Drinking age discriminatory
Supporters of the 21-year-old minimum drinking age ignore the fact that 18-, 19-, and 20-year-old adults are consuming alcohol, despite the law. The 21-year-old minimum drinking age has resulted in an underground society of young adults who flout the law _ and rightly so.
The minimum drinking age is discriminatory based on age. It violates the Constitution by forcing the states to comply with the federal government _ it should be treated with contempt by young adults.
The law insults young adults like Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown, a 19-year-old medic from Texas. She is only the second female soldier since World War II to receive the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for valor.
Brown was part of a four-vehicle convoy patrolling in eastern Afghanistan in April 2007. A bomb struck one of the Humvees, which wounded five soldiers in her unit. Brown ran through insurgent gunfire and used her body to shield wounded comrades as mortars fell less than 100 yards away, according to the U.S. military.
Monica Lin Brown is a courageous young woman and a bona fide war hero, but if she is caught quaffing a beer in her home state of Texas, she would be charged with a Class C misdemeanor. Her sentence would mandate a $500 fine, 8-to-12 hours of community service, her driver's license would be suspended for 30 days, and she would have to attend a mandatory alcohol awareness course.
And that begs the question: Does Otsego County STOP-DWI Coordinator Karen Liddle defend the notion that Ms. Brown should be subject to onerous legal sanctions for merely sipping a cold beer with friends or having a glass of wine with dinner?
Walter F. Wouk
Cobleskill
Wouk is director of the Thomas Paine Project, a not-for-profit organization that opposes the 21-year-old minimum drinking age.
Worse options than festival
The last time I checked there were 365 days in a year. Madison Square Gardens only wants three of them. Many people would like to see them get those days. It is much more environmentally friendly to have this for three days than Wal-Mart, a mass-produced housing development or a landfill using the space all 365 days a year.
No, I am sure there are no plans for those kinds of burdens yet, but sooner or later if MSG does not claim the land, then I guarantee something less desirable will.
I can understand that some people may have concerns about this many people infiltrating their little town for three days, but rest assured, it won't be that bad. This is a huge project for MSG, and I doubt that it will forget to address the parking and traffic concerns.
Having been to many large concerts and festivals, I can honestly say that the music is barely audible even when camping within grounds. I can't imagine that it would somehow be louder outside the grounds. The "people problems" must also be addressed. People who come to these festivals are good people; everyone helps each other out. Local businesses will also benefit economically.
As far as the environmental concerns, these festivals largely attract young and old generations who truly care about the environment and there are always proper trash and recycling centers on site. Other festivals of comparable size, like Bonnaroo and Gathering of the Vibes, even have what is called "The Clean Vibes Crew" which is committed to keeping the site clean during and even days after the festival.
There are places to register to vote, donate canned goods and learn about social issues. These are more then just "concerts." Let's welcome this opportunity and remember, it's only three days!
Jessica Place
Oneonta
We must insist on moratorium
Any activity that threatens to contaminate our water supply is the business of every citizen, not just landowners, not just politicians, not just state agencies.
Unless we as a community in the Southern Tier demand a complete and immediate moratorium on all gas drilling we may find ourselves living in the Prudhoe Bay of the lower 48.
Toxic spills, leaking pipelines, hastily built access roads, incessant pumping, drilling and trucking, erosion, destruction of wildlife habitat and the list goes on and on; yes, that will be our legacy.
Isn't it interesting that people in the states of Florida and California are hotly debating whether to drill _ 100 miles off their shores _ while so many of our elected officials are flinging open the front door of our communities without hardly a nod to the documented dangers of this folly.
Right now, while the major party conventions are taking place, trying to fool people into thinking that flipping a switch for one politician or another is "democracy," real democracy is nowhere to be found in central New York. Where are the public hearings on gas drilling (and I don't mean informational meetings on how to get the best deal)? Where is the accountability from county commissioners and municipal leaders? Where is the opportunity for citizens _ landowners and non-landowners alike _ to determine whether we should be gambling away our most valuable resources?
Rolling over at the first whiff of a little cash is not a surprising response from politicians. Now is the time to make true that old saying: "When the people lead, the leaders will follow." We have the privilege of living here, we have the duty to be good stewards. A moratorium is the first step.
Bill McLaughlin
New Berlin
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