Facing down fracking

To the Editors:

A copy of the following letter has been sent to Rep. John Salazar, Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, and the La Plata County Board of Commissioners.Last March, the La Plata County Democratic Executive Committee approved a position in favor of La Plata County’s support for Rep. Diana DeGette’s hydraulic fracturing fluids bill.  The bill would repeal the Safe Drinking Water Act exemption for “fracking” fluids used by the oil and gas industry. Reps. Jared Polis of Colorado and Maurice Hinchey of New York are co-sponsors in the House, with Bob Casey of Pennsylvania sponsoring a concurrent bill in the Senate.

The bill is short and simple: it would repeal an exemption passed in 2005 at the urging of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Prior to the exemption, the regulation had been in place since 1974 in the Safe Drinking Water Act protecting our water supply and the health and safety of our citizens. Legislation to close the fracturing fluids loophole would not require significant new federal standards, environmental impact statements or additional individual permits for each well. EPA rules allow a state to incorporate hydraulic fracturing into the existing permitting process for each well.

If hydraulic fracturing were covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act, operators who plan to fracture using nontoxic fluids or to fracture in formations isolated from drinking water sources would face little regulatory burden. There are nontoxic alternatives, oil and gas extraction will not be halted, and repealing the exemption after four years will not cause loss of jobs. Of vital importance to La Plata County, industry would be required to provide to treating physicians the names of fracking chemicals involved in surface accidents where people come into contact with the fluids. The proprietary formulation would not be divulged.

Individuals are encouraged to contact our county commissioners in support of the resolution supporting Rep. DeGette’s bill, which failed last week. Everyone is also encouraged to contact Rep. Salazar and Sens. Bennet and Udall urging their support of the bill.

– Jean Walter, Chair, La Plata County Democratic Executive Committee

In need of real reform

To the Editors:

While it is encouraging that Senate and House committees are beginning to seriously consider health-care reform legislation, it is critical that the U.S. Congress takes action and passes real health-care reform in the next few months. 

America is facing a health-care crisis caused by a combination of skyrocketing costs and an insurance system that leaves 47 million of us without any coverage. A Harvard study showed that medical problems caused 62 percent of all personal bankruptcies filed in the U.S. in 2007, and 78 percent of those filers had medical insurance at the start of their illness. The current health-care system is endangering both our economy and our health, and voters have made it clear that they want change. According to a study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, 70 percent of Americans surveyed believe the health-care system needs major changes, if not a complete overhaul. 

Health-care reform legislation must guarantee quality, affordable health care to all U.S. residents. It is universal coverage that will determine the humanity of our system. All Americans must have health-care coverage, including the choice of a quality, affordable public insurance plan.

Further, it is essential that comparative data on treatments, benefits packages and medical outcomes be made publicly available so individuals can make informed health decisions. 

Congress needs to take additional strong action to reduce the costs of health care for individuals, businesses and communities. As a nation, we are spending $1 out of every $6 we earn on health care. Legislation must provide effective cost controls, equitable distribution of services and allow for efficient and economical delivery of care. Offering everyone the choice of a government-administered health insurance plan like Medicare that would compete with private health insurance plans will be key.

Achieving this kind of comprehensive, systemwide reform will take a shared effort by citizens and Congress. Sens. Bennet and Udall, and Rep. Salazar need to support real health-care reform.

– Ellen Park, Legislative Action Chair, League of Women Voters of La Plata County

Obama shoots from the hip

To the Editors,

President Obama has confirmed my fear of having a president with terrible judgment.

His recent accusation that the Cambridge, Mass., police “acted stupidly” in the arrest of a black college professor shows Obama makes decisions without gathering all the facts and analyzing the situation. He automatically took the side of a fellow black, and berated the police, without any knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the event. He should not be commenting on local police matters. This only weakens the office of President of the United States.

President Obama has trouble thinking correctly and makes poor decisions when he is away from his aides, is not reading from a prepared speech and does not have a teleprompter in front of him. Also, he has exhibited a tendency to “shoot from the hip.”  Do you trust him to take the 3 a.m. call? I don’t.

– Donald A. Moskowitz, via e-mail

Loving the Lyle show

Dear Editors,

Hey! Will you be adding “Keep it in the Pantry” to the creepy song list?

We caught last night’s show and loved it! We’ve been Lyle devotees for some time and felt the show was one of his best!

It seemed to me that Lyle and the crew truly appreciated the Durango audience. Considering the band had played Red Rocks the previous evening, I’m glad we held our own!

Hopefully the scholarship fund made some dough!

Let’s investigate bringing in The Bobs. If you haven’t ever seen them, they are marvelous!

– Sara Freeman, via email

Doobies in Durango

Dear Editors,

Re: “Budding in Breck,” how about Doobies in Durango?  I recall that our city voters also supported the legalization measure which failed in the state in 2006. I have heard that Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver and Telluride have since passed their own measures. Perhaps there is a braveTelegraphreader (it ain’t me, babe) who could spearhead a local initiative to legalize personal adult possession?

– Jeanne Fowler, via e-mail

The Serendipitous    

For Pat Dressen

I met T.A. Richardson in the summer of nineteen-sixty seven

Outside the grocery store where I was employed as a stock boy.

He was in his late seventies, wearing a white dress shirt, black slacks, patent leathers,

And straw fedora.

I sat next to him under the shaded bench and struck-up a conversation.

Apparently, he was a drifter and worked as a custodian at the truck driving school

On the exit near my home.

He asked me, “What’s your hobby sonny?” I told him that I was learning to play guitar. He laughed, “Guitar you says, that’s one fines instrument!

You comes over to mys place an I’ls shows you somes guitar playin.”

I drove over there that Sunday. His living quarters was apparently a janitor’s closet

Equipped with a cot, hot plate, sink and two chairs.

I noticed his high fretted Stella, amplified with a pig amp near the door.

Blue, green and brown bottle necks cut in various sizes were lining the sink. He started playing Bukka White’s classic, “The Panama Limited.” I sat there in awe. He was clearly in some better place, cradling that guitar, sporting a huge Cheshire grin, and coaxing that instrument to cry, moan, and churn, like a freight on the downgrade.

All afternoon I sat and listened.

I came back the next Sunday and a diesel mechanic

Told me that he had moved on. He just shook his head, “Did you know he played

With the likes of Robert Johnson back in the thirties?”

– Burt Baldwin, Ignacio