Delicious irony
Saturday, July 19, 2008 12:56 AM PDT
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E-mail this articleJuly 19 Letters to the Editor
Delicious irony
After two consecutive days of editorial proselytizing on the virtues of nanny-statism — national speed limits and anti-smoking ordinances — it was almost too rich to read, on the same editorial page (July 14), the fundamental requirement for people the world over to experience happiness is freedom.
Turns out our vaunted “free” society ranks about 16th, behind places like Denmark, Colombia and Puerto Rico. But, hey, a few more laws/regulations/statutes/rules will fix that, and in the meantime, the beatings will continue until morale improves.
Because none of us can be trusted to make the “right” choices without “official” guidance.
Doug Spittler
Kalama
LNG is the energy bridge
These high gas prices shouldn’t alter Americans' views on making our environment healthier; it should open our eyes to what we really need to be using, which is liquid natural gas.
I was reading an article in the July 2 Daily News (“Americans shift attitude on energy vs. conservation”) about a survey that showed a number of people considered viewing oil drilling and new power plants over protecting the environment. Doesn’t it just make sense to use LNG? LNG is better for the environment and is cheaper than gasoline. What are people waiting for?
People complain about how dreadful our environment is getting, and how high the price of gasoline has got, but they oppose LNG. People, LNG is the energy bridge to sustainability. We can maintain our economy, jobs and the environment by using clean-burning natural gas. I support Bradwood Landing.
Marleen Zytniowski
Rainier
Give me a break
Well, here we go again. In the beginning of the school year it was “incest” to hug and kiss your kids, grandkids, etc., when you drop them off at school. Who knows if they will even make it home or be kidnapped. I had replied to that letter, too. And I still hug my family, friends and former co-workers when I see them.
Now it should be a “crime” to have your car window down or be smiling when you drive. Give me a break. What else will they think of to be “illegal.” Having a passenger in the car? I can see it with an animal by the steering wheel, though. That is wrong.
But would that man rather have a “prune” driving, gripping the steering wheel like they were murdering it. That takes concentration.
Frances Fisher
Castle Rock
An alternative to Baird
What a welcome surprise to find we have an alternative to Brian Baird running as a Democrat, as the letter by Bernadette O’Brien pointed out in the July 11 Daily News. I had never heard of Cheryl Crist before. The letter failed to mention the Web site www.CristforCongress.us I would recommend anyone against the war in Iraq visit Crist’s Web page.
Baird seems to vote in the House in D.C. as a Republican, and then comes back to his home in the “Good Washington” and asks us to vote for him as a Democrat. It is a sly way to gain more votes. His voting record in D.C. shows he votes for the money interests and takes money from the largest lobbyists in D.C. to fund his campaign and vacations.
And now Daily News, how about setting up a debate between Cheryl and Brian?
Dave Westerlund
Longview
Clean up brush, debris
Now that the mowers are out mowing grass and weeds along the county roads, how about cleaning up the brush, tree limbs, debris and litter that is along all the roads? I walk every day and you cannot believe all that I see along the roads.
With rising costs of everything, I know the city and county are not going to do it. So why can’t we take inmates out to get some exercise and fresh air, and solve this problem all in one? It would give them something to do besides, read, smoke, play cards, visit, watch TV, listen to the radio, etc.
LaDell Hollenbeck
Carrolls
America’s oil
Drilling for oil on American soil is a good thing because the more found here is less the need for imported oil from countries that don’t like our government’s policies.
Will finding more oil here bring down the price of fuel at the pump? I doubt that very much. Misconceptions abound about oil and oil companies. Companies that drill for oil, whether based in America or not, have no loyalty but to themselves and their shareholders.
The land they lease is their land for the time specified in the lease and whatever amount of oil found is their oil, not America’s oil, and is sold on the world market for world market prices. The oil America has is our oil only if it stays in the ground. People in Congress talk about us drilling for our oil. I wish they would get their story straight.
David Carlstrom
Kelso
Subsidize oil companies
I was reading the article in the July 16 Daily News regarding George Bush’s feeble attempt at trying to assuage the American banking public’s fear of bank failures. The Congress is slowly approaching this problem by considering to underwrite Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
I suggest another course of action, since the current president is set on a course of helping his oil cronies at any cost to the American economy. Note that at the current price of gas, it has become a regressive tax on most lower- and even middle-income families. The gas prices are at the heart of the current weak growth and recession fears gripping this country. If the government wants to subsidize these large mortgage firms, why not subsidize the oil companies further.
Companies like Exxon and Chevron are posting the biggest profits in their history. If the government can fund billions to a senseless war where no one has seen a hint of oil from, then why not just give the money to the oil companies with the assurance that gas prices will come way down, since it is all about money and profits to this current regime?
What a joke to listen to George Bush tell us that the economy will straighten itself out in time. I would imagine that time will be when Barack Obama takes the chair in the Oval Office.
Bob Cripe
Longview
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