State’s AG must continue probe of oil, gas industry
Is Faso ignorant, or does he practice doublespeak?
Dear Editor: Self-contradicting, double speak, or ignorance? Is the Republican Party a party of sycophants taking marching orders to the beat of corporate profits rather than civic engagement?
U.S. Rep. John Faso, RKinderhook, voted to overturn an Obama-era gun policy that prevented Social Security Disability recipients with mental health disorders to buy and own guns, stating it was an overreach. At the same time, he has supported legislation that prevents people with mental disease or defect to own guns, as per the 1968 Gun Control Act. Concurrently, he has condemned authorities for not doing enough to preempt massacres such as in Charleston, S.C. This is emblematic of the consistent contradictory actions and double speak that we are hearing from this administration thus far.
As a mental health clinician, I observe that Faso and the others who voted to roll back that measure, are clueless about the issues and the implications of what they have done. The Obama policy was attempting to fine tune the earlier act to help identify individuals who are incompetent to own and operate a lethal weapon, a policy that no doubt was informed by social science.
Today, we see the sad result of how the Citizens United ruling has created a government run by the corporate class where policy is driven by the financial sector, with no separation of business and state, let alone church and state. Consequently, we are seeing the roll out of policies that are completely out of touch with the country outside of the politicians’ own gated communities.
Their agenda is corporate deregulation at the expense of social programs and civil rights.
If Faso would like to remain in office, he needs to start doing better research and holding town hall meetings before voting on anything, so he can hear from the people who not only pay his salary, but who can also offer to educate him on the nature and impact of the programs upon which he is legislating. Noelle Damon Rosendale, N.Y.
You can’t believe a thing Trump says
Dear Editor, What do I think of the socalled president’s speech? You must start with the given that you can’t believe a thing he says. He either exaggerates wildly, gives rosy scenarios, uses “unnamed sources” or lies outright. No, he is not sincere.
Where is the evidence his investigators found in Hawaii, that he said he had, on Obama’s birth?
Where are his tax returns or at least proof that he is being audited?
Where is his “foolproof” way to defeat ISIS? Remember he said “ISIS will be gone if I am elected president and they will be gone quickly.”
Where is proof of the “thousands and thousands” (that would be at least 4,000) of Muslims cheering on 9/11?
The first week in January he promised to reveal new information about alleged Russian hacking. He said “I also know things that other people don’t know ... . ” When asked what he knows, Trump responded, “You’ll find out on Tuesday or Wednesday.” Where is that information?
It is almost comical the number of false things that he has said I could mention here.
The Democrats should give him the same cooperation that Mitch McConnell and the “Republican’ts” gave Obama, which is none. Dear Editor, I want to applaud New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and his ongoing investigation into the oil and gas industry.
The industry misled the public and their shareholders on the value of their fossil fuel reserves and their knowledge on climate change to protect their own profits.
Corporations need to be held accountable for unethical business practices, especially the corporations that are responsible for speeding up the warming of the planet, which is the single biggest threat facing humanity today.
As sea levels continue to rise, large scale storms become more frequent and intense, and disease and famine continue to spread, the pockets of the world’s wealthiest corporations continue to swell. We reached a high temperature of nearly 80 degrees, doubling the average temperature, here in the Hudson Valley last weekend. The day that was accompanied by a life-threatening thunderstorm that knocked out power to over 30,000 Central Hudson customers. This type of severe weather will become the norm unless the world acts now.
Corporations like ExxonMobil and Shell continue to bite the hand that feeds them, but it is running out of fingers. Through the attorney general’s investigation, New York has the power to hold these companies accountable. New York must take this landmark step to address climate change, and help put corporate misdeeds in the spotlight.
Michael Tierney Student at SUNY New Paltz NYPIRG, board of directors
New Paltz, N.Y.