Letters to the Editor: I'm not against green power; I'm just realistic

I'm not against green power; I'm just realistic

Some readers believe I'm against green power. I'm not; I’m against being lied to. Here in Michigan, we know when we flip on a light switch, the light comes on and what we pay is reasonable.

We're told green power is cheap and reliable. Unfortunately, that's not true. I write these letters as someone who has worked in the power industry; in a twin-nuclear plant, fuel oil and natural gas power plants, and spent some time working in Southern California Edison’s main computer center. I had a front-row seat to how a large power company went from a reliable power system to one where they have rolling brownouts and occasional blackouts.

If you think solar is cheap, call a panel company and ask for an estimate for your roof.

I write in an attempt to get people to think about what we are facing as a community. Don’t take my word for it. Research what has happened in England, the British Isles, Germany and California. All have spent millions trying to go green. They are all suffering high energy costs. Germany is now thinking about restarting closed nuclear plants.

Imagine waking up a few years from now, on a cold snowy day, to find the power company has run out of power. No heat, no TV, no Internet, no traffic signals. Or coming home after work on a 100-degree day and having no power, no air conditioning, or not being able to afford turning on the AC. Every time they shut down another power plant, this is what we get closer to. The only green power that is reliable is hydro. We don’t have any of that here because Michigan is flat. This is the truth.

Let’s be smart about going green. Slow down until somebody actually figures out an affordable, reliable way.

Randy Boettjer

Holland

Got stuff?

It seems to me

When we go to the store,

We’re purchasing stuff

We’ve bought before.

Thought that we

Had plenty – enough

But when searching for,

Can’t find our stuff.

We love our stuff

And tightly cling

‘Til now we have three

Of everything!

Basement or attic,

Where is it all stored?

Some are saying,

My problem – I hoard.

Then there’s the money,

I should not have spent

On storage space

For which I rent.

Once in a while,

When my mind goes astray,

I find myself tempted

To throw something away.

In a moment of truth

I experience some fears

When I realize that

It’s been ten years

Since packing away

This “valuable” stuff,

Yet to throw it away

Could be quite tough

Because after all,

Who’s to say,

There’s a good chance

I might need it someday.

There’s one more thing

You must admit,

It will be your kid’s job

To dispose of it.

You want to follow the Lord

And do His will,

To go where He leads,

His desire for you, fulfill,

But must care for your stuff,

This makes it a chore;

You just can’t follow with

One foot nailed to the floor

Vince Reidsma

Holland

We support MI Right to Read

Libraries fill a role in upholding rights that are guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States and central to any functioning democracy: the rights of citizens to read, seek information, and speak freely. In the spirit of that role, we owe it to every community member to provide material of interest to them on our library shelves.

Across our nation, at school and public library board meetings, we are witnessing an unprecedented uptick in the number of book challenges, most targeting works engaging with concepts of race and gender. Libraries recognize that parents or guardians have the right and responsibility to make decisions about what materials are suitable for their own families. And we also stand united in our belief that no one has the right to make rules restricting what other people read, or to make decisions for other families.

The presence of any reading materials in a library collection does not imply endorsement of the ideas expressed in those materials. The library is simply doing its job to provide a wide variety of views and expressions — if the library “endorses” anything, it is your right to access a broad selection of materials.

As champions of access, the Michigan Library Association is proud of the hard work being performed by trained and certified librarians across Michigan. They are committed to curating collections that allow every person to see themselves in the books and resources their libraries provide, choosing a broad range of subject matter that reflect diverse experiences. This is a core tenant of librarianship and one that helps ensure America lives up to its constitutional promise to protect intellectual freedom.

Key findings from a March 2022 study conducted by Hart Research Associates and North Star Opinion Research on behalf of the American Library Association found that large majorities of voters (71 percent) oppose efforts to have books removed from their local public libraries, including a majority of Democrats (75 percent), independents (58 percent), and Republicans (70 percent). Most voters and parents hold librarians in high regard, have confidence in their local libraries to make good decisions about what books to include in their collections, and agree that libraries in their communities do a good job offering books that represent a variety of viewpoints.

In early May, MIRightToRead.com was launched to bring focus to the right to read for all Michiganders. We urge parents, students, teachers, librarians, and anyone who supports intellectual freedom to visit the website and join the growing coalition.

Ryan Wieber

President, Michigan Library Association, Kalamazoo

Dillon Geshel

Intellectual Freedom Task Force Chair, Michigan Library Association, Marquette

Deborah E. Mikula

Executive Director, Michigan Library Association, Lansing

We are inundated with political signs

There are various kinds of pollution. What I see lately is sign pollution. I realize name recognition is important, but now you see political signs three to four months before an election.

I think many people preferred the days when signs could not be placed unless the next election was 30 or fewer days away. Holland and many other cities had that ordinance and could enforce it. Visitors come to see tulips and other flowers with festivities bounding. Now they will see distractions unrelated to Tulip Time.

Robert Dykstra

Holland

XXXX

After about a hundred subdued protestors peacefully marched in front of Supreme Court Justice Alito’s house (following the leaked announcement of the forthcoming decision to overturn Roe v. Wade), Mitch McConnell mumbled, “It is an attempt to replace the rule of law with the rule of mob.”

Yes, this is the same Mitch McConnell who voted "no" to impeach Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Sometimes you just gotta laugh so you don’t cry.

Ray Buursma

Holland

Be mindful as warm weather brings bikes, pedestrians back into roads

With warmer weather, more people of all ages are out and about, whether on foot, riding bicycles or driving motor vehicles and other conveyances. I'd like to thank the many folks who share the streets and roads safely no matter their mode of transportation or that of others.

You know who you are. You allow enough time to get where you're going, so you don't feel the need to take risks when you encounter an unexpected delay. You remain alert and aware of your surroundings. You obey traffic laws. You signal turns well before you make a change in speed or position. You acknowledge each other with eye contact, a nod of your head and friendly waves. You realize that we are all part of the mix called traffic.

As a pedestrian, you walk facing traffic. You double check that approaching drivers have time to slow or stop if need be before you cross a street. When you're riding a bicycle, you yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and side paths and audibly announce your presence before passing them. When you're riding on the street, you ride with the flow of traffic and follow the same rules as motorists. When you're operating a motor vehicle, you yield to pedestrians. You move completely into the adjacent lane to pass bicyclists.

We are blessed with a traffic system that was developed for the express purpose of accommodating all road users, no matter how big or small, fast or slow, or means of power.

As I walk, bicycle and drive, I appreciate the countless number of you who safely share the road with everyone.

Thank you for doing so.

Sue Kropscott

Holland

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters to the Editor: I'm not against green power; I'm just realistic