Barber puts safety first
The Daily Star editorial, "Moratorium on drilling is needed," strikes just the right balance.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation says its goal is to develop proper environmental protections by this spring and to hold public hearings. Most important, as The Daily Star put it, "We owe it to ourselves to know what we are getting into, so we can avoid potential environmental nightmares down the road."
We should hold off on drilling until we are certain that the chemicals gas drillers inject into the earth won't harm our aquifers, that the wastewater containing toxic materials will be disposed of safely and that there is some mechanism to protect towns from the financial costs of damaged roads and infrastructure.
This is precisely the sort of thoughtful, principled position state Senate candidate Don Barber took many weeks ago when he called for a moratorium on drilling. He said once environmental protections were in place, and local communities were protected financially, drilling should go ahead. Subsequently, he proposed a dedicated fund that would direct gas drilling royalties to community development projects in the counties where gas will be extracted.
Sen. Jim Seward's responses to Don Barber's stand were very telling.
His first reaction was to call Barber "irresponsible" and an "extremist." He dismissed any idea of a moratorium. After a flood of information about the dangers of gas drilling came out, he shifted gears and said he had done his best to educate the public by putting a notice on his website.
Clearly, Seward is carrying water for the oil and gas interests. That's water we need to take a good, hard look at. Don Barber put our water, our air and the health of our families and children first. That's the kind of leadership we sorely need.
Kenneth W. Fogarty
Guilford
Keep Gillibrand in Congress
Out of 435 members of the House of Representatives, there are only 71 women, and Kirsten Gillibrand, who represents Delhi, is one of them.
Rep. Gillibrand believes that much of the $2 billion a week we are spending to rebuild Iraq and fight for Iraqis can be better spent right here, rebuilding America's aging infrastructure. She has voted several times to repeal $14 billion in tax breaks to oil and gas companies and reinvest those savings to create jobs and diminish our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
A letter from Rep. Gillibrand points out:
"For more than five years, our troops have served courageously and honorably, and the American people are grateful for their brave service. It is time for a new direction in Iraq and to refocus our military's mission on rooting out terrorism around the world. I believe strongly that a notice period to redeploy our troops out of Iraq would act as leverage to create a sense of urgency for the Iraqi government to be accountable for their country's security and make the necessary compromises to choose peace over civil war. Our troops should not be used to police a religious civil war.
"Last year, I went to Iraq to visit with our brave soldiers on the front lines and to discuss the military strategy and progress with Iraqi and American military leaders; it was apparent that the Iraqi government has failed to make meaningful political progress with other Iraqi groups, and that we must concentrate on defeating al-Qaida. The men and women of our armed services have performed admirably and executed their military operations without fail. However, the Iraqi leadership has squandered the military successes we have won and failed to make the political compromises necessary for peace and stability."
Let's keep Kirsten in Congress.
Karen O'Leary
Delhi
McCain out of touch with most
On Aug. 21, I returned from a meeting with a representative from my health care plan where we retirees were treated to a PowerPoint demonstration explaining why health care costs _ and premiums _ continue to rise.
On the way home, I stopped in Oneonta to put gas in my car at a price of 20 cents more per gallon than in such nearby "metropolises" as Sidney and Bainbridge. At home, I wrote a check for my daughter's fall semester college tuition and fees _ more than 10 percent more than last year.
After fixing dinner _ which seems to cost more every trip to the store _ I sat down to watch the news, only to hear presidential candidate John McCain, who claims to be more in touch with Americans than his opponent, incredibly assert that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong." For whom? Obviously not for me, my family or my circle of friends!
Further, when asked how many homes he owns, McCain wasn't sure and turned the question over to his staff. (A staffer later said, "at least four" but the latest is "seven.") This is a man who can relate to middle-class Americans or their economic realities?! His own words say, NOT.
This American will, therefore, be voting for Barack Obama in November, despite the Republican Party's attempt to paint him as "out of touch" with Americans. Obama has proposed a tax cut for working Americans, an emergency energy rebate to help families struggling with rising oil prices, a minimum wage indexed to inflation, and the opportunity for students to earn a tax break in exchange for community service _ real change as opposed to McSame. I believe change cannot come too soon, and I think a majority of my fellow citizens feel the same.
Joan Kollgaard
West Oneonta
Would writer's views change?
In response to Jo-Ann Lamonica's letter of Aug. 27, I wonder if her response would be different if Myrna "Typo" Thayne were an atheist who declared, from her high horse, that anyone who mentioned or quoted Bible and Scripture in the newspapers would be denied coverage?
Neil Monzeglio
West Oneonta
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