Re: “What does $80 million buy oil and gas interests? Voter profiles, door knocking and influence at local and statewide levels,” July 16 news story.
Your article on big oil lobbying was a perfect example of just how much power big business has in our economy.
There is no doubt that America needs to change our way of creating energy for businesses and homes as rapidly as is prudent. Scientific evidence shows that global warming is real and growing and is a threat to humans and the Earth in general. However, with huge groups such as the oil lobby able to spend $20 million a year in Colorado, it becomes unlikely that our country will be able to stop or even slow this warming issue.
It is the old and never-ending story: big business is the power that runs the Earth.
John Ruckman, Lakewood
A major reason the energy companies need to tell their story is that most media outlets are quick to publish almost any accusations by environmentalists, many of which border on scare tactics. No matter that the most recent comprehensive Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment health-effects study of oil and gas operations found no significant health impacts, these stories make good copy.
Secondly, there are many misconceptions with the deadly Firestone home explosion. This explosion wasn’t the result of drilling too close to homes or well fracking, but was caused by a builder constructing homes near to an existing well without adequately clearing the site.
Bill Turner, Aurora
The public is right to confront inequities imposed by the oil and gas industry, and to persist until remedies are established. Worldwide, it is a business that has habitually harmed public health, safety and environmental protection. Its lobby has kept it largely exempt from the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Historically, oil wells have polluted fresh waters with produced brines, and polluted the atmosphere with unburned methane, to whatever degree the public would tolerate. In Colorado, the emergence of hydrofracking and the encroachment of well sites has exposed methane emissions as a public hazard, and has stimulated the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission to institute some beneficial changes to field operations. But fugitive gas remains a problem and concern to homes, schools and nearby businesses.
David T. Snow, Arvada
OK, so last Sunday’s paper was one more issue against the oil industry. Now I’d like to hear the other side of the story. Here are some ideas for future articles:
- Revenue to the state from oil and gas.
- Number of jobs provided by the oil industry.
- The cost to the public of a totally green state.
- A comparison of different industries’ spending on politics by tax dollar.
Please give us the facts and spare us your narrow-minded opinions.
Susan Law, Denver
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