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Letters to the Editor

Activism and morality

It’s hard to disagree with Dennis Prager’s five points in his recent Viewpoint piece, “Thing most Americans can do to make America better”. (Marietta Times, July 19) As long as they are qualified with the word “most”, I can support Prager’s suggestions: “1. Developing one’s moral character, 2. Getting married and making a good family, 3. Taking care of one’s family, 4. Going to church (or synagogue), and 5. Joining a service organization to serve the poor.” It has to include the word “most”; clearly not all people should get married, organized religion doesn’t ...

Saturday vigil

Saturday, July 17, those who attended the Good Trouble: Candlelight Vigil for Democracy in Muskingum Park listened to local citizens talk about democracy, sing about justice, and celebrate the life of John Lewis. All who attended were reminded of his legacy and ensuring equal access to exercise our right to vote. U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Oh) was invited as were U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). While Sherrod Brown sent his support, Bill Johnson sent his unfounded opposition to the For the People Act (HR1.) He stated he is opposed “as it overrides the US ...

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