Voter suppression imperils democracy

Editor: In November 1862, in the middle of the Civil War, Ralph Waldo Emerson envisioned what American democracy should look like after the defeat of the Confederacy.

The assumption was that the war would simply re-establish the Union as it was, with slavery intact in the states where it already existed.

But Emerson had something else in mind. He wanted to make real the promise of the Declaration of Independence that "All men are created equal," and so he insisted that in the new America, we must "leave slavery out." And he went one step further. "Since nothing satisfies but justice," he declared, "let us stifle our prejudices against common sense and humanity, and agree that every man shall have an equal vote in the state, and a fair chance in society."

It was astonishing to Emerson's audience that he would insist on voting rights for every American, not only emancipated slaves but also Native Americans and immigrants. But Emerson understood, like President Johnson a century later, that "a man without a vote is a man without protection." The only real power that citizens have is through their votes.

An estimated 750,000 Americans died in the war that ultimately established this bedrock principle. But now, in 2012, in virtually every state that is controlled by Republican majorities, including Pennsylvania, there has been a shameful and systemic effort to suppress the votes of the elderly, minorities and young people. Such obscene laws are a threat to democracy itself.

This tea-party led, Republican assault on our democratic values must be turned back. The election in November will be a defining moment in American democracy where "We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth." The tea party fanatics are clearly banking on the latter. I hope they're wrong.



Energy costs crippling nation

Editor: From June 22 to Sept. 12, the cost of gasoline charged to the distributor increased by 83.61 cents per gallon and heating oil increased by 64.35 cents per gallon, fattening the bottom line of the major oil companies by an additional $621.4 million.

Why the huge increases? The hurricane? Prices went up before Hurricane Isaac ever came ashore and continue to increase even after the storm passed and operations in the Gulf resumed.

Escalating energy costs are strangling our economy while putting an enormous strain on the people's purses. And while I agree that government spending is out of control, cutting programs that provide aid to the poor, the elderly and the children is not the only solution.

Cuts must start at the top with subsidies to big businesses like the major oil companies.

There is concern that soon Social Security benefits will exceed funding for the program. Why can't Congress simply take the cap off of taxable income for Social Security and have everyone pay taxes on their entire earned income? Our national debt continues to grow in leaps and bounds, yet we allow American corporations, many that outsource jobs overseas, to pay little or no income taxes. These tax loopholes must be eliminated and these companies must be made to pay their fair share.

Our country should not be for sale. Lobbyists should not exert more influence than the voice of the people on Congress. With elections around the corner, and congressional ratings at all-time lows, the time is now for the people to show their displeasure for the current condition of this great country and get out and vote for change.



Wild claim

Editor: In a campaign appearance, Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan made an extraordinary, if not ridiculous, claim that the Obama administration has "gone to great lengths to make oil and gas more expensive."

Now, virtually all analysts and the oil industry itself have blamed the most recent spike in gasoline prices on the effects of Hurricane Isaac. For safety reasons, Gulf drilling rigs were evacuated and coastline refineries were closed, reducing production in the short term, resulting in higher prices at the pump. The prices are expected to go down once the rigs and refineries come back online.

Ryan conjures up an explanation that ignores the facts and simply conforms to his theories. He accused Obama of jacking up gas prices to advance his "cap and trade" energy policy, which is designed to reduce carbon emissions. Ryan and the energy industry oppose it.

Now, in an election season, it is patently ridiculous to suggest that Obama would want high gas prices, which everyone understands and hates, to advance an energy policy about which most people are unfamiliar.

But Ryan, as he showed at the GOP convention, would rather just make things up to suit his story than actually make a sensible argument. This is a part of Romney's and Ryan's fact-free campaign. After the convention, their pollster, Neil Newhouse, actually boasted that "we're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers."

So, they just lie whenever they think it may help them. But, as the Seinfeld sitcom character George Costanza said, "Remember, Jerry, it's not a lie if you believe it."



Impact fee fair

Editor: Your editorial, "State still short-changed on gas cash," utterly overlooks the facts of the 2009 debate on a state Marcellus Shale gas severance tax.

In 2009, then-Gov. Ed Rendell said he hoped to generate "about $100 million in additional revenue" by enacting a severance tax on natural gas from the Marcellus region. Moreover, this tax was designed in a punitive manner that discouraged additional capital investment and job creation. You get no revenue whatever if you drive a business away.

However, your own editorial acknowledges that the state and its communities will share in over $200 million in impact fee revenue. And, unlike the severance tax, this revenue will not disappear into the black hole of Harrisburg, but rather be driven out within three months to the benefit of communities all across the commonwealth.

Unlike the approach of severance tax advocates, Gov. Tom Corbett's vision of "doing it right" also includes ensuring high standards for protecting our environment. These enhancements, contained in Act 13, were built upon the recommendations of the Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission and our legislative partners.

Mr. Corbett did in one year what the prior administration failed to do in four years: adopt a fair revenue stream for local communities, while further enhancing our environmental standards for oil and gas development. Mr. Corbett's leadership means we have more revenue, more jobs, and a culture of environmental stewardship in which we can all be proud.