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U.S., pump up energy industry

When I write letters, it is for those whose minds are not set in cement, who don’t have the time to sift through all the news. For too long we have danced to the tunes of extremists on just about all one can think of. The dire results of this are beginning to be seen more and more in the costs of everything we need and use.

We are in a recession, an occurrence that is normal from time to time, made worse by the ignorance of fear. While some Americans add insult to injury, destroying our economy, other nations are creating more billionaires by doing what we should be doing. While we are killing our industries, hampering with more sick regulations, causing costs to rise ever higher, others are building.

China is building coal-to-gas plants and nuclear plants— at present, 50 of each. Oil and gas refineries, drilling and developing in Russia, the Americas, all over, while we subsidize building and refining ethanol out of our corn, adding to the food shortages around the world.

Ask your government how many billions of our tax dollars they have spent on this alone? Ask how much of our fossil fuels they have used to make this anemic stuff? Ask your politicians how much the ethanol crowd greased their palms to make this possible? The answer is at least six times more than they give to big oil that the hypocrites whine about.

Ask your politicians how many, like Al Gore, get very rich trading carbon while we pay more and get less? The answer: It’s one of the greatest shell games of all time, one that P.T. Barnum would envy. We must not idle while others prosper at our expense, doing what we should have long ago.

John Hammons
Anacortes


The war is our only solution

I certainly hate to disagree with any of my war-mongering, fanatic, right-wing brethren, but David H. Bates’ Soapbox letter of April 19 is the perfect example of the ignorance and lack of understanding that will indeed keep us at war with terrorists until the end of time.

I can personally guarantee Mr. Bates that there is not a single Islamo-fascist on the planet who is interested in forcing him to “submit to their way of life.”

The fact is that after about 400 years of peaceably trying to convince the French, Portuguese, Turks, British, Russians, Jews, League of Nations, United Nations, any nations and, of course, us that they’re not interested in having our ways of life crammed down their throats, they now would just simply like to see us all dead.

But don’t get me wrong. I clearly understand that getting David H. Bates to read a history book, along with the approximately 100 million other voters it would take to actually force our government to change our Middle East foreign policy, isn’t going to happen. Therefore, I agree with Mr. Bates. Kill them all, and let God sort them out. Civilize ’em or vaporize ’em, that’s my motto.

Ray Bradbury nailed it way back in 1953. Just surround yourself with wrap-around, big screen, soap opera TV; burn all those embarrassing books; and just let your government take care of all those pesky problems that are just way too complex for our pea-sized brains to comprehend.

Scramjet delivery systems tipped with 100 megatonners, launched from orbiting platforms in the sky — that’s what we need! Guaranteed 10-second delivery, or your pizza is free. Would you like cheesy bread with that order, Mr. Jintao?

Amen, Brother Dave!

Jerry Hansen
Burlington


Have humane childbirth experience

Studies have determined that women are strongly affected by their childbirth experience, even long after the event has passed. If you’re a mother, you probably remember everything about your birthing experience, down to the smallest detail — regardless of whether it took place two weeks ago or 20 years ago.

Why is it then that so many women are pushed through an unnatural birthing process? We end up being pumped full of drugs to speed labor up or take away pain, being told that the side effects aren’t anything to worry about. Well, the next thing you know, the baby’s heart rate has dropped and you find yourself on a table under bright lights being sliced open. What went wrong?

Childbirth doesn’t have to be like this. Educate yourself before it’s too late. Hire a doula to help you through your fears before your labor and to help advocate for you during your labor. Yes, Caesareans are sometimes necessary (and can still be beautiful birthing experiences), but they are becoming an all too common way we’re forced to give birth.

Take a stand and take back your birth experience, ladies!

Danielle Griffin
Mount Vernon


Gas-tax holiday would hurt us

The summer gas-tax holiday proposed by Sens. John McCain and Hillary Clinton is dishonest political pandering. It sounds like it gives consumers a break, but the facts say otherwise.

First, the average motorist would save only about $28, about the cost of half a tank of gas. That is, unless the oil companies raise the price of gas to make up the difference, as they did when Illinois tried a gas-tax holiday.

Second, Sen. McCain doesn’t try to pay for his gas-tax holiday. Sen. Clinton says she can pay for it with a windfall profits tax on the oil companies. How does she think she’s going to get a tax on oil companies passed through Congress and not have it vetoed by President Bush, all in time for summer driving? In reality, there’s no way to make up for the lost revenue.

Third, according to the state Department of Transportation, “This reduction in federal highway trust fund receipts could mean a cut in funding for federal-aid highway programs to Washington State by an estimated $126 million next year.” This would put a lot of Washingtonians with highway-related jobs out of work.

Politicians should stop offering Band-Aids for serious economic problems. They should put their effort into legislation that would call for fuel-efficient vehicles and fund research into alternative energies. We, as consumers, need to see through their empty promises and demand real leadership.

Kathleen McClelland
Mount Vernon


Need wisdom in White House

I began this long political campaign as a Hillary supporter, admiring her tenacity and drive, but changed after hearing Obama’s first speech regarding Jeremiah Wright — a wise, thoughtful, insightful commentary with words based in reality. His views are those of a mediator based on understanding.

Hillary has said she will go after Iran (if George doesn’t do it first). Her support of McCain’s summer gas tax ($50 at most per family) — eliminating vital income for roads, bridges and jobs over three months — is an empty offer.

As a middle school teacher, I know a punitive, fearful approach works neither with students nor for a nation. I believe Obama will use diplomacy as Jimmy Carter is trying to do now; I think Hillary might not.

We desperately need wisdom, not aggression.

Christine Wardenburg-Skinner
Edison


Downtown traffic hampers walkers

I am a 35-year-old male epileptic who struggles at times to cross the street at the downtown intersections between the Casagrande and the library. I also have to walk my small dog multiple times during the day, and it seems as though the traffic since the police department has moved has increased a solid 10 to 15 mph.

I have witnessed several accidents and also have had to yell at many drivers to slow down, but instead more tulip traffic floods downtown and the frustrations never cease.

Anthony Fisher
Mount Vernon