On death row at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, a condemned man begins his final walk from Cell Block 1. The death chamber awaits. His feet are heavy, his legs are weak, and his breath is short.
As Albert Camus once said: "A man is undone by waiting for capital punishment long before he dies. Two deaths are inflicted upon him, the first being worse than the second."
His time is at hand, all appeals have been exhausted. As he passes the cells of other condemned men, they shout and call out their goodbyes. His thoughts are of home, his family and of his victim.
Little does he know as he enters the death chamber and awaits the injections of sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride, that the current budget crunch in New York has called for simpler measures.
After giving his last confession, nodding goodbyes to his family and making a final statement of remorse for a wasted life, he is forced to drink a quart bottle of tap water, fresh from the fracked fields of Montrose, Pa. Death is instantaneous.
It would be an understatement to say that much has been written on gas drilling and fracking. Volumes of articles and countless opinions have been given in print, emails and over the airwaves. Seldom has there been an issue so volatile or polarizing in New York state.
Both sides claim that the facts support their opinion, but they see the "truth" very differently. Can their agendas possibly be separated from the truth? I doubt it.
There is a barrage of emotions ranging from exasperation to all-out rage. To write or speak on the subject is like backing into a buzz saw; you're never sure which tooth cut you!
But, what are the facts? Are we to believe the anti-drillers who quote documentaries like "Gasland"? Do we trust websites recommended by environmental groups, which are historically against any industrial expansion?
How much consideration do we give those who scream the loudest, calling the other side greedy, disgusting, ignorant and willing to poison their wives, children and grandchildren for the almighty dollar? (By the way, in a previous life I was not a guard in a Nazi death camp!)
Are we to believe that the energy companies are run by Satan and their only purpose is the pursuit of money? Are these people somehow different from us? Do they not have morals or families of their own? For the sake of profit, are they willing to cause the death and destruction of men, women and children and then joyously move on to the next town, like a swarm of locusts?
Are we to have confidence in those who warn that contamination from fracking is certain and accidents will abound?
So, what are the facts? Do we trust advocates, who pose a scenario of instant wealth and prosperity never before seen? Are we to accept their word that all precautions will be taken and any contaminations or accidents will be at a minimum?
Are we to believe that any environmental impact will be slight? Are we to accept as gospel that new technologies and fracking fluids are safe?
I believe these advocates, but let me ask a favor. Just sit back, relax and think! With the mainstream media leaning left and very sympathetic with all environmental causes, you can be sure, if fracking was dangerous and had caused the damage and contamination many feared, there would be a nightly parade of sick people, remote reports from every contamination site and live feeds at every accident or spill, interviewing the widows and children of each victim.
The panorama of body bags, the crowds swarming into emergency rooms and any spill or environmental occurrence would be the subject of all headlines, websites, and TV news broadcasts ad nauseam. It hasn't happened! Please, drive to northern Pennsylvania and simply look around. You will be surprised!
On a side note, many have suggested a vote or referendum to decide the issue. You know, good old democracy! However, we are a republic, and that is for a good reason. As Benjamin Franklin said many years ago, "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch."
Chuck Pinkey is the owner of River Valley New Holland Inc. in Otego. He can be reached at chuck.rvnewholland@gmail.com.
Chuck Pinkey
Related Photos
-
Chuck Pinkey
Discussion
Welcome to our story comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including the unpopular ones. We only ask that you keep your conversations clean, civil and on the topic of the story you are commenting on.
Coinciding with our websites redesign, we launched our new story comments feature through Disqus.
Disqus gives users the ability to log into our story comments feature so that they may be able to track their conversations, receive emails when their comments get a reply or to even have your comments update onto your Facebook or Twitter accounts.
For the time being, our story comments feature will continue to have the ability to post comments anonymously. We reserve the right to require registration in the future using your name and verified email address.
Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified at the newspaper’s discretion for a number of different reasons. Please follow our Online Rules of Conduct at all times.
RULES OF CONDUCT:
We reserve the right to remove comments that are unacceptable, to wit:
1. False and inacurate statements.
2. Personal attacks. Explicit name-calling.
3. Harassing, harmful, vulgar, obscene and defamatory language.
4. Threatening statements or statements that suggest violence.
5. Hate speech of any kind.
6. Intolerant comments on religion, race, age, gender, sexual preference or disabilities.
7. Accusations of criminal activity.
8. Content that is harmful to children and minors in any way.
9. References to any type of sexual activity and other private matters.
10. Random and inflammatory statements that are off topic.
11. Advertising of any kind.
12. Typing in all caps.
WE ENCOURAGE REASONABLE AND COURTEOUS COMMENTS THAT:
1. Create conversation on issues of interest and concern to fellow readers and local community members.
2. Express opinions and contrarian views.
3. Stimulate debate with respectful language.
4. Stay within the boundaries of these rules.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SUSPEND OR TERMINATE ACCESS FOR:
1. Violating any of these Online Rules of Conduct.
2. Deliberately disrupting discussions with repetitive messages, meaningless messages or spam.
3. Misrepresentation of identity or impersonating another user.
WE WELCOME:
1. Flagging violations of these rules that you observe to our attention.
MONITORING:
We monitor comments regularly Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Approval of comments outside of this time (including weekends) will be sporadic.
No evidence hydrofracking is killer concept
- Chuck Pinkey
-
-
Let's do what's needed to keep America safe
Some may find this column offensive, but I don't care. I have an email of unedited news photos of the Boston bombing. Do you want to see Americans with limbs blown off, muscle and flesh torn away from bones, and the streets smeared with our blood? My email address is at the bottom of the page. Let me know, and I'll forward it to you.
-
Federal gun bill vote showed Obama was wrong
At the time of this writing, one Boston Marathon bomber has been killed, and I wouldn’t give a shovel of manure for the other’s future. Reports are that the two young men are refugees from an Islamic region in Russia. If so, is that the thanks we get for giving them asylum?
-
Top 10 reasons Skip West is wrong
This past Saturday in The Daily Star, there was a guest columnist named Skip West, who wrote a piece titled "Gun column fuels lawlessness, paranoia." Skip takes issues with my stance on Gov. Cuomo and the NY Safe Act. To get up to speed, they may be viewed on www.thedailystar.com under Columns (Chuck Pinkey Section and Guest Column Section).
-
Cuomo policy: Informing on gun owners
According to a Rockland County Times article, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services recently sent this letter to police agencies to remind them of an existing free resource:
-
Obama not living up to America's past
Throughout American history there are examples of men and women facing undeniable death or forthcoming doom. Our history shows that as evil and death smiled upon us, Americans stood up, took a deep breath, and smiled back. Here are but a few examples.
- Tuesday, February 26, 2013
-
Government really is trying to take your guns
On Feb. 16th, our editor, Sam Pollak, wrote a column titled, "No One Is Coming To Take Your Guns." In my circle of conservative, pro-gun friends, Sam Pollak is a Darth Vader, if not worse! Sam and I will never agree on any political issue, and our most volatile area of disagreement is on firearms, but he is my friend, and I respect a man who puts his name on his opinion for all to see, no matter how wrong he may be.
- Tuesday, January 29, 2013
-
Cuomo goes too far with gun control
Gov. Cuomo, what have you done? Without the usual three-day debate, a period of input from constituents, you have rammed down the throats of New York's gun owners the most stringent gun control package in the United States. If this law is so "great" and of such benefit, why was it passed so quickly in the dark of night?
- Tuesday, January 15, 2013
-
Know the facts about guns
Let's get right to the meat of the matter. What are "assault weapons?" They are semi-automatic rifles, meaning one round is fired per trigger pull, and they use a detachable magazine. Usually, an "assault rifle" features a black synthetic stock, a pistol grip, a bayonet mount, and a flash suppressor.
- Wednesday, January 2, 2013
-
NRA is right about armed guards in schools
It is hard to remember so long ago, but at age six, a week or so before Christmas, I'm sure my thoughts were about visiting Grandma, opening presents, trimming the Christmas tree, and just waiting for school to be over. To a 6-year-old, it is unimaginable that your life will someday end. Certainly unimaginable that it will end in school, days before Christmas, surrounded by the safety of caring teachers, and screaming in agony for Mommy and Daddy.
- Tuesday, December 18, 2012
-
A public Christmaswouldn't be theend of the world
According to the Mayans, the world is going to end on Friday, December 21, 2012. This prophesy is talked about everywhere from the History and Discovery to the National Geographic Channel, and even on the main network news outlets.
- Tuesday, December 4, 2012
-
Neither party has the will to cut spending
To Jim Broe and his family: If there is a better man or a better friend, we've yet to meet him. You always said more money can be made, when a Democrat is in the White House. So, now's not the time to be ailing. Get well soon, old friend! God bless you and Joyce.
- Tuesday, November 20, 2012
-
Say thanks to those who brighten your days
It is Thanksgiving, and we have so much to be thankful for. Adam and Stacey are having a baby, and Sue and I will be grandparents!
- Tuesday, November 6, 2012
-
Romney will start running the country like a business
When was the last time we had a businessman as president of the United States? George W. was in the oil business and owned a ball club, but was he really a businessman? Harry Truman owned a haberdashery in Missouri, but that's not quite the scale I'm talking about.
- Tuesday, October 23, 2012
-
Time to change our direction and president
- Tuesday, October 9, 2012
-
Rising debt too hot to handle for clock
- Tuesday, September 25, 2012
-
U.S. a lesser nation under Obama
- Tuesday, September 11, 2012
-
What wasn't said at Dem Convention was really telling
- Tuesday, August 28, 2012
-
America needs Tea Party values,and not Obama's
- Tuesday, August 14, 2012
-
Founders never meant politics to be a career
We are days away from the Republican primary to select our candidate for the New York State Senate. Is it time for a change? I believe it is.
- Tuesday, July 31, 2012
-
Most in media should brush up on firearm knowledge
Recently, there was a tragic shooting at a theater in Aurora, Colo., and before the blood had dried, the air waves were bombarded by politicians and pundits screaming about gun control and the ready availability of ammo, bazookas and heavy weaponry.
-
Let's do what's needed to keep America safe
