Introduction:
Dear Citizens and Elected Officials:
I sent the following letter off this morning to many members of House and Senate in Annapolis. For those who want more background on my thinking about Maryland’s permanent governor, Senate President Mike Miller, please visit this earlier posting, triggered by a letter Miller sent me just a short time ago — it’s about two-thirds of the way down the post, here at www.dailykos.com/…
Dear Chairman Barve, Committee Members:
While it is true that there are enormous and long standing economic and social problems in our Western Maryland counties, including a growing drug problem, fracking is not the answer.
Senate President Miller is flat out wrong that it is the only way to help: we have substantial environmental damage to land and water from the fading, last extractive regime, that of coal, and at least 5,000 derelict structures in Allegany County alone which need serious attention. A Civilian Conservation Corps or WPA program would do more to help those who need a job, those on the margins of our society, than any fracking program.
It is long past the time to stand up to Senate President's Miller aggrandizement of power, his lack of alternative economic visions, and his obvious political and ideological collaboration with the most reactionary of elected officials: the Western Maryland delegation, who have been unmoved by the outpouring of our region's citizen and business opposition to fracking.
All good reasons to support HB-1325 and to work towards a better and more egalitarian economic program.
Sincerely,
billofrights
Frostburg, MD