I’m still not real sure where I stand on the whole issue of drilling for gas here in my own back yard. Actually not “in” my back yard, it’s not big enough.
Which in and of itself, greatly affects how I and (truth be told) most of you feel about gas drilling.
I ‘spose in the short run, I’m kinda happy for the few folks (those with larger land holdings) who stand to get filthy rich. Particularly those folks who’ve owned and farmed their land for generations. Many of whom have struggled most of that time trying to make a living on it?
But in the longer run, being a realist (pessimist?) I see myriad problems coming down the pike (up the pipe?) for all of us. Including, along with the few filthy rich folks, the 95% of us who’ll see scant benefit (forget income!) from the whole process.
I fear intrinsic water sources ruined. Recreational water use (tourism in general) adversely, permanently affected. Local road (and bridge) maintenance that won’t be able to keep up. “Volunteer” organizations (fire, ambulance) stretched (beyond) their ability to take care “new problems”, while strainin' to maintain historical levels of service to the rest of us.
‘Course I’m not writin’ today to “take sides”.
More because of what your guv’nor said (more later). ‘Twas his words got my butt parked in front of this keyboard!
The state recently “closed the deal” with gas drillers on tens of thousands of acres of my land. Land which I (reluctantly) share ownership of with most of you. It got leased out and most of you never said a word pro or con, did you? Well neither did most of our “representative” folks down there in Harrisburg!
Otherwise they just might not have leased out our land so quick?
If you were among the three or four folks actually payin’ attention? You woulda noticed our state government (curiously) worked with astonishing speed! Speed that (almost) approached the level of ordinary working people!
Surely you're familiar with the Pennsylvania legislatures “normal” working speed? Recall just how quick and efficient they were in passing the state budget this past year (and other years)?
Not only did they throw off the winter chill of their normal glacial speed. They were just peacock proud (‘specially yer guv’nor) of the deal they’d made with the devil (oops, “Gas Companies”)!
Why, they nearly sprained several ankles, elbowing their way to the microphones to announce this gaseous deal!
Spoutin’ off about the thousands of lease dollars paid for each acre of your (formerly, yours) state forest land leased out for gas drilling! Braggin’ 'bout tens of millions more dollars (promised) for future revenue to the state (not you) for gas (eventually) extracted from that land! (duck Bambi!!).
Now I’m not a gamblin’ man (not with money anyway!). But I’m gonna offer a coupla bets right here.
First: I’m bettin’ yer not gonna see any (tangible) benefits from this whole gassy “deal” they’ve made down there in Harrisburg.
Not any sooner than you’ve seen benefits from the much ballyhooed “slot games”. Rev’nues promised years ago, when casinos first got the go ahead! Shoot, they’re gonna expand those slot games into “table games” (real gambling) right quick!
Meanwhile, we’re still scannin’ the horizon for those big ”slots benefits” promised, years ago!!
Now before I lay out my second bet..., Let me note (not quote) just one little thing the politicians (includin' your guv’nor) said about these new leases:
“...We’re going to enter next years legislative session with $68 million dollars, surplus we hadn’t ever counted on...!!”
I’ve just gotta say this..., Before there was a recession, our legislature couldn’t balance a state budget (for years). Since this recession, all we’ve heard is how much worse things have gotten!
Here’s my second bet:
Five years from now (probly ten) our state legislature will still be passing deficit budgets!
I say this knowing those big gas money revenues should be flowing into the state treasury at an astounding rate by then (it won’t). That should lead to economic prosperity for most everybody in our great commonwealth (it won’t). Tax relief should be the hot topic (and reality) for all pennsylvanians by then (it won’t).
Why not, you ask?
Because our legislature is even more incompetent (crooked) than the one down in Dizy City (Wash. D.C.). How do I know this? History. They'll manage, through honest incompetence to squander most of whatever gassy revenues are realized. Then they'll embezzle, lose and waste the rest.
I Don’t Know About You..., I never expect to benefit in any way from gas..., leased or otherwise.
Cal Teeple, Observational Cogitation Consortium founder, may be found three stools down Or At: www.wayneindependent.com/cal Or At: calteeple@gmail.com He may be ignored, accosted or contacted in all three places.
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I’m still not real sure where I stand on the whole issue of drilling for gas here in my own back yard. Actually not “in” my back yard, it’s not big enough.
Which in and of itself, greatly affects how I and (truth be told) most of you feel about gas drilling.
I ‘spose in the short run, I’m kinda happy for the few folks (those with larger land holdings) who stand to get filthy rich. Particularly those folks who’ve owned and farmed their land for generations. Many of whom have struggled most of that time trying to make a living on it?
But in the longer run, being a realist (pessimist?) I see myriad problems coming down the pike (up the pipe?) for all of us. Including, along with the few filthy rich folks, the 95% of us who’ll see scant benefit (forget income!) from the whole process.
I fear intrinsic water sources ruined. Recreational water use (tourism in general) adversely, permanently affected. Local road (and bridge) maintenance that won’t be able to keep up. “Volunteer” organizations (fire, ambulance) stretched (beyond) their ability to take care “new problems”, while strainin' to maintain historical levels of service to the rest of us.
‘Course I’m not writin’ today to “take sides”.
More because of what your guv’nor said (more later). ‘Twas his words got my butt parked in front of this keyboard!
The state recently “closed the deal” with gas drillers on tens of thousands of acres of my land. Land which I (reluctantly) share ownership of with most of you. It got leased out and most of you never said a word pro or con, did you? Well neither did most of our “representative” folks down there in Harrisburg!
Otherwise they just might not have leased out our land so quick?
If you were among the three or four folks actually payin’ attention? You woulda noticed our state government (curiously) worked with astonishing speed! Speed that (almost) approached the level of ordinary working people!
Surely you're familiar with the Pennsylvania legislatures “normal” working speed? Recall just how quick and efficient they were in passing the state budget this past year (and other years)?
Not only did they throw off the winter chill of their normal glacial speed. They were just peacock proud (‘specially yer guv’nor) of the deal they’d made with the devil (oops, “Gas Companies”)!
Why, they nearly sprained several ankles, elbowing their way to the microphones to announce this gaseous deal!
Spoutin’ off about the thousands of lease dollars paid for each acre of your (formerly, yours) state forest land leased out for gas drilling! Braggin’ 'bout tens of millions more dollars (promised) for future revenue to the state (not you) for gas (eventually) extracted from that land! (duck Bambi!!).
Now I’m not a gamblin’ man (not with money anyway!). But I’m gonna offer a coupla bets right here.
First: I’m bettin’ yer not gonna see any (tangible) benefits from this whole gassy “deal” they’ve made down there in Harrisburg.
Not any sooner than you’ve seen benefits from the much ballyhooed “slot games”. Rev’nues promised years ago, when casinos first got the go ahead! Shoot, they’re gonna expand those slot games into “table games” (real gambling) right quick!
Meanwhile, we’re still scannin’ the horizon for those big ”slots benefits” promised, years ago!!
Now before I lay out my second bet..., Let me note (not quote) just one little thing the politicians (includin' your guv’nor) said about these new leases:
“...We’re going to enter next years legislative session with $68 million dollars, surplus we hadn’t ever counted on...!!”
I’ve just gotta say this..., Before there was a recession, our legislature couldn’t balance a state budget (for years). Since this recession, all we’ve heard is how much worse things have gotten!
Here’s my second bet:
Five years from now (probly ten) our state legislature will still be passing deficit budgets!
I say this knowing those big gas money revenues should be flowing into the state treasury at an astounding rate by then (it won’t). That should lead to economic prosperity for most everybody in our great commonwealth (it won’t). Tax relief should be the hot topic (and reality) for all pennsylvanians by then (it won’t).
Why not, you ask?
Because our legislature is even more incompetent (crooked) than the one down in Dizy City (Wash. D.C.). How do I know this? History. They'll manage, through honest incompetence to squander most of whatever gassy revenues are realized. Then they'll embezzle, lose and waste the rest.
I Don’t Know About You..., I never expect to benefit in any way from gas..., leased or otherwise.
Cal Teeple, Observational Cogitation Consortium founder, may be found three stools down Or At: www.wayneindependent.com/cal Or At: calteeple@gmail.com He may be ignored, accosted or contacted in all three places.
