Where’s the water for fracking?
This an open letter to our community leaders regarding hydraulic fracturing or “fracking”. Fracking has been in the local news recently. Most would agree that the discussion surrounding fracking pollution and environmental contaminants is contentious. For the moment let’s set those arguments aside. A far more important question in my mind is, where is the water going to come from for implementing fracking operations in our area? Nearly every source that I have checked claims that several million gallons of water is needed for each fracking well head. For reference, I’ve listed two independent sources here for readers: http://bit.ly/QNtj5z and http://bit.ly/9fmGa.
Our city and county is currently experiencing a severe drought with little or no relief in sight. There’s talk of imposing water restrictions in the coming months. How can our community leaders talk about water restrictions one minute and the next talk about welcoming fracking operations in our area? There is a huge disconnect occurring here. I urge local citizens to press their community leaders to gather all the pertinent facts regarding fracking operations and to make responsible decisions regarding fracking in our area. Don’t let them sweep this under the “It’s good for the local economy” rug.
Paul Kolodziejski
Colorado Springs
Alternative budget proposals
“Fix the Debt” is comprised of over 80 corporate CEOs who dominate the media promotion for a “Grand Bargain” (termed a “Great Betrayal” by economist William Black) modeled on Simpson-Bowles recommendations for deficit reform.
Rep. Jan Shakowsky wrote “The Sham of Simpson-Bowles,” citing the commission’s efforts to expand corporate tax cuts under the ruse of deficit reduction while shifting costs to working people by taxing employee health benefits, increasing Medicare/Medicaid out-of-pocket costs by over $100 billion, raising the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security, and making deep cuts to domestic programs like housing and job training. It is a recipe for the continued 30-year trend of wealth transfer upward, the shredding of the safety net, and the ultimate privatization of Medicare and Social Security.
Alternately, improved Medicare-for-all would cut $400 billion annually from profits and administrative waste of private health insurance, and permit negotiation of bulk-rate drugs, ending hundreds of billions in taxpayer subsidization of insurance and pharmaceutical industries.
Two alternate proposals are more balanced and efficient at deficit reduction - The People’s Budget by the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s Fairness in Taxation Act, which creates higher tax brackets for millionaires and billionaires, while eliminating subsidies for Big Oil and tax loopholes for corporations that send jobs overseas. Shakowsky’s Jobs Bill addresses the greater jobs deficit, creating 2.2 million jobs to restore infrastructure and address community needs, paid for by Fairness in Taxation.
Michele Swenson
Colorado Springs
Look up at the skies
I read the article by Garrison Wells in a recent Saturday edition about our dry climate and wondered why no one is looking up at our skies. Colorado Springs, and many parts of our nation our being sprayed regularly by jets releasing very long contrails of aluminum and barium. You’ll see this regularly on the week ends and holidays. These heavy metals may remain in our atmosphere long enough to cause a man-made warming effect on our climate. Doubtful about this? Look at the high temperature records that were set this year across the country.
Chemtrail spraying is being done across the country these days. Surprise! We now have man-made global warming. My question is why is our government allowing this? It’s contributing to crops dying all across the country. Are you watching the food prices rising? And while my heating bill has gone down, what will be the environmental effects in having the concentrations of aluminum and barium increasing in our environment? Monsanto is trying to help by selling drought resistant seeds to the farmers. But why is the government allowing this in the first place? Monsanto stockholders must be delighted. But will new illnesses result? Readers, investigate this for yourself. Look at the skies regularly and view the toxic chemtrails.
Brian Sherman
Colorado Springs