The practice of hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a method to release natural gas and oil from beneath the surface. It is used when other methods are too costly and impractical. But it has its consequences.
It requires large amounts of water in addition to sand and chemicals to be pumped into wells, sometimes to depths of 8,000 feet, in order to release trapped gas and oil deposits. But all of that fresh water is now contaminated and it can then leech back into the aquifers further destroying precious potable water supplies.
One method that may be considered instead, is to provide desalinated sea water for fracking instead of fresh water from the streams and rivers. If the salt is t hen returned to the seas, it may offset some of the reduced salinity caused by glacier meltoffs, that have further contributed to the changing chemistry of the world's oceans.
Many places are beginning to suffer from the practice of fracking, and yet the EPA is continuing its "study" of the problem. Apparently it is most cost effective to the drillers and the energy corporations, but it is devastating to whole communities, which I see as being of primary concern in light of what serves the highest good of all concerned.
For too long, the concerns of the people have been secondary to the profits of the corporation. That is not what our government is supposed to be protecting. The government of the people, by the people, is FOR the people, not the corporations and so WE THE PEOPLE must step up and make the changes required to keep us all safe.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Economics That Work for All
In a world that grows increasingly interdependent on one another, and whose own economic stability is interdependent on the stability of its own economic allies, it is only common sense that the business structure itself needs to adapt to a global economy.
Like it or not, there is a definite distinction between the working class and the college educated professional. In a world of automation and high tech manufacturing processes, it is apparent that the worker that watches the process is less skilled than the one that programs the processes or maintains the hardware.
Salary differences clearly indicate the technicians earn more than the line workers, and the engineers and scientists earn more, or at least they need to, in order that corporations can keep the good ones. But evidently salary alone is not enough in this competitive world, and so sophisticated benefits packages and other perks are offered to attract the best available professionals for the job.
But it is also obvious that in order to remain competitive in global markets where there is wide diversity in the salaries of all employee levels, finding the best does not always mean that they will be hired in the United States. And with the crushing unemployment rate as it remains today, getting companies to hire American workers is going to be key to any real recovery and sustainable economic growth.
One idea that came to mind is for corporations in America to build housing for their employees. By offering workers a place to live and a salary, lower wages will not mean unaffordable housing to a good portion of the workforce. Community gardens can offer the opportunity for employees to participate in growing and harvesting their own fruits and vegetables, further reducing their own costs of living and benefiting from good nutrition.
New corporate manufacturing and headquarters campuses can be designed to take advantage of providing living space and shopping space for businesses to lease close to campus and, if the layout is done properly, can allow the businesses to operate with the general public while maintaining campus security also.
In lieu of an expensive health care plan, large corporations can have their own clinics staffed with physicians on salary or contract. Perhaps local doctors would contract to provide several hours coverage in the clinics, which would compliment and supplement their local office hours.
Economic growth will only occur when the businesses that make up the economy are “stimulated” to grow. Government funding is not the answer, giving the consumer what they want and making it here in America is.
Like it or not, there is a definite distinction between the working class and the college educated professional. In a world of automation and high tech manufacturing processes, it is apparent that the worker that watches the process is less skilled than the one that programs the processes or maintains the hardware.
Salary differences clearly indicate the technicians earn more than the line workers, and the engineers and scientists earn more, or at least they need to, in order that corporations can keep the good ones. But evidently salary alone is not enough in this competitive world, and so sophisticated benefits packages and other perks are offered to attract the best available professionals for the job.
But it is also obvious that in order to remain competitive in global markets where there is wide diversity in the salaries of all employee levels, finding the best does not always mean that they will be hired in the United States. And with the crushing unemployment rate as it remains today, getting companies to hire American workers is going to be key to any real recovery and sustainable economic growth.
One idea that came to mind is for corporations in America to build housing for their employees. By offering workers a place to live and a salary, lower wages will not mean unaffordable housing to a good portion of the workforce. Community gardens can offer the opportunity for employees to participate in growing and harvesting their own fruits and vegetables, further reducing their own costs of living and benefiting from good nutrition.
New corporate manufacturing and headquarters campuses can be designed to take advantage of providing living space and shopping space for businesses to lease close to campus and, if the layout is done properly, can allow the businesses to operate with the general public while maintaining campus security also.
In lieu of an expensive health care plan, large corporations can have their own clinics staffed with physicians on salary or contract. Perhaps local doctors would contract to provide several hours coverage in the clinics, which would compliment and supplement their local office hours.
Economic growth will only occur when the businesses that make up the economy are “stimulated” to grow. Government funding is not the answer, giving the consumer what they want and making it here in America is.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Art Robinson for Congress
"The Time is Now... DeFeat DeFazio!"
This is the tag line on the Art Robinson liturature that I received in the mail some time ago. I have been reading and I feel this man deserves an opportunity to serve his fellow Oregonians. Now that doesn't mean that I agree with all of his views, but I do feel he has demonstrated that he is a man of integrity and honor, and that is the type of representative that I want in my district.
For too long now, we have been locked into the two-party system with excuses ranging from "Don't confuse the voter with too many choices!" to a more expeditious, "It's in the government's best interest." It's about OUR best interests that we have elections in the first place, so how can it be justified being in the government's best interest? That seems like a conflict of interests to me.
One of the main reasons that I am backing all new candidates this year is to get rid of the "mob rule" wherever it resides. Give people who have struggled in business and farming the opportunity to represent their own. Keep in mind that the citizens that are employed by these businesses will be their consumers. It seems that it is in the best interests of all that everyone is treated fairly. Perhaps those that have had a taste of what is wrong today will also see that doing the same things on a grander scale is not going to fix anything, in fact it will only make matters worse eventually. What a legacy to leave for future generations.
Congressman DeFazio like most incumbents, needs to move on. Write a book, lecture at a college, but get out of government. While it is charitable to have given his Congressional pay raises to a worthy cause, the fact that he can vote himself a raise in the first place needs to be corrected. And the fact that his health care is excluded from the health care bill he voted in favor of is paid for by the taxpayer, I do not see how he can accept that and a pension besides.
Art Robinson needs to prove nothing as his biography will tell you, and his desire to serve the people of Oregon is a brave and patriotic act. To be willing to take on the challenges Congress will face is a testament to the character of the man. And it can be that way in many offices if more patriotic Americans are willing to step up and take on the challenges.
People from all walks of life with various experiences that collectively represent a more accurate demographic of the American population is what will bring back the Constitutional integrity to the government and the trust of the American people.
This is the tag line on the Art Robinson liturature that I received in the mail some time ago. I have been reading and I feel this man deserves an opportunity to serve his fellow Oregonians. Now that doesn't mean that I agree with all of his views, but I do feel he has demonstrated that he is a man of integrity and honor, and that is the type of representative that I want in my district.
For too long now, we have been locked into the two-party system with excuses ranging from "Don't confuse the voter with too many choices!" to a more expeditious, "It's in the government's best interest." It's about OUR best interests that we have elections in the first place, so how can it be justified being in the government's best interest? That seems like a conflict of interests to me.
One of the main reasons that I am backing all new candidates this year is to get rid of the "mob rule" wherever it resides. Give people who have struggled in business and farming the opportunity to represent their own. Keep in mind that the citizens that are employed by these businesses will be their consumers. It seems that it is in the best interests of all that everyone is treated fairly. Perhaps those that have had a taste of what is wrong today will also see that doing the same things on a grander scale is not going to fix anything, in fact it will only make matters worse eventually. What a legacy to leave for future generations.
Congressman DeFazio like most incumbents, needs to move on. Write a book, lecture at a college, but get out of government. While it is charitable to have given his Congressional pay raises to a worthy cause, the fact that he can vote himself a raise in the first place needs to be corrected. And the fact that his health care is excluded from the health care bill he voted in favor of is paid for by the taxpayer, I do not see how he can accept that and a pension besides.
Art Robinson needs to prove nothing as his biography will tell you, and his desire to serve the people of Oregon is a brave and patriotic act. To be willing to take on the challenges Congress will face is a testament to the character of the man. And it can be that way in many offices if more patriotic Americans are willing to step up and take on the challenges.
People from all walks of life with various experiences that collectively represent a more accurate demographic of the American population is what will bring back the Constitutional integrity to the government and the trust of the American people.
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