Comment: Keep the Uranium Mining Ban in VA, Vote for Gen. Douglas!
By: Mickey Meyer | Fluvanna County
Published: November 03, 2012
Published: November 03, 2012
On Oct. 16, The Daily Progress published a letter on 5th Congressional District candidate John Douglass and his views on uranium mining in Virginia (“This is the best Douglass can do?”). I wish to reply to that letter.
The author tells us that as he and his wife drive around Central Virginia, they are concerned about the homes being foreclosed and businesses that have failed, and gas that is priced at $4 a gallon. (I personally have not seen gas at $4, but don’t doubt that there are stations charging that.) I very much understand and share their concerns about these problems and agree that we must continue to look for solutions to them. In fact, I applaud their concern and desire to see more progress made in rectifying them.
I would like to suggest, however, that while we can and must work on the economic problems facing the region, allowing the ban on uranium mining to be lifted opens our communities to even more serious problems.
The dangers to human beings (those very same workers as well as their neighbors, and yes, even us in Central Virginia) and the environment are very real threats.
The damage that will be done is just about impossible to undo. This is not and should not be an either/or situation. We need to tackle many difficult issues at the same time. We need representatives in our governing bodies who understand this and who are capable of seeing the broader picture.
In his campaign, Gen. Douglass has courageously brought this issue to the forefront. He is very much in touch and willing to tackle tough problems. (Expert in using new technologies, a small businessman himself, and a strong support of investing in education, Gen. Douglass will work to create jobs. He knows how to do this — check out his background and experience.)
The previous letter writer said, “I’ll rest easy tonight knowing that the all-important issue of uranium dust has finally received the attention it deserves.”
If his statement is read without the sarcastic edge he intended, it is one that I wholeheartedly support.
