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Letters to the Editor

Carbon capture

The Labor Energy Partnership led by the AFL-CIO and Energy Futures is proposing the Ohio River Valley become a hub for fossil-fuel generated hydrogen and carbon dioxide using carbon capture technology. The major industry contributing to climate change, fossil fuels, now profits from tax breaks and government funding being directed at Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) projects. Under section 45Q, tax credits for CCS are $35 to $50 per metric ton of CO2 captured. According to the Department of Energy, CCS research projects received $110 million in 2019, $72 million in 2020, and as ...

Individual vs. collective responsibility

Today, it is easy to look to the future despairingly. Our nation is experiencing varying degrees of political, cultural, and spiritual chaos. An increasing number of critics suggest our country has become unmoored from its foundations. Yet, these same critics rarely propose how things might be improved. I would submit that Americans need to reexamine the traditional relationship between our rights and our duties. For most of our nation’s history, it was an accepted as truth that married to each of our rights is an associated responsibility. For example, citizens enjoy a right to free ...

Industry underplays health risks of barging shale gas wastewater

The opinion piece “Industry responds to wastewater site concerns” that appeared in The Marietta Times on May 27 contained many inaccuracies and omissions. The most egregious of these came from local oil and gas officials regarding the toxicity of the wastewater to be barged on the Ohio River. The industry is proposing seven docking facilities on local rivers for offloading barged wastewater from shale gas operations, which will then be disposed of in class II injection wells. Two of these facilities are very close to Marietta. This gas wastewater does include brine, the ancient ...

Deliberate division disappointing

Fox News’ Tucker Carlson called him a pig; a Marietta Times political cartoon pinned a communist hammer and sickle on his chest. Gen. Mark Milley has served our country honorably for 39 years. Disagreeing with him is no excuse for disrespecting him. It is disappointing that The Marietta Times chooses to pay for political cartoons that are often deliberately divisive and lack worthwhile editorial value. Kim McMichael Cutler

Advancing towards an oligarchy in the USA

As we celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s freedom from a monarchy, our country finds itself in a precarious position. It appears that we are now descending into an oligarchy. An oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people; these people being distinguished by characteristics such as fame, wealth, corporate, religious, and political or military control. The government cited by Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg address as “of the people, by the people, and for the people” has all but disappeared. Instead, we find in so many areas of ...

Right Path provides opportunities

The Right Path for Washington County’s mission is to promote healthy youth development through pro-social and community service opportunities for youth, primarily 6th-12th grade. In our 18th summer of safe teen and family events we are hosting three mini-farmer’s markets; our first, from 6 to 8 p.m. July 9, Marietta Aquatic Center, partnering with GoPacks. Every youth who comes through the door will be given a ticket to shop at the market set-up outside the pool. We are excited to introduce our youth to free fruits and veggies, many for the first time, supplied by the Washington ...