Editor, Times-Union: By now, most of you have heard about the derailment in West Virginia of train cars carrying oil over railroad tracks. Isn’t it strange how there seems to be no end of “accidents” involving either drilling or transportation of oil/fuel every so often? How many people honestly believe these cases are truly “accidents?” We have heard all sorts of talk throughout our lives about “safety first,” or “responsibility” in the workplace or on the job. Still, these strange incidents regarding the transportation of fuel oil, gasoline or other petroleum-based products continue to take place. Despite all manner of “government regulations” or “environmental protection laws,” which are like a never ending river of bureaucracy. I believe many of these incidents, including the derailment of the oil cars in West Virginia, have been set to occur “on purpose.” Why? You have all seen the price of gasoline and diesel fuel in the last several years: $3.50 to $4.50 a gallon or higher all over the country. It is only due to more people becoming involved in drilling for oil right here in America, including what has come to be known as “fracking” (I leave that term for the reader to figure out, but it is not too tough to do so, because you are more intelligent than our “elected” “representatives” give you credit for being) that we see gasoline at $2.45 per gallon, give or take. It is a lot easier for our citizens to get by with gasoline prices well below $3 or $4 a gallon. But I guarantee there are many people in businesses and in states and federal government offices who are not happy about gasoline and petroleum-based products growing less expensive. It cuts their share of the profits from their less than legal investments in various companies. We live in very evil times, and nations across the Earth are ruled by sinister things who are full of greed and lust for power, wealth, sex and whoever else their blackened hearts could possibly desire. If we do not stand up to them all, how can we face our children, grandchildren and even our Creator? William Gerald Smith Lancaster, Pa.
