Some alternative assumptions on climate change
I noticed a letter in the paper Monday from a reader in Bella Vista offering an "only partially tongue-in-cheek" remedy to the climate change controversy.
The writer asked us to make an assumption that "the country is roughly split 50/50 in the belief of anthropogenic climate change in the form of the green-house carbon theory." Well, that's not a very good assumption. According to a national poll conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Communication after the November election, 70 percent of Americans support staying in the Paris Accord, so let's make that assumption instead.
The writer then (all in good humor) suggested that those who support steps to combat climate change "drop off the grid," leaving him and others to enjoy the "benefits of our great capitalist system."
Here's another suggestion, not offered tongue-in-cheek. How about ending government support of the fossil fuel industry, estimated at as much as $50 billion by the United States, and $450 billion by the G20 governments, and re-invest that money in renewables? Those jobs, rather than being dead-end jobs in an outdated industry, will provide training, employment and economic growth for the next century.
In a 2015 study by the International Monetary Fund, the unpaid costs of fossil fuels are upward of $5.3 trillion annually. Meaning that, as a global community, we're giving the fossil fuel industry $10 million per minute to destroy our environment.
Seems like in a "great capitalist system" we ought to be able to let the fossil fuel industry get by on its own, don't you think?
Chalon Ragsdale
Fayetteville
ACA replacement should be reviewed openly
Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton is one member of an all-male group of senators trying to design a replacement for the Affordable Care Act. The replacement is predicted to hurt families and children while benefiting those who are fortunate enough to live above the poverty level or receive coverage through an employer.
The decision to not include women senators in the group ignores the fact that women are responsible for the vast majority of health care decisions for families. In addition, women overwhelmingly bear responsibility for care-giving for children and aging parents and thus have a major stake in the outcome of any changes to health care coverage. The lack of women in the group also ignores evidence that mixed gender work groups are more effective.
The replacement bill has not been made public and it is rumored that once released a vote will quickly follow.
Please call Sen. Tom Cotton and ask him (1) to include women senators in the group and (2) to use Regular Order (committee reviews, open hearings, possible amendments). His Washington DC office number is (202) 224-2353. His Springdale office number is (479) 751-0879.
Kathleen Barta
Springdale
Commentary on 06/17/2017