Talk about cunning, Delaware holds the edge…

Think about this:

Our State in an effort to generate more revenue is considering subcontracting maintenance and control of its major roads to foreign contractors; never mind that such a decision would send up all kinds of red flags about our State being able to control the growth and maintenance of its infrastructure at a time of continuing population growth..

On the surface, that would seem like a silly thing to do; but wait a minute, assuming that to be the case doesn’t take into considerations other realities.

For example, to meet our growing energy needs, the Governor and the four committees involved are expected to perpetuate the status quo; i.e. that means increasing our dependency on coal despite the fact that coal emissions are toxic, contain base metals such as mercury, that are extremely hazardous to one’s health and affect global warming earning us one of the worst ratings on Sierra Club’s analysis of States heading towards impending disaster. That’s why this decision which at this point seems pretty much a foregone conclusion has been kept quiet with very little debate or editorial coverage.

The cunning comes in when you realize that there are perfectly good alternatives that don’t pollute and don’t contribute to global warming but don’t have all of the clout of the coal lobby. For example, if we were to convert to wind energy, we could meet all of our requirements and have energy left over that we could market to other States; more than that, we could be a bellwether for the country showing them what can be done with a little courage and enterprise.

Only no one is talking alternative energies up!

And this is where the real cunning comes in. While on the one hand we are willing to lease out our roads allowing foreign companies to take charge of them and, obviously, raise the tolls and other costs, we are not going to tell these subcontractors that fifty years from now, the roads that they have paid to maintain, will probably be under water.

Yes, that’s the outlook according to studies conducted within the State by the University of Delaware. They have conducted computer projections that show that between fifty and one hundred years, if nothing is done to address Global Warming, water levels will rise between thirty five inches up to five feet or more putting all of Delaware under water.

Sadly, right now, we have the know how to avoid pumping of more toxic emissions into the atmosphere and the ocean and we have the ability to reverse our patterns of fossil fuel consumption to lessen the impact of Global Warming but it takes will and commitment.

Sadly, they both seem lacking here. Maybe someone should tell the people who are about to lease the roads. Now, before you consider yourself pretty well off, it might be a good idea to take another look at your State’s environmental policy; you may discover that you are not much better off after the government and the State have conspired to drill in pristine areas, cut logging roads in National Parks, license out
slash and burn mining wherever a profit can be realized.

Sad to say it’s Americans selling out Americans all over the place and quite frankly, it reeks!...

Les Aaron
The Committee for Positive Change