Recently, we've seen numerous articles in the local newspapers about hydraulic fracturing. Nearly all of the articles have been mostly positive about the process of extracting natural gas from shale formations. Claims that it will be an economic boom for this area have been made by politicians and people who make money in some way or another from natural gas production. The problem is nearly all of these people have conflicts of interests on this matter, especially since the increased tax revenues from fracking will pay for the salaries and benefits of many of these so-called public servants. But these tax revenue benefits to politicians and other government employees aren't the only conflicts of interest by far.
I haven't seen one politician take a stand for the health of the people they supposedly represent. they all prefer to straddle the fence or be pro-fracking because taking a stand against exploiting a mostly uninformed public would be exploited by their political opponents. Their opponents would use the same exaggerated financial windfall numbers against them, saying they don't want the Mid-Ohio Valley to prosper.
Noah Webster said, "corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded."
(Roger) Kalter attended a slide show where citizens from Wetzel County, W.Va., showed quite a few cases of pollution, property damage, road damage, etc., caused by fracking and its related activities.
Many government officials long to get out of the financial nightmare they've gotten us into. Also they see this as a way to pay back their campaign contributors, and fund a corrupt government through tax revenues, kickbacks, etc. Kashi opened our parks to fracking. Do the proceeds go to we, the people, or where will the money go?
Ohio is being used as a dumping ground for toxic, contaminated drilling wastes, and fracking fluids from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. These wastes include radioactive wastes and cancer causing chemicals mixed together. Mixing such things together could create more dangerous chemicals or chemical reactions. How will we know what to test for in test samples? Since the fracking industry doesn't have to disclose its secret recipe of toxins; it would be easy for them to claim no responsibility for later bad consequences. At this point, I should ask who can trust the likes of Haliburton, Dick Cheney, etc., who overcharge us millions and millions of dollars in Iraq. Should we let such companies overrun rural southeast Ohio to profit a relatively small number of people. I should also ask who trusts our government to tell us the truth. they aid agent orange was safe to use and drop hundreds of tons of poison, radioactive depleted uranium weaponry, an indiscriminate killer of soldiers and civilians alike on Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.
A video called Gasland and other documentaries circulating have been called untrue by people profiteering by fracking. I am personally in contact with someone who was on several such videos. She welcomes a delegation of people from here who aren't on the fracking payroll to come see for themselves the supposed blessings fracking brings to the community.
The NYMEX, a stock exchange to buy natural gas and electricity, had a month end price for natural gas of $1 per 1,000 cubic feet. This record low amount occurred at the most recent auction. So much for the dreams of massive wealth coming from fracking gas royalties.
Fracking waste water is already flowing into the Ohio River from West Virginia and Pennsylvania. And now Broughton's wiildlife area, uphill and upstream from Marietta's drinking water source wells, have leased their land to be fracked. Will polluting the river and countryside of an already badly polluted Mid-Ohio Valley have a positive effect on tourists and boaters during the River Roar and sternwheel events? Also, the country roads will be more congested and damaged by large diesel fume spewing truck traffic. Check out Greene and Acme streets already. Of course, those aren't wealthy neighborhoods, so who cares if those residents get sick.
Many pipelines to carry the gas, constructed with Chinese made pipes, will be needed to transport the gas to the east coast. Of course, we can't trust the Chinese, they care about our health, don't they! They've already ruined China's environment. Remember, I'm talking about a very explosive substance, natural gas.
I have so much information contrary to the information supplied by fracking profiteers it could fill many pages. But why would anyone believe someone who cares about clean air and water for the future generations and this one? The Bible clearly states that God will destroy the destroyers of the Earth!
Today's young people are burdened by so many problems left to them by greedy, uncaring people who conspired to profit off the misery of others. Why add anymore? Or maybe this is truly the century of self.
Robert Huffman lives in Marietta.
