Published: June 26, 2009 02:46 pm      

In Your View — 06/28/09

Cap-and-trade bill will harm Kentucky

I’m encouraging readers to ask members of Congress to oppose the carbon cap and trade tax bill currently being considered by the House of Representatives.

This tax bill is particularly harmful to Kentucky’s coal mining jobs, electricity generating jobs, oil refining, chemical manufacturing businesses, aluminum plants, and auto manufacturing plants. It will be devastating for the poor and for retirees on fixed incomes. It will eliminate existing professional and union jobs.

“The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009” has nothing to do with the energy security of the United States, nor will it change global emissions of carbon because it fails to address emissions from India and China. What it will do is increase energy costs for families and businesses. The increased energy costs will result in job losses, add dramatic volatility to energy prices, and prevent economic recovery. Kentucky and other energy producing states will unfairly bear the burden of these huge costs.

This tax bill will have an inordinate impact on Kentucky and other energy producing states. According to the Stern Review, every Kentuckian will see their electricity prices increase by an average of $1,798.23 annually as a result of “cap and trade.”

Based on my 30 years as an energy efficiency and environmental professional, I view this bill as nothing short of a disaster. This bill is a copy of the European Union cap and trade tax that is widely known to be nothing short of a failure. Because NASA satellite data shows that there has been no global warming since 2001, there is no urgency to pass this ill-conceived bill. No amount of tinkering will turn this pig's ear into a silk purse.

Please tell your congressman to represent his constituents by voting no on HR 2454.

Charles Bennett, Catlettsburg



Black rat snakes are beneficial

After reading Joe Barnett’s account of being attacked by snakes (The Independent, June 24), I can’t help but be afraid. I’m not scared of big serpents but rather the deluge of dead reptiles that may be the result of his story.

Throughout history, reptiles, especially serpents, have been persecuted and killed just for existing. Thanks to many exaggerated stories and superstitions, man has found a way to justify some of the cruelest acts against nature.

As a snake owner, herpetology enthusiast and a contributor to the North American Herpetological Education and Research Project (www.naherp.com), I find many inaccuracies in Mr. Barnett’s story. Let’s assume that Mr. Barnett was attacked by four black rat snakes, or cow snakes as they are locally called. He would have either provoked them or was mistaken for a bird or maybe a large rat. Being mistaken for prey would be a rarity and a very unfortunate happening. But I would still caution against killing rat snakes indiscriminately.

Black rat snakes or Pantherophis obsoleta are a beneficial species native to farm lands, deciduous forest and even urban woods and overgrown lots. Rat snakes will show up anywhere rodents, their chief prey, are abounding. They have been long revered as a “farmer’s hand” and can consume dozens of pestilent rats in a season. If snake killers don’t like benign ratters on their property, then I would be happy to relocate the snakes to an organic farm. If conservation is important today, then snakes as well as other animals should be spared needless killing.

I do question some of Mr. Barnett’s statements. Maybe, after killing “a half a dozen” beneficial serpents, he got just a little bit of his own medicine.

J. D. Brown, Ashland, Southeast Chapter, North American Field Herping Association



Disc golf is new free option in Boyd

Thanks to the Boyd County Fiscal Court and dozens of volunteers, Boyd County residents have a new free option for a great family activity: Disc golf.

In March, two disc golf courses opened at Armco Park in Summit. These courses offer every player at every level the chance to play disc golf. It is as simple as throwing a Frisbee. If you can do that, then you can play the sport.

Starting with the first Thursday in July, we will be having disc golf night at Armco Park at 5:30 by Shelterhouse 5. During the evening, there will be a doubles tournament played with individuals from across the Tri-State. The tournament will be played in scramble format where each player on the team will throw a Frisbee, and then the placement of the best Frisbee thrown will be used for the next throw. There are no entry fees to participate in the tournament as it will all be for fun.

Soccer Locker Team Sports in Summit is supporting disc golf in the area. It will be at Armco Park with merchandise, for those who do not have Frisbees. Discs for the sport can be purchased for as little as $8 and a disc is all that is needed to play. There are no fees to play the sport. The courses are free and open to the public for everyone to play during normal park hours.

I thank all the workers at Armco Park and the Boyd County Road crew for all their help with the course construction. I give a special thanks to Lennis Adkins and Mike Smallridge for their leadership on this project.

For more information about disc golf in the Ashland-Boyd County area please checkout our Web site at www.ABCDISCGOLFCLUB.com.

Tim Huff, Ashand



Cross taken from apartment door

A cross was recently stolen from thhe door of my apartment at Scope Towers. From what I have been told, this goes on all the time, with the thief or thieves working on different floors.

In my opinion, it is one of the most childish things any human being could do. I do not know who removed my cross, but I would like it to be returned to its proper place.

William T. Smith, Ashland