Climate change denial is irresponsible: Letters to the Editor
Climate change denial is irresponsible
Since 1880, the Earth has warmed a total of 2 degrees Fahrenheit as an average over the surface of the Earth. If greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked, the average temperature increase could exceed 8 degrees Fahrenheit, which would not support life on the planet.
Studies that use radioactivity to distinguish industrial emissions from natural emissions show that the extra gas is coming from human activity.
In the distant past, carbon dioxide levels rose and fell naturally. However, those changes took thousands of years. Geologists say that human activity is pumping the gas at a much faster pace than nature has ever done.
Climate change denialists' arguments have become so off-base that even oil and gas companies have distanced themselves from the denialists, although some companies continue to finance the campaigns of politicians who espouse such views.
As shepherds of the Earth, it has always been our responsibility to protect and preserve the environment, not just for ourselves, but for future generations as well. Ignoring the effects of climate change, and being unwilling to seek viable solutions to the climate change issue is an inexcusable dereliction of duty, climate denialists.
Sad!
Gerard Moeller
Newark
Keep word on Coastal Zone Act
Since Governor Carney signed HB190 into law, allowing for changes to be made to the Coastal Zone Act that has protected Delaware’s ecologically important, beautiful and economically significant coastline for decades, I have been greatly concerned. The new law allows new heavy industry and dangerous bulk product transfer at 14 sites along our Delaware Bay.
At the time, the citizens were told that the process of drafting new regulations would be transparent and inclusive. I urge Governor Carney, primary sponsor Rep. Ed Osienski and Additional Sponsors Senators Bryan Townsend and Bryan Pettyjohn and Representatives Debra Heffernan and Ronald Gray, and Secretary Shawn Garvin of DNREC to keep their word and hold open meetings with clear, timely and effective advertising so that we may all be part of the process to protect our precious coastline.
We the citizens of Delaware deserve no less.
Karen Baker
Newark
Skeptical of health care strategy
“What gets measured gets done,” it’s been said, so perhaps the proposal to track Delaware healthcare costs vs. economic growth will do some good. I’m not sold on the idea, however, for several reasons.
The vision that has been outlined – spend less on healthcare and enjoy improved service levels – sounds “too good to be true.” A similar pitch was used in selling Obamacare, but that program didn’t produce the all gain/no pain results that were promised.
Editorial:Get serious on health care costs
It’s suggested that needless services, e.g., a superfluous x-ray or extra night in the hospital, “make up 20 to 30 percent of healthcare costs.” Maybe so, but who should decide what services are needed in a particular case — government bureaucrats/ insurance companies (via top-down controls that amount to de facto rationing) or patients in consultation with their doctors?
Perhaps consideration should be given to other approaches, such as creating a healthcare system in which patients pay a more significant share of the cost out of their own pockets instead of having almost all the bills paid by government agencies and insurance companies.
William Whipple III
Middletown
Unfair courts article spot-on
Regarding the Tuesday News Journal front page article, headlined “Courts Unfair to Poor": After I filed my divorce in Delaware and it turned out I could not afford an attorney, I represented myself in the case. When Delaware Bar attorneys are able to submit costs and fees to the judge at the end of the case, I, too, was prepared to submit my copying, mileage, notary, parking, filing, long distance phone calls, and certified mailing costs with their original receipts to the judge. However, the judge denied my pro se costs and fees. The judge gave his reason for denial in open court: “I’m not going to set that precedent.”
Your article “Courts Unfair to Poor” is correct.
Bonnie H. Corwin
Claymont