Once upon a time, the word “conservative” came from the same root as “conservation”. But today, the only thing conservatives are trying to conserve is their bank accounts.
For thirty years prior to 2000, earthquakes in the central US averaged 21 a year. But after oil and gas drilling operations started using “fracking“, where water, sand, and chemicals are injected into deep shale formations, earthquakes jumped to 50 in 2009, 87 in 2010, and 134 in 2011. There is also concern that fracking taints drinking water.
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To be fair, the article does say that fracking isn’t the cause of the increase in earthquakes, but the waste disposal wells are. I still think the danger of tainting groundwater is enough to put a hold or serious restrictions on fracking, but then again I am on the left side of that comic.
I don’t understand the right side of the comic (then again, I often don’t understand the right). Liberals are “exploiting the earth” by NOT supporting drill baby drill?
No no, Liberals are promoting “conservative” (old definition, e.g. limited) exploitation of the earth. Conservatives want to “liberally” exploit the earth.
We still use the old definition; for example, “apply a liberal amount of oil to the part” or “he made a conservative investment”.
We also had an “earth quake” because we sit over a big line of salt for the roads in winter. The former company didn’t put in correct supports. big news. http://www.ilovethefingerlakes.com/basics/geology-saltmines.htm
Yesterday we had no power because of the eastern heavy wet snow. I needed heat and light. From 10 a.m. to 3:30, I was able to use the solar panels to run the fan on the pellet stove. Both renewable resources. (solar and pellets) Plus it ran the light. After that I had to switch to the generator I bought two years ago and hadn’t used. (not a renewable resource)
While it is an interesting debate over whether or not the fracking itself or the wastewater are the actual cause of the earthquakes, perhaps the bigger problem is the pollution. Go see Gasland and watch the clips of people with wells near fracking sites set their tap water on fire. I’ve also seen suggestions that the wastewater contains many carcinogenic toxins that can get released into the water supply, even if it’s been properly handled. At this point, I am firmly convinced that fracking needs to be seriously investigated before opening up more sites.
Just imagine the value of your house plummeting if there is no potable water because of the pollution in the wells. All dairy farmers having no water. All deer and wildlife dying from pollution.
Wasn’t “Fracking” the made-up curse word they used on Battlestar Galactica?
Anonymous: “Frak” was the BSG swear word, and all its variants “fraking”, “fraked up”, etc. Fracking is close enough 🙂