Published: May 08, 2008 11:03 am            

READERS' FORUM 5/9 | Support candidates who understand dignity

The letter written by Sharon Consalvo (“Look at what one-issue voting gave nation,” April 8) certainly addressed the problem with this type of thinking and voting. Not that anyone disputes a person’s right to have strong beliefs on an issue, but, using that type of thinking allows political candidates to use one particular issue, whatever it may be, to appeal to voters on that issue and hide behind it to further their anti-worker agenda.

The past seven years have been a disaster for working men and women. President Bush and Vice President Cheney used particular issues to polarize voters, and then did absolutely nothing to resolve the concerns of one-issue voters.

Ironically, on the same page that Consalvo’s letter was printed was the figure of each individual’s share of the national debt, which was $31,087.91.

Remember when we had a surplus?

So this year, let’s look and vote for candidates who support and demand opportunity for human dignity for all. Failure by any country to provide a living wage, health care, affordable education and reduced poverty deprives each one of us that dignity.

Joseph G. Antal

Ebensburg



Wind turbine proposal nothing but greed

Our country is on the verge of an energy crisis. Leave it to the Cambria Township supervisors to recognize that and capitalize.

Their proposal to enact an ordinance regulating residential wind turbines is an outrage. It is a shocking attempt to capitalize upon the American spirit and ingenuity that will help revolutionize energy production in this country and finally break us free of our foreign energy dependence.

Assuming that they can justify the $500 “application fee” they propose to levy upon anyone wishing to erect a small turbine, and assuming there is a justification for the $1,500 “permit fee” they also wish to collect, what is the justification for collecting an annual fee of $1,500 from any homeowner whose turbine produces electricity which is sold to an electric utility?

Pure unadulterated greed.

What material difference is there if a residential turbine produces only enough electricity for one home, or if that same turbine fortuitously produces an excess, which the utility company must purchase from the homeowner?

Apparently a $1,500 difference to a money-hungry township.

Perhaps residential wind turbines should be regulated. The supervisors are charged with the good and orderly development of the township. The application and permit fees they collect are to fund the exercise of their supervision over that development. However, this additional $1,500 is nothing short of an electricity tax – an attempt by the township to get “its share.”

The Big Oil companies and the princes of Saudi Arabia get their share. Why shouldn’t the supervisors?

Ken Myers

Ebensburg



Sportsmen must relinquish control

In response to the column by Joe Gorden concerning additional revenues for the state game commission via the state sales tax (“Revenue sources drying up,” May 4): The game commission should have a majority of its revenues coming from the state’s general fund, because it is a public agency with the express purpose of overseeing all wildlife (i.e. mammals and birds) for all citizens.

However, it has always been the sportsmen (who number about 800,000 out of 12 million residents) of the state who have opposed such measures. They have complete control of the commission and do not want to surrender that power.

It is an obvious, albeit unwritten, rule that anyone applying for a position on the commission’s eight-member board have a history with, and backing of, the state sportsmen’s associations.

However, before any additional nonsportsmen-based funds are dedicated to the commission, two things need to happen:

n At least six, preferably seven, of the eight members be nonhunters. This will reflect the general population statewide.

n All nonhunting derived monies must be dedicated to nonhunting programs and nongame species. Of the more than 435 species, only a handful are deemed game animals, yet this minority garners the majority of resources.

With hunting facing extinction in as little as two generations, it’s time for these changes. It’s no longer feasible for the sportsmen to remain in control of an agency that has such broad responsibilities to not only the citizens but also the wildlife and environment.

David Kveragas

Newton Township, Lackawanna County



Arcadia brought Broadway home

On April 25, my husband, daughter and I enjoyed a great evening out. It was at the Arcadia Theater in Windber to see “Swing, Swing, Swing,” a Branson, Mo., production.

The performers, music and costumes were wonderful.

Thank you, Arcadia Theater, for a touch of Broadway so close to home.

Colleen Sclesky

Carrolltown

        

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