Justice unserved

Dear Editor,

I see in the Times Observer (Feb. 17) that First Assistant District Attorney Cody Brown withdrew drug delivery resulting in death charges, a first-degree felony and changed it to involuntary manslaughter against Christian L. Papalia. He also added possession of drug paraphernalia.

It is stated in the article that maximum penalties for these offenses are both five years incarceration each, unless my calculator is wrong five plus five equals 10 years, not six to nine months.

Pretty sure if I was in Warren and threw a brick in a store front window and smashed it and maybe some merchandise, I would get six to nine months in jail, with nobody hurt, let alone dead.

Daniel F. Wilson,

Tidioute

When right is wrong

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the commentary by Stephen Moore in the Wednesday, March 8. This opinion piece, written by a mouthpiece for a conservative think tank, is, in my opinion, deceptive and dangerous.

Moore compares apples to oranges by stating that the effort and money spent in the United States to combat carbon emissions is having no effect by using worldwide emissions as a measuring stick. If he had used the carbon emission record for the United States as the measurement, the results indicated would have been drastically different.

According to the World Bank, U.S. carbon emissions have been steadily declining since 2000. Measured in a macro sense by Kilotons of carbon emissions, the U.S. emitted in 2019, the last year reported, 4.8 million kilotons. This is the lowest level since we emitted 5.8 million kilotons in 2000, and a 16% decline since 2007 when emissions were almost as high at 5.7 million kilotons. This is a significant decrease over just 12 years and a clear indication of the results of our efforts.

On a per capita basis, the results are just as revealing. In 2019 the U.S. emitted 14.7 metric tons (still a very high number), a 28% decline from the all-time high of 20.5 metric tons in 2000. This 2019 level is an all-time low since 1990 when the emissions were 19.4 metric tons per capita.

Moore states the U.S. isn’t the problem, that it’s other countries not doing their parts. But throwing in the towel and blaming other countries isn’t a solution.

Nobody said fighting climate change was going to be easy or cheap. Blaming President Biden accomplishes even less. The U.S. has been working to reduce greenhouse emissions for years, through both Republican and Democratic administrations.

The U.S. has to be a leader in this effort. Moore calls our initiatives a “policy flop,” but the results prove that they are successful and must be sustained. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to continue our efforts and pressure other countries to follow suit. Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord accomplishes absolutely nothing.

I’m not willing to concede to Moore’s notion that if predictions of global warming are true, then we are “goners.” That’s short-sighted and narrow-minded. It should be a call to greater effort and renewed commitment.

I echo another writer in the March 11 edition , that the Times Observer needs to present a more balanced editorial section, rather than fall into the trap of giving readers the viewpoints you think they want to hear. Give us credit for being able to form opinions based on hearing and reading both sides of the issues.

Don Reed,

Warren

School of thought

Dear Editor,

The decline in Warren County’s population and the related decline in student numbers would likely be hastened if more schools are closed. Fewer schools would or should result in fewer teachers and fewer teaching opportunities, however, it seems the number of administrators would not change.

In response to the comment, “We are concerned about our teachers,” I would respond that we are concerned about our students.

If teachers need more time to prepare, perhaps some administrators could be moved into the schools to assist with daily activities, discipline, planning and coverage. Is there any evidence or data that shows teacher issues would be solved by reconfiguration? Maybe attracting teachers could be enhanced by providing them with more incentives, opportunities, scheduling options and greater input on what happens in their schools.

Regarding class options, it seems that intelligent students succeed no matter what, but students who struggle do need extra time and attention. I think students do better when they feel cared for and invested in their schools versus being a number needed to fill a quota or class.

Kurt Lyle,

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