Letters 07-01-2016

June 30, 2014

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Gas vs Wind

I would like to refute the statistic quoted in Richard Denneaus’s letter in the June 2, 2014 Northern Express. He states that "....the cost to produce electricity from renewable sources is at least double our current costs." In an article found in the Michigan government document on energy, the Union of Concerned Scientists says the costs are about equal. (http://www.michigan.gov/ documents/energy/UCS_Final_response_ to_Question__11_419828_7.pdf)

Mr. Denneau also omits all the potential negative impacts of fracking such as its massive water use and contamination, escaped methane adding to the greenhouse gases, and the deleterious public health effects of working or living near a fracking site, not to mention its outrageous refutation of our zoning laws.

This letter seems very much like the oil and gas industry’s effort to "illinform" the public.

Charlie Weaver, Kalkaska

What is that giant sucking sound?

It is not the sounds of jobs leaving our country due to the one-way trade agreements. There is not much left of decent jobs to be sucked away. The sucking sound I am referring to is caused by the vacuum of leadership in Lansing. That lack of leadership is contributing to the petty partisan politics and the corruption of corporate special interests, which keeps the majority of the citizens in a death grip of lost opportunities and disenfranchisement. If and when we get leaders in public office, we will turn that vacuum into a positive flow of innovation that will release our citizens. Real leaders are not bought off or scared off from doing the right things. Real leaders believe in and practice the following:

- Leaders forge paths for others

- Some may fall but they learn from the experience and become stronger

- To leaders, challenges are not roadblocks, but opportunities

- Leaders do not make excuses

- Leaders inspire, engage, and educate

- Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower

- If your actions inspire others to dream, learn, and become more, you are a leader

- A leader has to be educator, visionary, innovator, motivator, communicator, facilitator, and adviser

- Listen to others and value their input

- Service should always outweigh self

- Be flexible with others leadership styles

- Empower others to make positive change happen

- It really isn’t rocket science, but it does require a strong sense of honor and courage. Take it from a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer.

Robin Sanders, Ann Arbor