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Which kind of world do you want?

Editor, Index-Tribune:

 

No more coral reefs. Polar ice caps melting. Planet warming. Oceans rising. Ocean fish stocks rapidly dwindling or fished to extinction. Oceans filled with islands of plastic garbage. Nuclear reactor waste with no way to safely store it. Air, water and ground pollution from fossil fuels, pesticides and industrial waste.

This is our world today.

What is being done at the national level to address these profound problems? Almost nothing.

Republicans in Congress and the current batch running for president are simply nuts; the only ones with modicums of sense being Romney, Huntsman and Santorum, and their economic solutions are provably ludicrous. The Democratic politicians have been basically of little help. This is our nation today.

There are solutions to our problems on a global scale, and nationally as well, but is there any visible evidence the nations of the world, or our government leaders, are acting to solve these problems? Not so you'd notice.

Members of Congress argue about birth certificates, toting guns everywhere, who can marry whom, and they make pledges to some jerk to never raise taxes no matter what. Not for wars they agreed to fight, not to produce jobs, not for education, clean air and water, safe foods and safe air travel.

Republicans are the Party of No. No Social Security, no Medicare, no public education, no labor rights, no health care, no government services except defense and the massive security apparatus. And the Democrats cannot be counted on to fight for and protect what has been historically understood as government's primary duties and functions.

Republicans do not believe that it is our responsibility to care for one another. It comes down to just that - either you care or you don't. Which kind of a world do you want to live in?

Will Shonbrun

Boyes Hot Springs