One reads about the economic wonders that Marcellus Shale exploitation is bringing to us. Indeed, if all that is being said were the simple truth, it would be good news. However, upon looking closely, one is given grave cause to think more carefully.

What the corporate masters would have us believe is that all that will come of their plans is economic improvement for everyone. However, they fail to tell us that, while some might profit a bit (and they push billions of dollars into their own accounts), what they are doing, based on the actual practices so far, might exact a far greater price from all of us, our children and their descendants.

That is, there already have occurred numerous instances on their sites of increased pollution of streams near them extending to the rivers, the poisoning of underground aquifers that their wells penetrate, and an increase of illnesses among those affected by such wells.

While corporate greed, which already has almost wrecked our economy (and enriched the already rich), leads them to minimize the problems, they might be bringing to us the gravest danger to our region, indeed to all of our commonwealth. That is, the simple reality is that this exploitation poses the real possibility that many of the streams and rivers of this state could well be polluted by this “economic boom.”

And, even far more gravely, all of the state’s underground reservoirs could be poisoned, making it the most dangerous and inhospitable Superfund site in the country, bringing disease and early death to many and taking trillions of dollars (paid by our taxes) to repair.

Certainly, we need to find new ways of creating jobs and increasing the common wealth. But, short-term gains, enriching mostly the corporate rich and the politicians whom they buy, are utter folly that every citizen should learn about, weigh seriously and act intelligently upon.

It is time that every citizen awakened to and acted wisely to prevent what could well be massive, long-term disaster.