March 19, 2024

Letters 05-02-2016

April 29, 2016

Facts About Trails

I would like to correct some misinformation provided in Kristi Kates’ article about the Shore-to-Shore Trail in your April 18 issue. The Shore-to-Shore Trail is not the longest continuous trail in the Lower Peninsula. That honor belongs to the North Country Trail (NCT), which stretches for over 400 miles in the Lower Peninsula. In fact, 100 miles of the NCT is within a 30-minute drive of Traverse City, and is maintained by the Grand Traverse Hiking Club.

Second, although it is legal to walk on the Shore-to-Shore Trail, no one does it because it is so unpleasant. Horses break through the top layer of soil and dig a very deep trench that is so narrow you cannot walk in it. In addition, that trench contains very loose sand and horse manure, footing that most hikers try and avoid.

If you would like to try walking on the Shore-to-Shore Trail go out to the Muncie Lakes Trail System, and walk that trail until in intersects the Shore-to-Shore Trail, and then try walking on the Shore-to-Shore trail for 100 feet, and make up your own mind.

John Heiam, Williamsburg

North Korea Is Bluffing

I eagerly read Jack Segal’s columns and attend his lectures whenever possible. However, I think his April 24th column falls into an all too common trap. He casually refers to a nuclear-armed North Korea when there is no proof whatever that North Korea has any such weapons. Sure, they have set off some underground explosions but so what? Tonga could do that. Every nucleararmed country on Earth has carried out at least one aboveground test, just to prove they could do it if for no other reason. All we have is North Korea’s word for their supposed capabilities, which is no proof at all.

I think the North Koreans are bluffing, just like Saddam Hussein and his WMDs that never materialized. And the latter weren’t moved to Syria; if Saddam had had them he would have used them in an effort to survive. Thus with the North Koreans; they have a sealed nation and only what they want the world to hear gets out. I will believe they have even a nuclear program, broke as they are, let alone any kind of nuclear weapons, when they carry out an aboveground test for all the world to see. Unless that happens there is nothing to fear and we are being played for suckers.

Like I say, I’ll believe it when I see it. For that matter, the same goes for Israel.

Charles Knapp, Traverse City

Double Dipping?

In Greg Shy’s recent letter, he indicated that his Social Security benefit was being unfairly reduced simply due to the fact that he worked for the government. Somehow I think something is missing here. As I read it this law is only for those who worked for the government and are getting a pension from us generous taxpayers. Now Greg wants his pension and he also wants a full measure of Social Security benefits even though he did not pay into Social Security. Sounds like something for nothing. We used to call that double dipping.

If the Social Security system is indeed running out of money, does it not make sense that those of us who actually paid into the system should get our benefits first? Perhaps we cannot afford double dippers.

Steve Smedes, Kentwood

Critical Thinking Needed

Our media gives ample coverage to some presidential candidates calling each other a liar and a sleaze bag. While entertaining to some, this certainly should lower one’s respect for either candidate. This race to the bottom comes as no surprise given their lack of respect for the rigors of critical thinking. The world’s esteemed scientists take great steps to preserve the integrity of their findings. Not only are their findings peer reviewed by fellow experts in their specialty, whenever possible the findings are cross-checked by independent studies.

Given the emotional pandering and simplistic solutions offered to address immigration and terrorism, it is no wonder that these candidates would blindly accept the unsupported articles on climate change from fossil fuel-funded think tanks.

While we are being distracted by their juvenile political antics, our planet is experiencing the consequences of climate change that go far beyond warming temperatures. Less arctic ice due to warming oceans raises the arctic temperature, which disrupts the jet stream and affects our weather worldwide. Warming oceans bleach our coral reefs, which threaten the survival of a large number of fish and other marine species. The real embarrassment is our self-destruction.

Ronald Marshall, Petoskey

Trending

What's Behind the Orange Cone

This road construction season promises to be one for the ages, so we’re starting something new here at Northern Expr... Read More >>

Transformational Libraries

Over the past two years, the American Library Association (ALA) has offered more than $7 million in grants to small and ru... Read More >>

The Butterflies and the Bees

How much do you know about pollinators and native plants? The Wexford Conservation District is ready to up your knowledge ... Read More >>

An Ecstatic Equinox

Celebrate the Spring Equinox (early this year: March 19) with the Day of Dance at the Cathedral Barn at Historic Barns Par... Read More >>