Forget Big Brother, Try Bigger Oil & Gas.

       In Pennsylvania, the courts now seem to have control over the souls of the people. So just you watch out you churches. You no longer have a say over your parishioner's souls. That's right, a judge,  Judge Kenneth Seamans, county judge in Susquehanna county, has ordered an injunction against a woman in favor of Cabot Oil and Gas. No trespassing on any of the lands they own or lease. The only reason given, unofficially, is that she is trespassing on the souls of the people of the region.
       Now I have to admit I'm conflicted about Fracking, the procedure used to extract gas or oil from shale , far beneath the surface. On the one hand I believe it's a potentially dangerous process that has already done harm around the country, but on the other hand natural gas is a vast improvement over coal in the production of energy when it comes to the environment.
       But poor Ms. Scroggins is now barred from going to the local hospital, the stores she shops at, the VFW, the local animal shelter where she adopted her pet dog, and any of the more that 200,000 acres of land (about 312 sq. miles) they lease. And to top that off, Cabot doesn't even have to show Scroggins what properties she was barred from. She's got to find that out for herself.
       I think it's important to state that Ms. Scroggins, 63, has never been arrested and nothing she has done "was illegal or presented a public danger." And while Cabot wouldn't speak to The Guardian, a consultant did speak and made the claim about her trespassing on the souls of the people. So now 40% of Susquehanna County, Pa. is off limits to Ms. Scroggins.
       Ms. Scroggins was informed of the hearing three days before it took place. She was unable to hire a lawyer in time for the hearing, but Cabot had four attorneys, nine witnesses, company employees and the security firm they hired. They weren't even required to prove that the leases they hold give them the right to keep her off those properties. If I owned a farm and had signed a drilling lease, would Cabot have the right to say who I can invite to my daughters birthday party? I think overreach is not a description I would disagree with. Does a judge have a responsibility to protect the rights of all the citizens that come before him? Even those with unpopular opinions? If he doesn't, it seems to me he should.