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Out of Touch
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Published: August 20, 2008
Updated: 08/19/2008 08:25 pm
Clueless Bob Herbert is 180 degrees out of touch with reality in his Aug. 14 column ("Pumped up over an empty promise").
Does he not see that just talking about increasing domestic drilling has already reduced the price of oil futures by 20 percent? Worse -- the left simply refuses to admit that, for all its self-righteous rhetoric, it has no energy plan! Asking us to just wait (how long?) for its investments in new, unproven technologies to pay off is the equivalent of the Democrats trying to sell us lots on the moon.
A huge part of our prosperity in the next 10 to 20 years will depend on how well we manage our current key energy resources (oil, refineries, nuclear). Nobody knows exactly how much untapped oil we have. My guess is much more than current estimates. Let's go get it now!
PETER T. WILSON
Winston-Salem
Firefighters
On Aug. 5, 1949, 13 smokejumpers were burned to death on the Mann Gulch fire in Montana. Fifty-nine years later, nine firefighters died ("Eight firefighters, pilot killed..." Aug. 7) in one of the many fires burning in California. Two other were killed the week before. Many others have died during the intervening years. Fourteen, including four women, died in July 1994 on the South Canyon fire in Colorado.
In recent weeks, over 19,000 firefighters from five foreign countries and over 40 states have been working on fires in the western states. Have we not learned better how to fight such fires or how to prevent them?
Obviously, we cannot prevent all forest fires. However, the number, size and intensity of such fires could be reduced were forest managers able to apply proven cultural and related management practices to reduce fuel accumulations, provide better access and promote green growth. But no, pressures from environmentalists, so-called, and people who build in high-risk areas have resulted in regulations and court restraints precluding managers from applying appropriate practices. Consequently, the risks and costs of fires on both public and private lands increase.
A.P. MUSTIAN JR.
(RET) U.S. FOREST SERVICE
Winston-Salem
Who's Singing?
After reading the letter "Singing" (Aug. 14) I thought: Ever wonder why they call the Republican Party the Grand Old Party or the Good Old Boys? Maybe Sen. Larry Craig or Sen. David Vitter will tell us at their convention. Better yet, let former Rep. Mark Foley sing "Where The Boys Are."
LEE BLAKNEY
Winston-Salem
Being Responsible
Like the writer of the letter "Effective Leadership," (Aug. 10) I, too, am glad that we had Rep. Virginia Foxx to keep those wicked Democrats from spending money we didn't have. I just wish we'd had someone to keep President Bush and crowd from adding about $4 trillion to our public debt with another $.5 trillion on the way: the 2009 Federal Budget. I can't visualize a trillion dollars, but I can do enough arithmetic to figure out that it's approximately $3,300 for every woman, man and child in the U.S.
I don't want my taxes to increase either, but I would rather pay my bills than pass them (with interest) along to my children and grandchildren. I call that being responsible.
My reading of history tells me that no nation, church, motorcycle gang or Girl Scout troop can long survive unless it pays its bills. If there is an alternative, I wish those in favor of tax cuts and mounting debts would explain it for us.
PAUL D. WHITSON
Advance
Good Start
As I read "A Good Start" (Aug. 15) regarding the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools' endeavor to face the issue of preventing high school drop-outs, I was, once again, impressed by the efforts of our school folks. As a former high-school teacher and member of the Community Alliance for Education, I know firsthand that our most at-risk students are our freshmen. Giving them a chance to "know the ropes" before the first day of such an important phase in their lives is truly a forward-thinking step.
Even more impressive was the humanitarian spirit shown at Reynolds High School by having students who had "walked the walk" give up precious summer days to help with the process. Many believe that a true education should instill in one's character the importance of compassion and giving back to the community. I appreciate the students, educators and administrators who took part in the project.
Obviously, despite tough economic times, our school system continues to be as proactive as possible regarding drop-out prevention. Studies show that we either spend now supporting our students or spend later if they do not finish high school. I, for one, am proud of our system's efforts to save children.
DIANNE S. ISEMAN
Winston-Salem
Be Fair
Let's be fair. I was not a John Edwards supporter, but your editorial "John Edwards" (Aug. 12) indicated that his affair was more repugnant because he decided to run for president and, had he won the nomination, would have incurred the wrath of the American people. Further, it states that he will soon disappear from public and the country will be better off without him.
What about Sen. John McCain's affairs and dumping a wife while she was recovering from an accident and serious injuries? Has he incurred the wrath of the people? Would the country be better off without him?
Referring to Elizabeth Edwards, you stated that we must "… question her judgment. Clearly, she could have put her foot down and demanded that her husband not run for president …" How was this so clear to you? Edwards had a tawdry affair and we must "question her judgment?" He is her husband, an adult, not her child. She was not responsible for covering up, cleaning up, fixing up or preventing an additional mess.
I do not expect to agree with all of your editorials. I do expect them to be fair and balanced. This one was neither.
YVONNE PAUL
Winston-Salem
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