FRACKING BENEFITS NOT WORTH COST

'Fracking' benefits not worth costs

October 21, 2015

By Richard C. Silvestri , Fort Myers Beach Bulletin, Fort Myers Beach Observer

           

High pressure well stimulation is most commonly known as "Fracking."

This is a process used to extract hydrocarbons of oil and natural gas from shale layers that are approximately one mile down where the drill can turn horizontally and continue up to two miles. The process uses an average of four million gallons of water. A well can be fracked up to eight times, so on average each well can use 32 million gallons of water, equally one-foot of water over 100 acres.

The source of Fracking water can be natural springs like Silver Springs, ponds, lakes, creeks, rivers, streams or the aquifers that are under all of Florida. To that water is added numerous chemicals which are not revealed and the fossil fuel industry (FFI) refuses to reveal them.

Chemical analysis is easily obtained but the FFI denies any purported chemicals come from their operations and since no base-line analysis has been done, it is hard to prove. Not until recently did the need for this base-line become evident when illnesses and contaminated wells appeared. We know that benzene is one chemical for sure and in Florida, with its porous limestone, hydrofluoric acid is used to dissolve this. Benzene was banned from gasoline by the American Petroleum Institute (API) in the early 1950s due to their own research that concluded it was not safe for human contact. It was used to raise the octane rating of gasoline to eliminate motor "knock."

The Florida Petroleum Council contends, "Fracking is harmless." Yet Fracking and, what other names it goes by, uses benzene within the aquifers. Hydrofluoric Acid is used to etch glass and is so corrosive to glass it is kept in plastic containers. Glass is silicone dioxide, the major component of sand, and is in the soil in various silicon compounds and limestone has many silicon compounds in it.

Once a well is fracked, water, called "flow back," returns through the bore hole. However some 80 percent of the water remains along with the chemicals. The other 20 percent is placed in holding ponds or is deep-well injected at local sewage plants. Therefore, virtually all of this chemical 

additive of millions of gallons is left in the ground.

In addition to the chemicals, a gritty material called "propant" is injected. Propants hold the fissures in the shale open so the hydrocarbons can flow into the bore which is lined with small holes.

These holes are also the method which the pressure from explosives in the well pipe inject more pressure to fracture and crack the shale, hence the verb "to Frack" and its lineage of names such as "Fracking," "Fracked," etc. Addition of these propants creates local air pollution when they are put into the mix at the surface, and they linked to silicosis.

Having traveled through Texas and North Dakota and personally seen the oil wells there and from reports about earthquakes from fracking in Oklahoma, my personal impression is that today most if not all oil and natural gas is extracted by the Fracking process. That goes right along with the scientific consensus that in the USA the "low hanging fruit" or "peak oil" has been exhausted and Fracking is getting at the last drops.

While the FFI reports that the USA has a "mother lode" of natural gas, the global demand will mean we in the USA will have to compete with that demand which will drive up prices domestically. Unfortunately and most importantly, Fracking can devastate Florida's beauty, its agriculture

and its people.

Are the benefits worth the costs?

Richard C. Silvestri is the vice president of Treasure Coast Progressive Alliance. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Miami, is a former hazardous materials instructor and a retired chief fire officer.

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CURB OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE IN PSL AFFAIRS

from Richard Silvestri and Sharon Lux

Whether you're for or against the train (AAF), our local community must be wary of outside interest in neighboring counties, trying to influence how ST Lucie Co. tax dollars should be spent. Our county has many issues & programs, that should be given precedent over legal fees being authorized, to fight AAF, without a public hearing.

If you feel strongly, as to where your tax dollars go, please attend, the following informal meeting on Tuesday March 11. Bring a sign in silent protest.

As has been in the media for two years now, the FEC Railroad proposes high speed passenger train service through St Lucie Co. with no stops here in their current plan.  It is known as All Aboard Florida (AAF).  So there is a large contingent that is fighting to prevent the train from ever running. Last week both Martin and Indian River County commissioners approved spending taxpayer money for this fight.  Last Monday night at the regular St Lucie County Commissioner meeting three people requested them to take money from funds here and join in the fight.  One of them lives outside this county and I know for a fact there are others with the audacity to ask for our taxpayer money even though they don't live in this county.  I spoke the other night and said I don't want my money spent on this and that we have many other issues and programs that can use more money.  I still feel that way.  The newspaper ran a poll and 90% said the same thing- don't spend our tax dollars to fight AAF.

I want a visible showing of community members in solidarity against using our tax dollars to fight AAF.  We can show solidarity against this by attending the informal meeting of our commissioners when they next to discuss this.

That meeting will be on:  TUESDAY, MARCH 11th at:  1:30 PM at:  2300 VIRGINIA AVENUE (SLC ADMIN BUILDING)  FT PIERCE; 3rd FLOOR

The public cannot speak but our presence will be noticed.

Netflix US and Canada

from Richard Silvestri

Netflix US & Canada Blog 
Post: Internet Tolls And The Case For Strong Net Neutrality 
Link: http://blog.netflix.com/2014/03/internet-tolls-and-case-for-strong-net.html 

Originator not provided.

I saw Reed Hastings’ blog yesterday from Netflix asserting in rather dramatic fashion (with diagrams) that ISPs should build facilities (he said provide, but those facilities have to be built) to accept all of Netflix’s content – indeed all of the content on the Internet – without charge.  Failure to do so, according to Mr. Hastings, was a violation of “strong net neutrality rules” and bad public policy.  I thought it might be helpful to unpack those assertions so we could get right down to the core of Netflix’s rather radical proposition — that people who don’t subscribe to Netflix should nonetheless pay for Netflix. Here are some undisputed facts upon which everyone should agree.

First, let’s all accept the fact that the advent of streaming video is driving bandwidth consumption by consumers to record levels.  Increased bandwidth consumption and faster broadband networks like our Gigapower service in Austin, Texas (and soon Dallas) are requiring all service providers to drive more fiber into their networks to create the capacity necessary to deliver those services to consumers, whether the service providers are delivering a wireless or a wireline product.  This phenomenon was at the heart of our Project VIP investment announcement in November 2012 and it is true of companies like Cogent, Level 3 and CDNs like Netflix as well.

Second, we should accept that companies must build additional capacity to handle this traffic.  If Netflix was delivering, for example, 10 Terabytes of data in 2012 and increased demand causes them to deliver 20 Terabytes of data in 2013, they will have to build, or hire someone to build, the capacity necessary to handle that increased volume of traffic.  That increase in traffic from Netflix is, by the way, not only the result of a likely increase in online viewing by existing subscribers, but also due to an increase in Netflix’s customer base (it announced a 33% increase in subscribers from 2012 to 2013 – good for Netflix).

Third, if Netflix is delivering that increased volume of traffic to, say, AT&T, we should accept the fact that AT&T must be ready to build additional ports and transport capacity to accept the new volume of capacity as a consequence of Netflix’s good business fortune.  And I think we can all accept the fact that business service costs are ultimately borne by consumers.

Mr. Hastings blog post then really comes down to which consumers should pay for the additional bandwidth being delivered to Netflix’s customers.  In the current structure, the increased cost of building that capacity is ultimately borne by Netflix subscribers.  It is a cost of doing business that gets incorporated into Netflix’s subscription rate.   In Netflix’s view, that’s unfair.  In its view, those additional costs, caused by Netflix’s increasing subscriber counts and service usage, should be borne by all broadband subscribers – not just those who sign up for and use Netflix service.

When Netflix delivered its movies by mail, the cost of delivery was included in the price their customer paid.  It would’ve been neither right nor legal for Netflix to demand a customer’s neighbors pay the cost of delivering his movie.  Yet that’s effectively what Mr. Hastings is demanding here, and in rather self-righteous fashion.  Netflix may now be using an Internet connection instead of the Postal Service, but the same principle applies.  If there’s a cost of delivering Mr. Hastings’s movies at the quality level he desires – and there is – then it should be borne by Netflix and recovered in the price of its service.  That’s how every other form of commerce works in our country.  It’s simply not fair for Mr. Hastings to demand that ISPs provide him with zero delivery costs – at the high quality he demands – for free.  Nor is it fair that other Internet users, who couldn’t care less about Netflix, be forced to subsidize the high costs and stresses its service places on all broadband networks.

As we all know, there is no free lunch, and there’s also no cost-free delivery of streaming movies.  Someone has to pay that cost.  Mr. Hastings’ arrogant proposition is that everyone else should pay but Netflix.  That may be a nice deal if he can get it.  But it’s not how the Internet, or telecommunication for that matter, has ever worked.

Does not necessarily represent my opinion.

Richard C. Silvestri

Jane Kleeb vs. the Keystone Pipeline

from Richard Silvestri

“On April 18, the State Department announced that it wouldn’t decide on Trans­Canada’s permit application until the Nebraska court ruled. As of today, Nebraska is the crucial piece in determining the fate of the line: until the State Supreme Court rules, there can’t be a final route, and until there’s a final route, the State Department won’t decide on the permit”.

Jane’s next focus is South Dakota, where Trans­Canada’s four-year construction permit will need to be recertified in June. The company will face an environment far more hostile than the one it encountered when the project was first proposed.  In late April, Kleeb held rallies on the National Mall with a group referred to as the “new C.I.A.” — the Cowboy and Indian Alliance — made up of ranchers from along the pipeline’s route and Sioux from South Dakota tribes. We can’t beat Trans­Canada with money,” she said. “We don’t have millions to spend. But we have you.” Standing in the audience, I was struck by how insular the group seemed, hardened by a shared struggle. They talked with great feeling about what the fight against Trans­Canada had given them: a new community, new friends, a new purpose.  “You’re asking people to be involved.  It’s part of our human nature. People want to be asked to do something bigger than themselves.”

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE FACTS

from Richard Silvestri

Op-Ed submitted to Scripps Newspaper

On Sunday, 01/26/2014, Charles Krauthammer’s column regarded the Keystone XL Pipeline, proposed to move Canadian tar mined from sands in Alberta.  Mr. Krauthammer bends over backwards explaining how shabby we are treating Canadians when delaying approval for this.

First, I have some Canadian friends who knew nothing about this issue until I told them.  The disparity is likely due to the Canadian foreign minister speaking about this treatment to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  Most people would assume, as I once did, this group represents the many small businesses-mom and pops, too-throughout the USA.  Not true.  It is a name for a lobby group formed by some of the biggest corporations in this country and, since most have become multinational, throughout the world.  It sounds as if the Canadian gentleman has been prodded by big oil to speak to big business.

Second, Krauthammer states the merits of this project were settled years ago.  Really?  By whom?  Big Oil, maybe.  This is one of the biggest disasters poised to spring.

Third, he says the current State Department review found no significant environmental risk to Keystone.  Of course it didn’t.  The SD hired a company that consults to TransCanada, the company wanting to build the pipeline, to do that review.   “What?” you say.  Your glasses aren’t fogged; you read that right.

Fourth, he refers to the tar sands as a “priceless resource’.  If it’s so priceless, say, like the air we breathe, then why is the oil industry paying money for it?  It shouldn’t be for sale just as neither should be that air we breathe, but with the big-business takeover of government, it will be soon.

Fifth, he states the original route was moved so it would not cross the Ogallala Aquifer.  Wrong.  The revised route WILL cross it.  It was moved to avoid the Sand Hills, a unique, remote and pristine part of the Nebraskan part of The Great Plains that is environmentally sensitive and promoted by Nebraska’s tourism industry for-tourism!  Go to the Bold Nebraska website and see what that group has to say.  “Assuage concerns regarding the Ogallala” he wrote, as if the biggest aquifer in the USA is something to simply dismiss.

Sixth, he mentions China snapping up this oil if Canada sent it to their Pacific Coast.  He fails to mention TransCanada wants to send it south-to be sold overseas to China and elsewhere-but not for sale here in the USA.  It is not going west, or east or north to any of the three coasts of Canada because Canadians don’t want the environmental risk this pipeline, TransCanada with its poor record regarding leaks, and the disgusting tar diluted with carcinogenic chemicals to pass through their nation.  “If the USA will take it, good riddance.” is the real Canadian feeling on Keystone.

Seventh, he states that John Kerry is awaiting another environmental report.  Is it conceivable he is awaiting one in which there is no fox guarding the hen house?

He goes on with its being “Obama’s” (not “President Obama’s”, thus demonstrating his lack of breeding) cave in to the environmental left and appeasing the extreme environmentalists.  Being concerned about the effects this tar fuel will have on our world with its 7-plus billion people is more than being on the left or being an extreme environmentalist.  It is more about being an extreme humanitarian.  That is something Mr. Krauthammer, Fox Cable News which frequently hosts him, and the oil industry that fed him his pseudo facts while supporting Fox Cable News is not.

PSL COUNCIL UPDATE

from Richard Silvestri

The PSL Council delayed vote on the feritlizer ord in order to get clarification on penalties for non-compliance and enforcement.  Not certain when it will be on the agenda again; stay tuned or let me know if you find out beforehand.

None of the 10 or so that I notified who came to speak in favor of the fertilizer ord. knew discussion on the Seven50 Plan would be on the agenda.  AC4PR was there in greater numbers than we, but not a huge number of them.  Comm. Martin fostered the agenda item and spoke against the plan first, saying it was against home rule.  At that point only three commissioners were in attendance, Faiella and Berger being the remainder.  With only three minutes to speak unprepared, it is hard to lodge good arguments.  The big reason all three gave for being against was that the big boys down south would overrule us and also that other counties and cities had turned it down with special weight given to the SLC decision.  So now the Seven50 plan appears to become extinct on "Me, too" reasoning.  Although the discussion started out with it appearing the plan was dead in PSL, after several of us spoke the commission delayed further action.  Once again, it is uncertain when it reappears and when for vote.   One thing is certain, with those of us speaking up, the AC4PR knows they again have opposition and is going to be stacking the meetings until the vote is done.  I say "again" because we knew we stood no chance in Republican Martin County and they had no opposition at all there. 

Are we going to just sit here and not put up a fight?  If we are, let me know and I will stop wasting my efforts with this issue.  If we fight, then we need people there, with facts, willing to speak and even those not willing to speak just to be there.  For instance, one of the opponents at the podium asked all against the plan to stand.  It was the entire audience except a half dozen of us.  Pitiful.  I don't know about the rest, but the last time I was that embarrassed was in a dream I had wherein I was walking naked on Times Square.

Richard C. Silvestri

A SHORT HISTORY OF FLORIDA BANKING

from Richard Silvestri

A September 19, 1993 Sun-Sentinel headline reads: 1926 Miami, The Blow that Broke the Boom. I had heard the stories from Dad how that storm had destroyed his and the fortune of thousands of others. The biggest reason given by historians-and Dad-was that people had wildly speculated in land in pyramid-scheme fashion. They concluded with how the 1926 Miami hurricane collapsed the whole Florida real estate market, because in a blink of the eye people became fearful and dumped their properties on the market while buyers headed back north. In Only Yesterday, written in the 1930s, Frederick Lewis Allen also explained the Florida real estate collapse citing that hurricane and the Prince Vladimir capsized by it and blocking the Port of Miami’s shipping channel, and a Florida East Coast Railway embargo, all of which were the final blows to Florida’s economy and major factor in creating the Great Depression. Allen’s book has been a reference for historians writing of The Great Depression. But they were wrong because he, the other historians and Dad did not know the true story locked away for over 50 years. Raymond Vickers, an attorney with a PhD in Economics, is an adjunct history professor at FSU. He wrote in 1994 Panic in Paradise, Florida’s Banking Crash of 1926. Vickers recounts the incredulous Florida banking laws which outlaw transparency of bank examiner findings of Florida banks. Not until a bank has failed can its records become public-but only after 50 years, thus explaining the copyright date of his book. He revealed outright theft of depositor’s money-money from Dad, my wife’s family, widows, children and the disabled dependent upon their savings, only to have it squandered by millionaire-crook-bankers masquerading as professional elites. The thievery connected then US Vice-President Dawes with Addison Mizner and George Merrick, developers of Boca Raton and Coral Gables, respectively, but who became bank officers all. They took depositor’s funds for their own personal use and/or investment in speculative real estate and other deals. Had they been honest, the history of Florida would be happier and a more prosperous state today would have resulted. Meanwhile those bankers lived and died rich; depositors lived and died poor. In 1994 Vickers was motivated to write because of the 1980’s Savings and Loan Fiasco. He wrote before the 2008 Wall Street Meltdown, but it is very easy to see the parallels. Some see my writings as demonization of the wealthy out of jealousy. Surely, I wouldn’t mind being wealthier. But as Vickers reminds, history repeats itself. With lessons from the past such as bankers using the deposits of many little people which amounts to lots of money for the bankers paying paltry returns for the use of same while using those depositors money to build their own wealth to astronomical heights. It was all abetted by political patronage so government officials would look away. Worse, the banking laws have not changed. I just summarized Vickers’s book for you. That is why I indict the oil industry wealth of the Koch Brothers who buy elections with propaganda. Vice President Dawes was also in the oil industry. It raises to question the Wall Street bankers and the bankers at TD Bank-excuse me, Toronto Dominion Bank and TD Ameritrade or rather Toronto Dominion Ameritrade for their paltry returns to depositors and excessive fees to common investors like you and me while they finance the oil industry to make even bigger profits such as with the Keystone XL Pipeline. Meanwhile consumers find it hard to get mortgages and small business people to get loans. Meanwhile the average people, the so-called 99 per cent, are left with a polluted earth and no money to seek social and earth justice. Am I jealous and paranoid? Is Professor Raymond Vickers? I highly recommend the reading of his book. Then give me your answer.

THOUGHTS

from Richard Silvestri

(The following was submitted December 9, 2013 to TCPalm for publication on the Opinion Section as a Guest Column as done in the past. I was advised by Opinion Editor, L. Reisman to cut it to two 300-word max. letters. Doing so destroys the whole piece. Meanwhile the Right keeps getting letter after letter as well as guest columns for their viewpoint. I think it is because the main office of TCPalm is in Stuart, in Republican-heavy Martin County.) It is very disappointing for me to see daily in this paper so many opinion letters from the extreme Right and few sensible ones appearing. Further study reveals the truth, and it has nothing to do with the political slant, left or right, of TCPalm. It is because the so-called ?Libs?; Democrats; some Independents and even Republicans usually cannot lower themselves to write base and absurd commentary. The most recent attacks regard the ACA or ?Obamacare? as the Right calls it and which is close to the truth because Obama does care. Barack Obama kept his campaign promise. Does anyone recall The Space Program-that infamous ?Space Race? against the Russians-in the late 1950s when NASA could get a rocket to go anywhere but up? They went sideway, they went in circles. Some even turned upside-down. Some were blown up, others blew up on the launch pad; others were duds. No one asked for President Eisenhower?s impeachment or suggested that he was incompetent. In fact I don?t recall anyone asking for the resignation of NASA heads or from its predecessor, NACA. Today the USA is the foremost leader in space, having placed men on the moon, a robot wandering around Mars and a satellite transmitting signals from beyond Pluto. The Atlas has evolved into such a success even a space novice, private entrepreneur, Elon Musk, uses it to deliver payloads for profit. I trust it will be similar for The ACA, 50-plus years hence. The economy is back and healthy with the DJIA having broken new records and rising and in today?s December 10, 2013 St. Lucie News-Tribune is an article about Americans being wealthier than ever in history. What does the right say? Nada. Obama gets blamed for Benghazi and I have no idea why since our embassies in foreign nations should be protected by their security. Can anyone imagine the terror if Libyan military and security took over command and control of any attack on the Libyan Embassy in the USA? Recently CBS News reported that someone was in Benghazi who could have saved the day, only to find he was lying to 60 Minutes reporter, Laura Logan. That gross error has not convinced me to watch FCN, however. When the President sent fighter aircraft to Libya, a Tea Party hog-tied Congress cried foul, but when Americans died at that embassy, ?Where was our President?? they cried in feigned anguish. It?s always his fault when things are wrong, but if you ask them who got Bin Laden, they reply with nary a blink, ?The Seals.? They omit that he is Commander-In-Chief in success, also. Now the President is accused of all sorts of offenses. None of these has been serious enough to enable the Tea-Party fanatics to impeach him, despite their hold on the House. They know better and don?t try since they can foresee the ?Kangaroo Court? that would ensue. Beginning in 2010 I witnessed first-hand the machinations of fanaticism via certain avowed members of the Tea Party or certainly those who, if not members, are missing their calling. It took little time to realize that being an Independent equates to political sterility. In no way could I become a Republican, given the Tea Party takeover. I became a Democrat. It was either do that or start my own Party. When I talked then and talk now to other Democrats our thinking and saying the same things is astounding. No brain-washing; no single-source news; no ?Kool-Aid?. Said people are not perpetrators of hogwash and therefore find little to write about. Richard Silvestri, TCPA St. Lucie County DEC; Treasurer, Democratic Club SLC;

HAS SOMEONE LOST INTEGRITY?

from Richard Silvestri

Much to my alarm the BOCC voted tonight.  Much to my extreme disappointment AC4PR won.  The Seven50 Plan was rejected.  The vote was 4/1 with Paula Lewis the only vote to keep it.  The question of having a vote was raised by Todd Mowery with Frannie Hutchinson making the motion seconded by Kim Johnson.  This action denied any chance to have REAL input.  All they ever saw and heard were from scores of AC4PR people talking their Koch Bros and Glenn Beck phantasms.   

Those with a more sane opinion were limited to past performance and tonight of about 25-30 minutes from me and 10 or 15 minutes since August from John Debus and tonight from  Evelyn WARFIELD who spoke once before, Jerry BUECHLER, Steve Melecki speaking a second time, Art Appisomian, Teresa Toulon.  Thanks to these people for coming again tonight and to Erika Alvarez, Felicia Bruce and friends Teresa brought tonight.  Erika has also been present several times.  If my stats are off or left anyone out, I apologize. 

What concerns me now very much is AC4PR will use this vote and the denial in IR CO to sway other counties to opt out.  Also they can now say four of five SLC Commissioners have voted that Global Warming is not real.  It also fuels Big Carbon's movement to squash Global Warming Theory (which is not a theory) advocacy.  There is no doubt AC4PR has counterparts throughout the country doing this same thing for Big Carbon.  Tonight's victory will give them all (Koch Bros, Tea Party, Heartland Inst., Cato Inst. but you get the point.) great strength.

Why should any of us mentioned here care?  Good question because it appears no one else does.

For the two Democrats on the Commission:  "Inconsistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adorned my philosophers, statesmen and divines." And this:  Christ said, "Tell a man 'Yes.' when you mean 'Yes.'; and tell a man 'No.' when you mean 'No.'"

Bob Crowder has more to say about integrity in his opinion letter in Today's Tribune.  AND HE IS A REPUBLICAN!

SAY YES TO SEVEN50

from Richard Silverstri

Phyllis Frey, self-proclaimed founder of AC4PR has an opinion letter in today's Tribune:  Get Commission to boot Plan.  Read it and weep!  This Thursday evening at 6pm the BOCC of SLC gets the official presentation from Seven50 regarding their 50-year plan for the SE counties from Key West to Sebastian.  Frey has mustered her team and they have the ball.  THIS IS THIRD DOWN, WITH GOAL POST IN RANGE!  They probably already have two votes on the Commission.  We need to show in force the voters in SLC want a plan for the future.  Had there been a plan for the seven counties begun 50 years ago we would not have the problems we face today!  AC4PR has no plan.  They have lots of criticism and it is similar to how the Tea Party shut down Washington last month.  It is a smaller part of the Big Picture of the Billionaires who have tried to control the country-AND ARE!  If they win this one, it is game over for SE Florida; welcome pollution, rising seas and I will take off for the Far West in my kayak, never to organize anyone again.  Come out and be heard.  SAY YES TO SEVEN50!

References:  AC4PR.org  and Seven50.com

LOCATION:  2300 VIRGINIA AV, 3RD FLOOR, COMMISSION CHAMBERS
6 PM: THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2013

UPDATE ON UU's SEVEN50 PRESENTATION

from Richard Silvestri

John Debus, Erika Alvarez and I attended Jan Booher's presentation at the UU Church in Stuart on the 21st.  I cannot speak for the other two, but I was very happy listening to Jan Booher and I can envision calling upon her in the future.  Her "call to action" beginning with "EGAD" and includes the paragraph following mirrors what I have been saying all along.  (Read her forwarded comment herein.) 

As she went through her presentation of the highlights, background, reasons for Seven50 it just makes more and more sense to me.  Jan originally got into this through an action group regarding Climate Change in Boca Raton.  The opposition to this plan I feel is based on the Koch Bros need to thwart local movements that result in lower oil consumption.  Sustainability does just that and the rationale is based on Global Warming Justice started by Al Gore and which banner has been picked up by 350.org and numerous other groups like Bold Nebraska, Credo, the former Pope, The National Council of Churches and not least some of our own folks right here in SLC.  If the Koch Bros. can get sustainability denounced in enough local areas, the cumulative effect is felt at the Federal level and results in a victory for them nationwide.  It results in a defeat for future generations in this county, SE Florida, and the Earth.  Forgive me if this seems obvious, but I want to put it on the examining table so we all a clear view in the light of day.

I have gone to Seven50.org and read the home page and most of the drop-down windows there.  I have listened to Jan explain it.  All the information dove-tails nicely and simply makes sense.  I have visited the AC4PR website which has been changed.  Since Seven50 clearly had $3Million in Federal funds we can understand why the website is so professional-considerable money was put into it!  Likewise AC4PR's website is professional because someone put money into it!  We know where the money came from for the former.  Need I ask where the money comes from for the latter?  Originally AC4PR listed some of the things they were against and some other items.  They are against "Common Core" and Smart Meters, for instance.  They also referenced Glenn Beck, even stating "Glenn said...." at one point.  I use the past tense here because the website was changed and now is devoted entirely to Seven50 bashing.  And it is still an expensive, professionally done website-and the change was rather sudden, too.  So there is big money involved here.

The AC4PR presentation to the SLC BOCC October 15th meeting was not the same as the "introductory" presentation at the Palm City library on Sept 28th.  Why?  The latter was a pep-rally and frankly was an insult to my intelligence.  I am sure it would have insulted the Commissioners.  They knew better than to make the same presentation on the 15th.  That presentation-while slanted-was professional and relatively tame.

The reason I wanted to attend the Common Core Debate last night was because of AC4PR's objections to it.  There were a lot of faces there from AC4PR and a few "Seven50 buster" buttons were worn.  It is very interesting that the Republican Party of MC, IRC and SLC played a very prominent and active role at the AC4PR on Sept 28th yet AC4PR continually states their "coalition" is non-partisan.  I tried to be objective last night and even Rep. Lee, John Debus and I discussed it, it was the Repbulican Parties of MC and SLC that sponsored the debate.  John and I don't think it fair that two of the three panelists are obviously opposed-and formerly stated so-to Common Core while only one was for it in a room of mostly Republicans and many of those far-right Republicans.  However, I must credit the Republicans for holding the debate and it was open to anyone.  It behooves our own Democratic Parties to hold forums like this on issues especially those that are being pulled left or right as with Seven50 and Common Core.  John is considering having a forum on Common Core open to anyone.  The Progressive Alliance does not align with any party or candidate.  Nonetheless I think Democrats need to pay more attention to issues that divide-and all issues, regardless-and become proactive as the Republicans are-at least locally.

Regarding Seven50:  That should-be-neutral issue has been vilified by the right-wing fringers.  As Jan Booher states, quoting Greg Wilson regarding "going to the source", years ago at Miami Fire-Rescue we had the Anti-Defamation League present to us regarding rumors.  We were advised something we should all do when told something that seems a bit skewed.  And that is to ask the sender where he/she got the information and to ask that source to do likewise right on back to the prime source.  If that were done all the time, rumors would die.  Most of the negatives about Seven50 are rumors and misconceptions that well-meaning people spread.  It is just human nature but when we are talking about a future for our kids that doesn't look too good if we continue "business as usual", it can be devastating.  Seven50 will make its formal presentation to the SLC BOCC on November 7th.  Mark your calendar.  We need to stand up for TRUTH!

Richard C. Silvestri

AC4PR EXPLAINED

from Richard Silvestri

The BOCC has allocated an hour of the Tues, October 15th meeting at 9 a.m. for AC4PR to explain what their organization is all about.  First, this group has had hours and hours making statements to the BOCC at public meetings.  The rest of us on the 15th will be given five (5) minutes each for a comment.  It would be very desirable if as many of us as possible showed up, listened and then commented even if for a few seconds each. 

Before doing that we all should be informed.  That means going to the American Coalition For Property Rights (AC4PR) website and reading the info posted there.  It also means going to Seven50.org and reading the information there.  In that way each of us will be prepared to speak intelligently and factually regarding what AC4PR and Seven50 are and are not.

John Debus, Jerry Buechler and I on Sept 28th attended an "Informational" meeting of AC4PR in Palm City.  It will be very interesting to see if their presentation to the BOCC is the same one (or even parts of it) we saw and heard in Palm City.  If it is no,t it should be asked by us:  Why not?  If it is-they will be laughed out of the chambers.  I am betting on the former. 

Art Appisomian has researched AC4PR  and finds it could be a creation of Karl Rove.  I felt it was a creation of the Koch Bros.  Regardless, we all know Koch Bros, Rove, FCN, Murdoch, Tea Party, AFP, The HF, The HI, The Cato Inst., et. al. live in an Echo Chamber and repeat the same things.  

That said, there is a need to stop the local efforts of those doing the bidding of billionaires who have a right-wing extremist doctrine.  It is this same doctrine that has shut down our central government in DC and now threatens to dismantle local governing.

It is my understanding the presentation will be at the end of the meeting, so there is no rush to get there at 9 am.  However, no guarantees and who knows what else is on the agenda and how long these will take.

Regardless.  We need to stop this; then get a national referendum on the ballot that says corporations are not protected by the 1st Amendment thereby reducing the vulgar amounts spent on election campaigns.  Please pray, sprinkle holy water, bake matzos, eat pitas, strangle chickens, meditate-whatever your spiritual rites are-that the Court does not eliminate individual political contribution caps, an issue currently before the Supreme Court.

THE BOCC MEETS ON TUES, OCT 15 AT 9 A.M. AT 2300 VIRGINIA AV, FTP, 3RD FL IN COMMISSION  CHAMBERS ROOM

Hope to see many familiar faces there. 

TD BANK PROTEST

from Richard Silvestri

350.ORG has called for hundreds of protests at the same time nationwide Saturday.  Let us stand in solidarity with 350.ORG and the other protesters against KXL

 WHEN:    Sat., Sept. 21 @ 2:30 pm

WHERE:  TD Bank, S. US 1, Ft.Pierce.

WHAT:      Protest picket 'cause Toronto Dominion Bank is investing Billion$ in the KXL Pipeline project.

WHO:        You and me

BRING:      SIGNS; MOCK-UP PIPES AND/OR LEAKING OIL; WORDING "NO KXL"              '"TD BANK UNFAIR TO HUMANS" OR SUCH WORDING AS SUITS; USE YOUR IMAGINATION!    

BACKGROUND:  The Tar Sands crude KXL pipeline is extra carbon laden crude, energy inefficient to extract; uses aromatic HCs to slip it through the 3-foot diameter KXL;  Eminent Domain based on the KXL being in the "national interest" is being threatened upon Heartland farmers and ranchers and the Native Americans who have had their treaties broken numerous times already have not given their reservation land to Trans Canada-not willingly yet.  I can go on but don't want to bore you with the facts. 

SPREAD THE WORD:  I am sending this to those whom I think CARE & will SHOW UP.  Spread it to others I don't have access to.

Richard C. Silvestri

WWW.RCSILVESTRI.COM

LETTER TO LARRY LEE JR.

from Richard Silvestri 

Hi Larry,

I hope this finds you well.  The common denominator for finding solutions via government is to take the money out of politics.  In what seems absurd the US Supreme Court ruled corporations can spend from their funds unlimited amounts for political campaigns under the First Amendment.  That is going to destroy democracy for the average Joe like me or Jane like my wife.  The 2012 elections broke records for spending and that is directly because huge corporations can spend unlimited amounts.

I found out online that the sugar lobby (cane and beets) has suppressed medical research on the effects of sugar in our diet.  Some researchers suspect it is toxic to humans.  Big Sugar has lobbied congress and the senators to not fund any medical research on the subject since 1976 and they have clouded the issue with doubts about any research results before or since.  This is the same tactics used by the tobacco industry since the early 1950s when medical research had shown tobacco products cause cancer.  It took 40-50 years before the issue was settled and at the cost of millions of lives and millions spent on unnecessary medical care because if the truth had been known earlier the cancers could have been prevented.  It is the same tactics Big Carbon is using to discredit Global Warming and Climate Change and rising sea theories today while time is of the essence to find solutions.

The sugar industry initially was protected with federal subsidies so that Castro would not have a market for

Cuban sugar.  It appears Big Sugar made so much money it could afford to lobby to have protections against all foreign sugar with subsidies and tariffs costing taxpayers.  This is our money to protect an industry that may be producing something that is harmful to human health.  But we don't know one way or the other and what is it Big Sugar is afraid the results will show?  You know the answer.  The same can be said for big carbon subsidy to keep gasoline prices artificially low but gives the public the impression there is plenty to go around and it is cheap.  Without the oil subsidy we would be paying the same price for motor fuels as do EU nations which I understand is now around $10-12 a gallon.  But by using tax dollars along with price at the pump we are also paying that much.  Why would oil companies sell to us at a lower price when they can get more overseas closer to Mid-East oil?  They wouldn't and Washington is hiding the true cost of motor fuel with the subsidies.  The case for tobacco is resolved but look how long it took; how many lives lost; the anguish to survivors; the cost in dollars.

The sugar protective subsidies and any legislation to the contrary are kept in force because Big Sugar can hold our lawmakers hostage by threatening to not only withdraw financial support but also by the veiled threat of spending for negative advertising.  It is not a threat but now a reality.  Now we know that Big Sugar is also using this power to destroy the environment locally.

The answer is to get the money of out politics.  I am a member of the DEC and the Treasurer of the Democratic Club in SLC but I cannot officially ask you this in their names.  But through my good relations there with many of the members I can state there are others who feel the same.  I am a member of the Progressive Alliance and can officially ask you not only for me and my loved ones and future generations but also on behalf of the alliance.  John Debus, our local president, has said a Constitutional Amendment that would state that the First Amendment is not intended for corporations is the primary goal of the alliance.  It is the common denominator that would break down resistance to changes that would benefit people.

Larry, will you contact Senators Nelson and Rubio and Congressman Murphy and ask them if any of all will sponsor a bill to amend the Constitution?  Will you contact all you know personally and politically in Tallahassee to contact these three and ask them to sponsor an amendment?  Your request and that of your colleagues will carry weight.

I am not an alarmist, but more and more people are beginning to understand that the Citizens United ruling against the Federal Elections Commission is destroying the very foundations of our great nation.

Yours Truly,

Richard.

LAWMAKERS AND THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

from Richard Silvestri
ON THE RECORD: LAWMAKERS & OUR LAGOON 

In June, journalist Eve Samples from Scripps Treasure Coast Newspaper is moderating two forums between state lawmakers and the public about the state of  the Indian River Lagoon.
You must RSVP in order to attend and to do so, send an email to OnTheRecord@TCPalm.com. Include your full name, phone number and the location of the event. There will be two:
The first session is at the Stuart News, 4:30-6:00 pm, Monday June 3, 2013. The panelists will be:   Sen. Joe Negron and Reps. Gayle Harrell, Larry Lee and MaryLynn Magar 

The second session is at the Indian River Press Journal, 4:30-6 p.m. Wednesday June 5, 2013.
Panelists at this session: Negron, Altman, and Rep. Debbie Mayfield 

For more information, visit the Scripps website: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2013/may/31/on-the-record-lawmakers-lagoon/