Letters to the Editor: Saturday, August 23, 2008
Letters to the Editor: Saturday, August 23, 2008
Comments 
104
Published: August 23, 2008
Unsafe autos clog highways
Ending the annual $5 safety inspection for vehicles was one of the most irresponsible acts ever committed by our Oklahoma government. Thousands of unsafe vehicles clog our highways with no headlights, no turn signals, no brake lights and slick and unsafe tires. Oklahoma is beginning to look like a third world country with smoking and poorly running vehicles. I pass them every day on my way to work along the Hefner Parkway. They're endangering their own lives and the lives of others.
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An ‘abrupt event'
Widespread global temperature readings began around 1930. In 2008, measuring global temperature is much more sophisticated than it was only 20 years ago. Common sense dictates that comparing the time periods of 1900-1975 with 1975-2008 is not possible given the vast differences in accuracy, technology, consistency, number of places being monitored and newly introduced ocean and satellite data.
To make a sweeping generalization that Earth is definitely heating due to man's activity seems absurd. It could be due to the Earth's "normal” persistent fluctuations. The Sahara was lush and green 6,000 years ago and abruptly experienced warming (scientists say it took 1,000 years). Scientists like to refer to 1,000 years as an "abrupt event” in ancient historical terms, and yet today want to draw long-term conclusions from one century's worth of sketchy data.
We can all agree that we should keep a close watch on our climate and accumulate a few hundred more years of temperature readings. But to radically react in some way that would kill business development with impossible regulations or spend billions chasing the wrong causes would be economically disastrous. It is also irresponsible the way Al Gore and his followers are perpetuating panic and fear among school children with theories of devastation.
More government regulation is almost never the right answer to any problem and this is no exception.
Maryann Walls, Edmond
Hard to believe
Regarding "Toby Keith says he admires Obama” (news story, Aug. 20): I find it hard to believe that someone who seems to care so much for America could admire someone like Barack Obama. Toby may need to take a look at Obama's anti-Second Amendment votes in the Senate and as a state legislator. Toby may need to take a look at Obama's views on redistribution of wealth. He may need to listen to a few of the sermons of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright that Obama once praised. He may need to take a look at some of the anti-American friends that Obama has had over the years.
The only reason I can come up with for Toby's admiration of Obama is he was absent from class at Moore High School the day they taught on Marxism.
Eddie Rich, Moore
Surplus squandered
Financial expert Suze Orman's assessment of why people go excessively into debt could be the same reason this nation is burdened with an overwhelming national debt. Her philosophy is that, as individuals, we spend money we don't have on things we don't need, to impress people we don't know or like.
The previous administration and Congress balanced the budget and left office with a projected surplus. Since then, Congress and the administration have not only squandered the surplus but also incurred debt that will take generations to pay off. Pay as you go balances the budget. If Democrats are the tax-and-spend party, Republicans are the borrow-and-spend party. Voters should ask themselves which of these policies best serves our country.
Howard M. Crain, Oklahoma City
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Laughable how people who probably made a C in science sound off on climate change, disagreeing with all the scientists not on the payroll of a business interest. Yes, due to the Earth's slightly irregular elipse, it experiences cooling and warming cycles, however, 500 years ago, mankind wasn't anually belching into the atmosphere billions of tons of heat trapping co2 emissions. There are simple science experiments you can do at home to demonstrate the effect. Why do conservatives hate Mother Earth.
In the Aug. 22 "Letters to the Editors", a number of writers all disagree with a previous letter written by Diana Hseih. Their "arguments" all come from books written by David Barton.
The idea that persons can "keep and bear arms" as a part of a "well regulated militia" has come and gone. There is no need for militia, although an argument can be made by conspiracy theorists that the need may present itself for future events. I'm pretty sure that most people don't think that the right to own and keep guns is one upon which we should infringe. Rather, what should occur is that there should be limits upon when and WHO should be allowed to own weapons. Further, there should be at least some limitation upon what can be purchased and where it is made available. Please save me the stock NRA "criminals don't have a waiting period" or "guns don't kill people, people kill people" arguments. To put it in Okie (and before you get too ramped up, I was born and raised here) and not legalese, "Ain't nobody saying you cain't have one of them guns, we're just sayin' that you might have to wait a git one."