Well, the coal jobs of Western Pennsylvania are now beginning to depart with Maryland and West Virginia coal jobs soon following.
Those many lost generational coal jobs will not be replaced by the few temporary gas drilling related jobs. Four coal generated power plants in Pennsylvania are scheduled to close. More lost jobs.
With the ardent pursuit of natural gas in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, coal production will now decrease along with many, many good paying jobs.
Natural gas drilling is allowed in the aforementioned states except Maryland. And Maryland only has two counties that are underladen with Marcellus and Utica Shales.
Why, with all the large areas of natural gas drilling available, I ask, why are these two counties of such great importance? Money, that is the answer. Mineral rights owners getting royalty money and the State of Maryland getting tax money.
The “many cons and few pros” about hydraulic fracturing have been presented before the people.
Let the people of those counties being affected by this potential drilling make the final decision about drilling in their backyards, not the rest of Maryland.
As seen in the Sept. 27 Times-News, natural gas products derived from Western Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale, are now being shipped to a Philadelphia terminal and then to overseas customers (“Pipeline to ship Marcellus gas from Western Pa.,” Page 1B).
Oh gee, I live in Western Pennsylvania and do not have access to piped in natural gas. But overseas countries can get natural gas from under my feet!
Once the other pipelines are in place, natural gas products will be exported from this country.
And please note, the contract is a 15 year one, the same expectation life of the supply of natural gas from Marcellus Shale.
And our U.S. natural gas is $3 a unit vs. Russia’s natural gas is $10 per unit. We will be the suppler of cheap natural gas to then world.
Now for the Western Maryland Health System. Obamacare has nothing to do with lost jobs at WMHS. (“Health system story reveals what to expect from health plan,” Oct. 5 Times-News) It is bad management, pure and simple .
I am sure that Romney’s, “ you’re on your own” care will be much better. No protection from heartless insurance companies.
It is apparent that WMHS is the pattern for Republican health care.
Romney will perform like the Bain bully he is. It is “his way or the highway.” Just like in the debate, he enjoys “terminating,” like PBS, Big Bird and the Jim Lehrer.
I hope Mitt Romney’s “holy underwear” will keep him warm, for he is going to have a long cold winter, and may the one on Kolob shine down on him.
Now for Allegany and Garrett County jobs. Sgt. Tami S. Ramos’ letter to the editor is correct (“Cumberland must climb out of the black hole,” Aug 1 Times-News.)
Allegany County is very economically depressed, along with Garrett County. Those who make decent wages must travel east of Allegany County to make it. Those in Garrett County travel out of state to make a real living wage. This is something that the political officials of these counties clearly chose to be ignorant of.
Don Carns Jr.
Beans Cove, Pa.
Editorials
What happens when it’s gone?
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An old story
What for years has been an on-again, off-again battle over funding between the Allegany County Commissioners and the Allegany County Board of Education seems to be growing even uglier.
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‘Forgotten warrior’ not forgotten
The Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War.” My generation remembers the Battle for LZ X-Ray at Ia Drang, The Tet Offensive, and Khe Sahn of the Vietnam War.
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Organization needed to help utilize the Potomac River
I am a committee remember on the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway which stretches from Palmetto to Venice, Fla.
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Reducing meat consumption can help ease climate change
A review of 12,000 papers on climate change, in the May 15 issue of “Environmental Research Letters,” found that 97 percent of scientists attribute climate change to human activities.
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Editorial Cartoon - 05/18/2013
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Maryland has stopped being “The Free State”
I am a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and, last but not least, the National Rifle Association. I am a yearly member of the American Legion.
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Outrageous
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
This amounts to spying on an American news organization — common practice in dictatorships but scary conduct in a democratic system that prizes the public value of an independent watchdog press. -
Prevention
The Allegany County Board of Health on Tuesday heard some alarming numbers involving overdoses involving drugs and alcohol. Fortunately, the group already has a plan to ease the situation.
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Financial gutting will damage school system
I am writing in response to the Allegany County Commissioners’ efforts to cut local education spending to the lowest possible level allowed under state law.
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Cemetery organization plans events to mark Memorial Day
This upcoming Memorial Day marks the 30th anniversary of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization (CHCO).
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