republican legislators were steadfastly digging themselves deeper into their hard-nosed, cruel and ill-advised stand against any and all legislative work that would benefit the majority of Americans. They have made a pact that they will stand firm together against anything President Obama puts forward, and then they will instruct the news media that it is President Obama’s fault that we have no jobs, etc. They will do practically anything to keep Mr. Obama from winning the 2012 Presidential Election, regardless of whether it hurts us, the American people. Indeed, Rep. Mitch McConnell has said as much, on national television.

My point? If we had been talking, writing, and screaming at these self-righteous Republican legislators and telling them we will not stand for what they are trying to do to us, as loudly as we did about the aforementioned trial, we might have accomplished something! As it is, we have committed a horrendous Error. We have shown that we are more easily riled by an emotion-based trial that concerns a small handful of people, than by a very determined threat to the individual future and well-being of nearly the entire American population, including our children.

Where are our heads? How easily are we manipulated? Shame on us, if this seemingly fascistic group of Republican legislators wins their goal! If they win, almost all of us stand to lose - except, perhaps, for that 2%, the extremely wealthy, who sit at the top of America’s economic “food chain,” not paying taxes on their mega-millions. And, maybe the legislators who bow to them.

Sincerely,
Gail Rendle
Nicholson, PA

Saving America

Sometimes problems in life seem over whelming and many happen all at once. Hence, we must prioritize each problem and deal with them one at a time. America is at war - economically, socially and morally - and once again "we the public" must come to its rescue. It is time for "hard work" and "sacrifice." You may not agree with me entirely, but I urge you to look for commonality and prioritize so we the people can achieve a better America.

First: We must vote, for many died to give us this privilege.

Secondly, we must write our congressional representatives.

Thirdly, we must talk to one another and gain knowledge. I urge you to read the Constitution of the United States, and the Declaration of Independence. They are mind boggling, fantastic, freedom ideas.

Fourth: Do you want "Socialism" or "Capitalism?" It is time to choose. Let us stop being "politically correct." Obama and many Democrats want Socialism. Most Republicans and "T" Party persons want Democracy.

Stop electing 51% officials. During my high school years 70% was passing. You might as well toss a coin when you elect a 51% official. We the people shall elect one that will sign a contract for the people of what he or she proposes to do (words are not deeds). If he or she does not keep his or her written promise, then he or she will automatically resign. (He or she might not succeed, but their records will show that they at least fought for their proposals).

Sixth: We must always have a balanced budget. I am willing to "bet the farm" that most of you at home have a budget. Every corporation, and sole-proprietor, that I know has budgets. How can these professionals maintain our country without one? If we obtain a loan for an automobile, the car is collateral. If you extend a credit card limit, and you no longer have money in a bank, your house is collateral. (How many know this?) What is the collateral for increasing the debt level? Is it our land? Is it future taxes? We must have a balanced budget. This is basic "101 accounting" and how to balance a check book.

I believe in a complete freeze on salaries of our President, Senate and Congressman. Each position should have a fixed entry salary to continue upon departure. If you remain in office for ten, twenty or thirty years, salaries will remain the same. This will reflect a real dedicated, hard working, sacrificing patriot. This part of the budget will be consistent. If you voted for an official who opposes this, vote for one that won’t. Even better, vote for a person who is willing to donate half of their salary to well known charities.

I propose a compassionate voluntary revenue. Where as a deduction for Social Security will continue from a person's salary regardless of how much he or she earns. Does it become a deduction? Do we have a right to know who does and does not volunteer? These issues may have some merit.

Our Majority Speaker Boehner suggested a 5% decrease in salary. What a disgrace. Our veterans, who protect these people, do not have the same salaries. What makes these elected officials more important than them? These congressional representatives give themselves pay raises, and those on Social Security do not get one. The cost of living needs revision. When gas and food go up by a percentage, consider them into the equation. To my knowledge they are not; I could be wrong. I am sick and tired of an old argument that high salaries bring smarter persons. These so called "professionals," some of who are college graduates, lawyers, doctors and accountants, are not doing their jobs properly.

Unemployment is extremely high among our Veterans according to many news programs on television. A possible solution for those, whose tour of duty is over, is to extend their service and make them a separate category in the armed forces for protecting all our borders. Hence, use our retired Veterans. They are proven skilled, patriotic warriors.

I propose an "apprentice" program. For incentive, we may exempt or reduce some taxes for corporations or sole-proprietorships that have these programs. Here is an idea for them, and others to follow. You can apply this to State and Federal workers. Imagine our roads, bridges and tunnels under construction 24 hours around the clock. We can increase production with American workers, who will make special equipment for lighting or more nighttime warning signs. This will lead to less traffic jams and less gas consumption. Take a $30 hr. first shift person, add a $15.00 second and a $15.00 third (apprentice program) the total cost $20.00 an hour, and more employment. This is a sacrifice for many workers. I personally did this many years ago when a company asked us. We reduced our hours to thirty-five instead of forty. (Hey unions, let this happen. I was once a "Shop Stewart.") There may be some training cost, but the benefits will outweigh these costs.

I propose zero taxes for all "Sole Proprietorships" (mom and pops) so they may compete with larger corporations to increase profit, thus they will increase hiring.

I ask you to please read the Declaration of Independence. Look at the grievances against the "British King" and compare some of them to Obama's policies.

Sincerely,
Larry Gary
Susquehanna, PA

Aftermath

You remember the Bush-Cheney regime, the gentlemen who gave us the wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Well, now that pernicious pair has brought a baleful couple to our own shores.

They are evil twins. No, not Bush and Cheney. The other set of troubling twins, the Halliburton loophole and wastewater injection wells.

But what is the Halliburton Loophole? And what are wastewater injection wells and how are the two joined at the hip?

It started in the early '50s. Chemical companies were looking for ways to economically dispose of liquid, poisonous byproducts. Pumping it deep into the ground was cheap, easily done, and very private. But underground, cavernous, empty spaces don't exist.

The solution was to force-pump - inject - the effluent into deep, underground sandstone layers. This would displace water in the sandstone with industrial waste. It was thought this would permanently sequester the septic sludge. It did not.

There were incidents of waste liquid migrating up into aquifers and polluting groundwater. Governmental oversight became necessary. The Safe Drinking Water Act was signed into law in 1974.

This legislation required the Environmental Protection Agency to protect public health by preventing wastewater injection wells from contaminating underground sources of drinking water. Stringent regulations now governed these wells.

Under these rules wastewater could be injected into sandstone only if it was sandwiched between two impermeable rock layers. If a state did not have the requite geology, such as Pennsylvania, injection wastewater wells were prohibited.

But there was a problem.

Halliburton is a pioneer in a novel way of extracting methane (natural gas) from underground shale formations. The method, called hydraulic fracking involves injecting copious amounts of chemically laced water into underground shale. However, the Safe Drinking Water Act and EPA regs determined this posed an imminent threat to potable water. Hydraulic fracturing was outlawed.

Enter two oil men, President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. In 2005, the Energy Policy Act was passed by Congress without hearings and signed into law by President Bush. This act exempted the oil and gas industry from federal regs that protected the public from air and water pollution. This came to be known as the “Halliburton Loophole” since former Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney was instrumental in its passage.

But the loophole was more like a gaping chasm for the oil and gas companies. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, was cut free from the Safe Drinking Water Act. This despite the fact that fracking force-pumps immense quantities of toxic water into the ground with only a perfunctory regard for aquifers or private wells.

This, as we shall see, is of particular concern to Pennsylvanians.

How much fracking fluid is injected into the ground in Pennsylvania every day? The Department of Environmental Protection says it’s 20 million gallons a day - that's a day - 80 percent of which (or 16 million gallons) will remain underground, unrecoverable, and unmonitored.

Think of it: Every single day a volume of toxic water equal to 24 Olympic-sized swimming pools are injected permanently into the ground.

However, no state requires drillers to document the amount of fluid left underground after fracking; it is what the drillers say it is. It can be safely assumed that it is considerably more than 24 Olympic pools of contaminated water.

All hydraulically fracked wells are in effect, if not in name, wastewater injection wells. Pennsylvania, where they were formerly illegal, has more than 3,000. This is especially disturbing since this state has more than one million private wells supplying water to more than three million rural residents. An estimated 20,000 additional water wells are drilled every year.

Will large swaths of groundwater become irreparably contaminated? Ask rather: Is it possible for large volumes of groundwater not to become contaminated?

Consider: Even if fracking fluid were as pure as the driven snow, it would still become infused with brine, heavy metals, and radioactive substances.

And unlike legal wastewater injection wells that operate under 3,000 psi, fracking uses up to a mind-blowing 60,000 psi. That's enough pressure to pulverize shale with jackhammer blows equivalent to the weight of 15 elephants on something the size of a postage stamp. This all but insures aquifer and private well pollution.

Sincerely,
Bob Scroggins
New Milford, PA

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