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The Amish Are Getting Fracked

Posted by Soulskill on from the if-they-survived-the-iphone-they'll-survive-this dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Old school meets business school. From the New Republic: 'The Amish interpretation of the Christian bible prohibits the use of the courts: Except in rare circumstances, the Amish do not sue. This has created a unique problem in the region. Home to the largest Amish community in the world, Eastern Ohio sits squarely on top of the Utica and Marcellus Shale formations, which contain billions in oil and gas recoverable through advances in hydraulic fracturing technology, or fracking ... When it comes to the oil and gas industry, this means that any agreement an Amish farmer makes with a company is, for the farmer, practically unenforceable. A rare case in which the plaintiffs were Amish suggests that Ohio's oil and gas companies know this and have been willing to take advantage.'"

6 of 367 comments (clear)

  1. But, Corporations are People! by cphilo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Except they have no ethics or morality. Or shame.

    1. Re:But, Corporations are People! by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Who taps every Verizon Wireless phone.

      Who targets the enemies of the administration via IRS

      Who use tax payer money to fund junkets to Anaheim (Disneyland) (IRS)

      Who claim they need to review rules, regulations and procedures (they violated) in the tapping of Reporter's phones.

      The government and corporations are the same. They are people, without conscience.

      "Is it Legal"

      "I will make it legal"

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    2. Re:But, Corporations are People! by P-niiice · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I can play this game. Who forces farmers to rebuy GMO seed every year? Who overpays CEO's and upper management to the tune of up to 399 times the lowest wage? Who sidesteps billions in taxes that could build american infrastructure or help millions of Americans improve their lives? Who uses American tax breaks and then refuses to hire american despite huge profits? Who vastly overcharges for routine medical supplies like aspirin in hopes that it won't be caught on a bill? "Is it ethical?" "My friends in congress and media will make it ethical."

  2. Wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There are actually several different "sects" of Amish, all with differing interpretations. Saying that they don't make use of the courts is incorrect. Some don't, but for most the prohibition is in filing lawsuits for personal gain.

    In any event, it's really not something anybody should be concerned with. The Amish have the right to take advantage of the courts, and the right to choose not to use them. If their belief system says don't use the courts, well that's too bad but it's a burden they've placed on themselves.

  3. Re:Their own fault by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In the U.S. corporations are our religion. The "Christianity" thing is a smokescreen. If it makes money and screws the other guy then in corporate-centric America it is right.

    I'm ready for the -1 mod on this... but I will keep saying it. We've got major problems with our ethics in the U.S. and corporatism is being the true religion. The Joel Olsteen "God wants you to be successful" crap is by no means Christianity.

  4. Re:lawsuit by proxy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There is a wonderful piece done by NPR which explains this. A summary paraphrase is something like this. They only do something if it brings them closer to their god. Anything that could be a distraction from that is removed from their lives. So using a diesel generator that gives them more time and money to spend in their community and with God is a good thing for them, television that takes time from their family and their focus on god is a bad thing. I may not believe as they do, but exploitation of any people gets me kind of riled. As an atheist, no one deserves to be abused just for how they choose to live or believe, especially if it does not infringe upon others. The law needs to come down supremely hard on these people abusing the Amish.