Hurricane Erin, fortunately, did not make a direct hit on our coast. But she sent off alarms that have been continuously ignored by Ocean City, Maryland, politicians, including Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.; state Sen. Mary Beth Carozza; and representatives of all the resort towns up through Delaware and down to Virginia.
We only experienced ocean overwash, though some was seriously damaging to local areas. The polar ice sheets are melting more rapidly every day. Carbon emissions are the main cause of the problem, according to most scientific sources. But the alarms we have seen recently have not swayed the ignorant and unscientific logic that promotes the ultimately untenable positions on the issue of alternatives to carbon emissions. Solar and wind power could help dramatically reduce carbon emissions. But our local politicians and the incompetent Trump policies that favor helping Big Oil produce more emissions are failing to heed the alarms sounded as recently as Erin.
Greed is the motivator of their policies, without evidence that may refute their spurious attacks on wind power. They have all chosen to be “part of the problem rather than be part of the solution.” The next flooding event, and it will come either by tropical storms or by winter nor’easters, will only highlight the continuing greed that will ultimately lead to the disappearance of the barrier islands and the vacation and fishing revenues now enjoyed. Some forecasts say that, within 10 years, Ocean City may be under water if the warming continues at the present rate. I repeat, will these leaders “be part of the problem or part of the solution”?
Geoffrey Smoot
Hebron, Maryland
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
