Letters: Pennsylvanians favor climate action; Hope for peace

Pennsylvanians favor climate action

The Yale Climate Opinion Maps for 2023 have been released. They show the attitudes of people in every state toward climate-related issues.

The report indicates that 70% of Pennsylvanians agree that global warming is happening. Only 16% say it is not.

And 69% of Keystone Staters think that fossil fuel companies should be required to pay a carbon tax.

I found it interesting that Pennsylvanians are not much exposed to climate issues in the media. Only 31% hear anything about global warming in the media at least once a week.

In the area of public policy:

• 75% believe that carbon dioxide should be regulated as a pollutant.

• 75% think that schools should teach about global warming.

• 74% agree with providing tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles and solar panels.

• 70% oppose drilling for oil in the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge.

When asked who should act, 64% say that developing clean energy should be a priority for the president and Congress. A smaller number, 54%, believe the governor of the commonwealth should do more to address global warming.

There is a general strong consensus among Pennsylvanians for climate action. Look at Yale Climate Opinion Maps 2023 and see for yourself. And tell your elected representatives.

Richard W. Jones, State College

Hope for peace

President Biden (and Secretary Blinken) are brokering a new Middle East cease-fire deal with some 10 countries at this time. As Heather Cox Richardson describes on her Jan. 28 blog, the cease-fire includes the return of all Israel Oct. 7 hostages and many Palestinians. There would be a new nonpartisan Palestinian Authority (no Hamas), governing the Gaza and West Bank. A possible recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia and the international recognition of a Palestinian state. With that recognition would come significant monies from Arab states to re-build Gaza. This package would isolate Hamas and Iran from their more stable Middle East Arab neighbors.

Israelis are talking about replacing the lone wolf and narcissistic Bibi Netanyahu, who will then be forced to face his indictments of wrongdoing. He too may well end up in jail.

I hope this is all prescient and becomes a reality.

Peace.

Only President Biden can succeed and accomplish these efforts.

Nancy F. Parks, Aaronsburg

Fight for what matters

Democracy is a pivotal issue facing voters in 2024.

So far, talk of democratic decline has been about the symptoms — baseless allegations of fraud, attacks on early voting, and threats to tilt the counting and certification of votes based on candidate preference.

We don’t talk about the illness that got us here.

We don’t talk about how spiraling income inequality has been demonstrated to lead to democratic decline. We don’t talk about how other structures of inequality — like racism — are likewise corrosive to democratic institutions. And we don’t talk about how all of this engenders distrust of a system that doesn’t seem to work for a wide range of Americans.

All of these things predate Donald Trump. He didn’t destroy our democracy. He just put it on life support.

So let’s start fighting for more. Let’s fight against income inequality by ensuring every worker has a free choice to form and join a union. Let’s fight to end structural racism and ensure that equality and justice are guaranteed for communities of color. Let’s fight to make sure no matter your gender identity or sexual orientation, you have an equal place.

Let’s fight for a society in which we know that we’re our sister’s keeper, and our brother’s keeper, and we’re not afraid of one another.

Because if we don’t, all the talk of saving democracy will be just that: talk.

Connor Lewis, State College. The author a member of TNG-CWA Local 32035 and president of Seven Mountains AFL-CIO.

Democracy speaks

This afternoon from Ohio I talked with an old friend who came of age just yesterday in the Mekong Delta. He said, bonding with me, “You would have been killed had you come to Vietnam.” I replied, I did not need to come to Asia, for the Vietnam War was declared illegal as democracy spoke, starting here in the university.

And now to pay as migrants pound the southern borders of Europe and America, democracy again speaks – “19th century borders are now passe, for, look up, the whole vast world is now coming together.”

And it unites but in one way. As we all, by name, discover ourselves brothers.

Where?

At the center of each of our living hearts.

John Harris, State College

What has Trump done for supporters?

A couple down the road from me sell eggs and corn off their front porch. They have displayed large Trump and anti-Biden signs until recently when, I suspect, someone told them it wasn’t wise to mix business and politics.

I want to challenge these folks and other Trump supporters in the same socioeconomic cohort to tell me what Trump did for them that improved their lot in life. I don’t want slogans; I want policies and proof of outcomes.

You have 10 months. I’m waiting.

R Thomas Berner, Benner Township