My grandparents were hungry. They shared stories of meager meals and the constant hunger. They were eager for any industry that offered work. The welcome mat was rolled out for Monsanto, the cotton mills, the U.S. government and the pipe shops. They were desperate. They did not know about the pollution of our land. They did not count the cost to their grandchildren.

We are energy hungry. We need oil and gas. Will we roll out the welcome mat to energy production in our Talladega National Forest? Will we pollute our precious water? We know about the potential for the pollution of our water. Will we count the cost to our grandchildren?

In the first presidential debate, Mitt Romney acknowledged that U.S. oil production and gas production are up. Romney said, “On government land, your administration has cut the number of permits and licenses in half, I’ll double them and also get the oil from offshore and Alaska.” No wonder the meetings regarding the leases in the Talladega National Forest have been delayed until November. If Romney is elected, it will be frack, baby, frack.

Jennie Holder
Anniston