Safeguards for drinking water

Clean air, shelter, food and water are imperative for human survival. Fossil fuels — oil, coal and natural gas — pollute the air with smog, soot and global warming pollution, but their effect on water is often overlooked. Natural gas, which the industry touts as the “cleanest of all fossil fuels,” threatens to dirty drinking water with toxic chemicals used in drilling.

Rivers, lakes and groundwater already face threats from industrial pollution, agricultural runoff and overdevelopment. Adding an unnecessary threat to one of our most valuable resources is dangerous.

The government must act to safeguard drinking water.

In light of the increased pressure to drill for more natural gas in the Hill Country’s Barnett Shale, we must remember the dangers to drinking water from gas drilling. In particular, hydraulic fracturing (often called “fracking”), is a process in which millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are injected into the ground in order for natural gas to flow to the surface. These chemicals can contaminate our drinking water.

Texans never should have to be exposed to chemicals that harm the nervous system, cause respiratory problems and create reproductive issues.

In order to guarantee that all the water in Texas is safe and clean for swimming, fishing and drinking, we need Congress to pass the Clean Water Restoration Act. Industrial polluters poisoning our drinking water is a fact that is just too hard to swallow.

Gerri Witthuhn

Environment Texas

Austin

Attack on ‘Doc’ Anderson

Hal Ritter’s Jan. 16 guest column claims he has concerns about the duplicity of the Trib’s editorial on tax difficulties being experienced by state Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson. Ritter’s statement points more to his own dislike for this Republican representative than any concerns about duplicity on the part of the Trib.

Does Ritter have some insight into Anderson’s qualifications that we do not? Does he have knowledge of Anderson’s license being suspended or revoked of which the rest of us are not aware? Is Anderson practicing veterinary medicine without a license?

Hal: Put or shut up!

Anderson’s tax liens are no different from those of millions of citizens whose property is at risk. The salaries for IRS employees or congressional representatives are far higher than that of Anderson as our state representative.

When impugning a person’s integrity and character, you should not have a hidden agenda so obvious. People who live in glass houses . . . well, you know the rest.

Pete Commander

Waco

Obama’s politics and blunders

Barack Obama promised during his campaign to clean up government by increasing transparency and eliminating the plundering of the taxpayers by special-interest politics. Sadly, President Obama is practicing exactly this type of politics at unprecedented levels.

His administration’s first priority seems to be paying off political supporters with taxpayer funds. Democratic congressional districts have received twice the stimulus money that Republican congressional districts have received. A disproportionate part of the stimulus package went to state and local governments to protect public-sector workers’ jobs.

I thought the stimulus was meant to grow the economy, not the government, which is already much bigger than we can afford.

The labor unions have just been rewarded with a $60 billion exemption from taxes on their “Cadillac” health care that all other taxpayers must pay — except, of course, the longshoremen, construction workers, some farmers and sundry other liberal allies.

Equal treatment of states is also history. Nebraska got its “cornhusker kickback.” and Florida got an exemption from changes in Medicare for its seniors.

Is this the change we can believe in that Obama promised?

Walter Bradley

Woodway

Apply for state education funds

Gov. Rick Perry has stated that he wants to distance himself from Washington. He has refused to apply for about $700 million in federal education funds because he doesn’t want Washington telling Texas what educational standards to adopt.

Nothing in the program’s application says states must adopt any national school standards. Texas has a good chance qualifying for funds.

Perry needs to re-evaluate his decision in this matter. His political future should not cost Texas the loss of $700 million for better schools.

Anita L. White

Waco

Israel’s heroic efforts in Haiti

Following the horrific Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, many have been trapped in the rubble or were rescued alive and had limbs amputated. Thus they were brought out alive only to die slowly from infections and lack of adequate care, as well as other various wounds and injuries.

There is a lack of needed drugs and care there. I realize the United States has been working feverishly to establish field hospitals, but I’d like to point out that Israel had established a field hospital fully equipped with antibiotics, other drugs and was able to save many lives, even those of amputees.

They even set up a room for surgery, enabling Israeli doctors to save life after life. Israel even has offered to allow its relief workers to stay two months.

Dr. S.J. Chernoff

Waco