County makes Alcoa seem like bandits

Thursday, July 10, 2008 July 11, 2008 08:59 am

— I’d like to start this with Mr. Dunevant’s words: “The issuance of a license to operate . . .is supposed to be based on what is in the public interest.”
If we are to believe that accuracy governs polls, then he is disparaging McLaughlin and us citizens with his depiction of the results. Just like other commissioners and those citizens for water ads, he uses partial and unverifiable opinions to justify his position.
I find his revenue hoax greatly exaggerating reality to try to make it sound like Alcoa is a bandit.
Now to his four reasons to investigate:
Item one is his wish list, not a relevant fact. Alcoa does not “control” Yadkin’s water.
He should be jumping Albemarle. They are the ones selling “our water.” That’s control. Alcoa uses the water then passes it on downstream for others to use after making electricity we all use.
Item two is as hoaky a pretext for a valid argument as I have ever seen. Is he going to price each gallon by some devious measurement?
If Dunevant is honest about it he would measure Yadkin’s value in what it means to our farmers, manufacturers like Alcoa, and sports and recreation businesses.
Should our citizens share in the benefits and use in generation of electricity, creation of water reservoirs, recreational havens, boating facilities, beautiful real estate sites, beaches and natural enjoyment? His item three alludes to all these things not being there or disappearing out of state if Alcoa is allowed to do as it has for the last 50 years.
Lastly, Dunevant’s old saw about the environment is way past creditability. It has been pointed out by state, federal and private agencies that Alcoa has met and exceeded environmental controls over the years.
I do wish Dunevant would consider that 57 percent of the citizens don’t want the state in private industry.
With the mindset of folks like Dunevant and others disparaging the citizens with silly arguments that we don’t know what is good for us, they lose creditability and rightly so. If they get away with it, we lose.
Thomas M. McCluskey
New London