ELECTION LETTERS
The Denton Record-Chronicle welcomes letters to the editor pertaining to the Nov. 4 general election. All regular submission rules apply. Letters concerning statewide races and local propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot must be received in this office by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. None will be published after Friday, Oct. 31.
Unethical behavior
Two recent letters, those of Mike Drury and Ann Stuart, prompt this reply. A college professor myself, I decry Mr. Drury’s denigration of professors Ed Soph and Adam Briggle, two of the most public-spirited citizens Denton has ever had.
They have devoted enormous amounts of time to improving the city for all residents, time of which college professors have none to spare as only those in academe know.
Mr. Drury strangely belittles professor Briggle’s expertise in ethics when ethics is at the heart of the anti-fracking movement.
Endangering the health, peace, air, water and well-being of Denton residents, repeatedly employing slickly designed fliers, door hangers and full-page newspaper ads full of half truths and spurious claims, threatening city government with lawsuits and citizens with false economic decline, all of which the industry is doing, is obviously unethical.
Unfortunately newspaper letter writers are not required to identify their real agendas. Does Mr. Drury collect royalties from energy companies? Has he ever taken an ethics course?
Possibly, Dr. Stuart benefits from fracking: Her late husband was in the industry, and she may collect dividends and/or royalties, yet she conceals her motivation.
She no longer lives in Denton (one of those who benefit from fracking without suffering its disastrous effects) but has lent her name and former TWU position (I hope the university’s misspelled name was not her mistake) to the energy companies, who are desperate enough to enlist anyone with past prestige to their cause.
Vivian Casper,
Denton
Vote against fracking ban
Why vote against the drilling ban? Because we want a strong Texas and a strong America.
There are many voices raised in support of the ban and it would seem they have good reason ... until experienced people within the industry tell the truth: Reputable companies drill responsibly.
None of those want a disaster damaging the environment, harming potential customers, resulting in lost revenue, so they’ve developed techniques and safeguards that keep the product where it should be and the environment healthy.
I live near two wells. While drilling continued, the noise at all hours and the light at night were a nuisance, but that’s gone now. What remains is equipment collecting product.
When I pass those sites, I remember that we Americans (especially we Texans) are doing what we need to keep our country safe, productive and strong.
Are you concerned about drilling? Find experts in the industry and talk with them. Don’t listen to people who will hype without any real substance.
Drilling means strength, independence and security for years to come. That’s what we Texans want for ourselves and for America.
Phil Hall,
Argyle
Vote for fracking ban
Notice all the junk mail in your mail box? That’s what happens when Republicans, Big Oil and the Denton Chamber of Commerce bed down together and try to scare you into voting no on Nov. 4.
The benzene or any other thing they try to tell you is harmless to your health and will not affect your property values is pure devil’s triangle (Big Oil, Republican Party and the good old Chamber of Commerce) propaganda.
Don’t believe their scare tactics. Recognize them for what they are, and vote yes.
The truth of the matter is this: Thousands of people across the United States claim sickness from the fracking process being too close to their domicile.
Do you think all these people are liars? Do you think they, that vast number, are hypochondriacs?
What motive would they have to make such claims?
Thousands protest declining property values due to fracking. The pro-frackers say property values are set by the county assessor and thus fracking does not lower property values.
It doesn’t matter what value the county assessor puts on your property.
If you paid $100,000 for your home and you want to sell it because of the proximity of a fracking project, and your best offer is $25,000, county assessor or no county assessor, how much will fracking lower your property values?
The motive of the anti-fracking group is a clean, healthy Denton for themselves and future generations.
The motive of the devil’s triangle? Money. Don’t forget Nov. 4.
John Nance Garner,
Denton
Fracking beneficial
Have you noticed the price of gasoline is near $3 per gallon and may go lower? This is when the world is at war and there is turmoil in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, Russia, Libya and other countries.
If it were not for fracking and the increased oil production, the price of gasoline would likely be double the current price or higher.
Have you noticed that the price of natural gas to heat your home is quoted near $3.90 per MBtu? Before fracking was widely used, that price was more that $12 per MBtu. This price reduction, due to fracking, has substantially reduced all our home energy billings.
Fracking has led many American industries to re-shore their facilities. Fracking has resulted in the U.S. having the lowest energy cost in the world. This is leading to more U.S. jobs.
Are you aware that now we can import less oil from many of Arab countries that may not have our best interests at heart? They may have $100 per barrel less to fund religious activities or jihadist activities that seek to destroy our way of life.
With the benefits from fracking, why should Denton go against what is good for our country?
Why should Denton set the precedent that might be followed by other cities resulting in much higher energy costs?
The phrase “Drill, baby, drill” is familiar, but we all should be saying, “Frack, baby, frack.”
Fracking puts money in your pocket and makes our country more financially and physically secure.
Jim Herbison,Denton
registered professional engineer,
retired
