"A dose of reality on fracking," Dec. 2, and "Drought revives old water war among river states," Dec. 7, touch on a serious problem in our country: While we are mostly happy spectators to political gladiator contests, we seldom weigh in on the real issues such as water policy or development of our fossil fuel resources. That needs to change if our democracy is to survive.
We need to develop our fossil fuel resources, but we need to hear the legitimate concerns of those who are opposed to their development or deeply skeptical about the benefits.
Civilization has advanced from public debate over issues of vital concern. German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel said it a long time ago: Thesis, antithesis, synthesis — out of the open contest of ideas comes a better idea. If this age-old truism is correct, as I passionately believe it is, why do we have secrecy in the work of the state regulatory agencies responsible for drafting rules for exploitation of the fossil fuels locked in the Marcellus Shale formation?
Secrecy does no good for the reputation of this administration whose leader, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is assumed to be a potential 2016 presidential contender.
Any decisions made that do not fix responsibility for the full costs of the exploitation of these resources with those who stand to gain, especially the developers, would be irresponsible.
Whispers about the dark motives of the state leaders who may be working earnestly to draft enlightened regulations for the proper exploitation of the Marcellus Shale are not the answer. Neither is public passivity. We need to press vigorously for openness where it is possible and appropriate. A frank statement of the guiding principles guiding the agency or agencies involved in this necessary regulatory work — and progress reports from the state's leaders — is needed now.
ROBERT L. FISHER
Delmar