Fracking Makes You Dumb

As a not-so-recent graduate of Alliance City Schools, I read with a certain pride at the announcement of the installation of a wind tower at the middle school that will generate energy, save money, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions; the project is the culmination of a two-year effort by an Alliance science teacher and his students. What a great way to demonstrate real-world learning and problem solving, not only to the student themselves but to others as well.

I just wish that the leadership at Marlington had thought to collaborate with its same-city neighbors before they placed their educational community at risk when they decided that the only way to generate revenue was to allow fracking beneath school property.

What the Alliance students and their teacher demonstrated is that there is often more than one solution, and it may not be readily apparent. Marlington’s decision reminds me of an episode from the old TV program Night Gallery; a character is desperately broke so he decides to sell his eyes to a blind billionaire—sure, the now-blind character got some money but at what cost?

We hear and read every day about how we gotta tighten our belts, etc. But austerity didn’t get us out of the Great Depression, and austerity won’t get us out of this mess we’re in now. We’ve tried max tax cuts for nearly a decade now—how’s that working out? Do you really believe that if the Tea Partiers get their way that additional cuts will help stimulate the economy for working families? I sure don’t.

So, instead of the governor giving another 56 million dollars to Diebold, I’ve got a better idea: let’s send some of that money to the schools. At least the kids are getting real results and solving real problems. Bravo, Aviators!

*this piece first appeared in The Canton Repository over the winter.