'Democracy under siege' and more

Letters to the editor April 8 to 14

Posted 4/7/21

‘Well done’

I have been back and forth to the area since 1991. I have always been a fan and reader of the River Reporter . In all that time, I haven’t read a better edition …

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'Democracy under siege' and more

Letters to the editor April 8 to 14

Posted

‘Well done’

I have been back and forth to the area since 1991. I have always been a fan and reader of the River Reporter. In all that time, I haven’t read a better edition than the March 25-31 issue: Great stories. Informative news. Inspirational ice rescue teams. Historical perspective on the mountain region. Fun chicken raising advice. Good thoughts on moving into the area, winter prep and gardening.

Well done.

Matthew Weiss
Hawley, PA

In support of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act

As we strive to cope with the flood of unaccompanied minors pouring over the southern border, we would do well to consider that the root cause of much if not most of this migration is climate change.

In Guatemala, subsistence farmers can’t feed their families after years of devastating drought. Failed harvests and scant work opportunities make people desperate. What would you do in their place?

While it won’t address the immediate humanitarian crisis, putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions is essential to tackling its root cause. The bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act would do exactly that, spurring economic growth and transforming our energy economy while ensuring low- and middle-income households come out ahead. You can learn more about this market-based proposal at energyinnovationact.org.

Around the world, food insecurity due to climate change is already prompting mass migration, civil unrest and even war. These interrelated crises will only grow as temperatures continue to climb. Let’s lower the thermostat, starting today.

Rebekah Creshkoff
Callicoon, NY

Democracy under siege

I am finding it very difficult and dismaying to watch the Republican onslaught of our nation’s voting rights after the 2020 election. Denying all evidence that this was the most fair and participatory election in our history, the Republicans spew out the big lie that continues to this day. The former, twice-impeached President and his Republican followers are 100% responsible for the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol and the deaths of six people. No, the rioters were not “hugging and kissing the police.”

That being said, let’s look at what is happening in 43 states and the 253 voting suppression bills that are currently in the process of being voted on. Georgia just passed the biggest Jim Crow voting bill so far. Pennsylvania now has a Special Commission on Election Integrity and Reform that has held hearings the past few weeks. The chair of the committee and Republican senators questioned and badgered witnesses, trying to get them to say that there was election fraud. But answer after answer revealed there was none.

In view of what Georgia just did by passing that voter suppression bill, I am afraid that Pennsylvania’s legislators will become even more creative. What if they made it unlawful to use the toilet in addition to giving food or water to voters standing in line for hours at the poles? How about implementing a skin-color chart to determine whether you qualify to vote? Definitely eliminate mail-in and absentee voting because way too many people will vote, and we can’t have that, can we? How about requiring 15 forms of identification? And finally, if you lose in your district, you can just demand that the election board overturn the results so you automatically win. Losing for Republicans is not an option but cheating obviously is. Don’t underestimate their determination.

It’s very evident that the PA Republicans weren’t happy that Biden won. That’s why 67 Pennsylvania House members (including my Representative Mike Peifer) wrote a letter demanding that the 20 electoral votes cast for Biden be overturned in favor of the Republican candidate. The courts denied the request.

Stop the madness. Shame, shame, shame!

John Hahn
Shohola, PA

Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, democracy

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