OPINION & EDITORIAL
Letters to the editor
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Monday, October 22, 2001
I would like to take this opportunity to express how upset I am about current environmental legislation. Right now the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is in serious danger of being drilled. Recently, a senator tried to add an amendment to the defense spending bill that would allow drilling in this beautiful place. It is one of the last pristine coastlines and home to many endangered species. If drilled, this wonderful place will be destroyed. These senators are overlooking the fact that it would take 10 years to get the oil, and even then there is a maximum of six months of oil.
Therefore it is not worth drilling. It is easy to see that the last herd of caribou and many other incredible animals are worth a lot more than six months of oil. We need to implement a more efficient way to use energy and practice energy conservation to ensure the safety of the small amount of pristine land we have left.
Megan Grunke, UW sophomore
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In letters to the paper on Monday, Oct. 22, Madison resident Dennis Coyier warned all of us that the two-party system is going to go away because churches will be able to give to political campaigns because of a new law. Oh no, as I seem to remember other groups pushing agendas, for example, unions have been allowed to lobby Congress and directly support political campaigns for years without creating a one-party system.
The First Amendment reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” In quoting this hallowed amendment, the basis of our freedoms, I would like to point out that it says that Congress shall not establish a religion, not that Congress shall discriminate or totally ignore religion. To allow a group to do what other groups do is fair. As pointed out by our Supreme Court just weeks ago, governments both local and national are not allowed to discriminate against religions in use of public facilities. I am sorry if Mr. Coyier doesn’t see it that way, he may be clouded by partisan concerns.
One final point: I find it interesting that he is against voluntary contributions to churches going to political campaigns when other groups, such as unions, force their members to support campaigns through dues. Which sounds more free to you?
Jason A. Rossell, UW student
