Mistrust of government
Dear Editor:
My participation at the recent zoning hearing was characterized as “mistrust of government.” Rightly so, and proven to be justified by the July 8 meeting of the Morgan County Commission where Commissioners Dugan and Hutchinson initially voted to change the zoning map.
You’ll notice that both areas they were attempting to change were being rezoned from rural residential to either commercial or light industrial to benefit folks with an eye toward developing their land. This proves my point. People with money and power will be able to influence the zoning of this county regardless of how small landowners feel about it. Given their new zoning classification, those people will pass along the expense of developing that land to consumers.
As for the folks touting the protection (provided by the government and the EPA) of our natural resources — Sleepy Creek Watershed area specifically, I would remind them of what really happened in the Gulf. First, BP never wanted to drill as far out or as deep. The federal government withheld approval to drill in more shallow waters.
The federal government — which has been “handling the crisis since Day 1,” according to President Obama — refused to repeal the Jones Act to allow the international community to assist in containing the spill.
According to Congressman Darrell Issa, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency denied the use of skimming vessels to remove 99% of the oil from tainted waters because 1% would go back into the Gulf. At every juncture, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has been denied the ability to protect the state’s shores.
Then came the ridiculous moratorium on deep well drilling, which was handed down by the president and overturned by the courts. The moratorium would have effectively sent deep drilling rigs to other countries like Brazil, where both the U.S. Government and the politically progressive George Soros have invested billions in a company called Pertobras, as Wall Street Journal reported.
I think BP should be accountable for their part of the oil spill. Because the federal government has acted irresponsible and without conscience, it bears the blame as well for the destruction of the Gulf region and its economy. If folks are going to get vindictive towards “big oil,” they should at least get the facts before demanding the total destruction of capitalism and the oil industry. Deep wells are still going to be financed by our government. It’s just that other countries are going to reap the largest profits.
J. Ellen Spieles
Berkeley Springs
