Letters to the Editor: Saturday, August 23, 2008
Letters to the Editor: Saturday, August 23, 2008

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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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Why doesn't the Legislature care about the safety of Oklahoma citizens? Until this problem is corrected, who can we contact to report an unsafe automobile and try to protect our families one vehicle at a time?

Ken Lisle, Edmond

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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I thought what I was reading was just for show & tell. Guess I was right....thanks.
Sallie, Del City - Aug 25, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Aside from the ownership of guns as a deterrent (I daresay they are easier to get in iraq than here), logistically, how could a Middle East nation possibly conduct a land invasion of the US? And my point to Bert is the same - during WWII, how or why would Japan ever have invaded the US? It was never in their planning, it was never one of their goals. That goes for Germany, as well.
Jay, Oklahoma City - Aug 25, 2008 at 2:54 pm
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My apologies for garble.....No it was was talking about a land invasion of U.S. soil and the number of guns privately owned.
Sallie, Del City - Aug 25, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Sallie, I'm not sure of what you are referring. Whom would Iraq/Iran be invading? Each other? That already happened in the 1980s.
Jay, Oklahoma City - Aug 25, 2008 at 1:58 pm
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Heard a quote: Society doesn't become more tolerant; it just changes targets. That quote made me, first, think reallllly deep and, second, made me look up to remember how to use a semicolon.
K.L., warr acres - Aug 25, 2008 at 1:42 pm
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Well the gun part is true!
Sallie, Del City - Aug 25, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Jay, I read either in the DOK or MSN (memory) a comment (by a Middle Eastern official?) that Iraq/Iran (apologies for not being sure which country) would not try a land invasion as "there is a rifle behind every blade of grass". This could very well be propaganda. But I did read it. Probably crap huh?
Sallie, Del City - Aug 25, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Bert, if you are still out there...your comment below "Joe, It is a proven fact that Japan did not want to invade the lower 48 because they knew that a lot of citizens had guns." (9:40 PM Aug 23) drew my attention. Where did you learn this? I'm very interested because I know of no plan that Japan ever had of invading the continental US. I always laugh when people use that old aphorism: "If sucha-and-such hadn't happened, we'd all be speaking german (or japanese) today."
Jay, Oklahoma City - Aug 25, 2008 at 12:55 pm
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Eddie Rich: It would seem to me that if you can communicate with people who have different views it would be an asset. I can recall Bush's attitude of with us or against us as not being helpful at all. American citizens are supposed to be able to have different opinions without being accused of being anti-American. It would seem that there are some people who are quick to attach labels like socialist or Marxist when it is not justified. Did you learn that at Moore High School?
Jamie, Lexington - Aug 25, 2008 at 10:44 am
Maryann Walls: Just exactly what radical reaction are you referring to? "Panic and fear" among school children? I see no evidence of that.
Jamie, Lexington - Aug 25, 2008 at 10:32 am
B.: Thank you for your kind response.
Ron and Vicki, Oklahoma City - Aug 24, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Floyd, if I could afford to get a 57 chevy in mint condition, I would not put anything on the hood. That is one of best looking vehicles ever made and of course pretty darn fast.
Sallie, Del City - Aug 24, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Wingnuts, no one is trying to take away your babies, rather just hoping to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals, 12 years old kids and people with mental problems, though I'm not sure what need an ave. citizen has for a military assault rifle.
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.
David, Norman - Aug 24, 2008 at 11:38 am
Ron, I wasn't sure what to expect from you after my last comments. I am pleasantly surprised with your your thoughtful, respectful response. One of the things that has made America the land of the free is that even from the very beginning, people were free to speak their minds -- even if others did not agree. I believe that one of the reasons our Constitution has been so successful and so powerful is that all of the people invloved were free to disagree and debate (and much of that in a very heated fashion) about what form of government we should have and what should and shouldn't be included in the Constitution. No one person or group had all the answers, rather the Constitution took the best ideas from all sides. As long as we can continue that spirit -- that we freely allow left, right and the vast majority that fall in the middle to freely express their opinions without being denigrated for it, America will continue to be the land of the free.
B, Oklahoma City - Aug 24, 2008 at 11:19 am
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Bert, I do not want to do away with part of the Constitution. I do not have an objection to the private ownership of firearms, though I think reasonable restrictions are appropriate (no weapons for felons, limitation on size of weapons available to individuals, etc.). I am simply saying that I do not believe the Second Amendment is sufficient to grant all the rights gunowners often attribute to it. That's all.
Joe, Bugtussle - Aug 24, 2008 at 11:02 am
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Joe You want to do away with part of the const because you do not agree with it but you want other parts to stand. it does not work that way
BERT, HENRYETTA - Aug 24, 2008 at 10:35 am
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Bert, in no way am I suggesting we dispose of any portion of the Constitution simply because "part of the population decides" that it no longer applies. What I am suggesting is that the drafters of the Second Amendment qualified the right to keep and bear arms - for the purpose of maintaining a ready militia. I believe that the vast majority in this country would agree that we have a ready militia in the form of the armed services including the reserves and National Guard. As for your position on the Fourth Amendment regarding unwarranted searches and seizures, I completely agree with you (which is unlikely to happen often). The current administration's systematic disregard for the Constitution would be laughable if it wasn’t so blatant and far-reaching. Warrantless wiretaps, searches, torture and the like have done more to damage our government’s credibility with our citizens and foreign countries than any in history. That I believe we can agree on. Have a good day.
Joe, Bugtussle - Aug 24, 2008 at 10:05 am
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I bet you wished you still had it if you don't. The 283 dominated so many drag race classes the competition got them refactored with higher horsepower ratings to have a chance. They reved up to 10 or 11,000 RPM so they had to put scattershields in those with clutches because the would disintegrate and cut off the driver's feet.
Floyd, Oklahoma City - Aug 24, 2008 at 9:15 am
Floyd I bought a new 57 Chevy in 57 and that car could run
BERT, HENRYETTA - Aug 24, 2008 at 8:14 am
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Joe, So when a part of the population decides that const, ammendmend in their mind no longer applies we just throw it away without going about it in the way set out by the founding fathers? So the ones complaining about the government listening in on phone calls without a warrent are wrong. Because the gov thinks they need to do this to protect us any part of the const or ammendmend that protects us fron these intrusions on our life is okay, Just throw the const out the window. And if in the interest of protecting the people some branch of the gov decides it needs to start going thru your house or car and confisticating your property it is okay. Throw out the part on the const that protects you from the gov. Now Joe type in POSSE COMITATUS in your conputer and read whgat it says. That is if your local police decide you can have and use a computer. If we throw out the const or parts of it as you seem to think we can do because times have changed in your mind or anothers mind then any part can be thrown out by about anyone in power
BERT, HENRYETTA - Aug 24, 2008 at 8:13 am
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B.: I have made no claim to honor, but I do make a sincere effort to conduct myself honorably. Being an author myself, I tend to have sympathy, misplaced or not, for Barton's omissions. I did peruse the Wikepedia item you recommended, and my conclusion is "so who do you believe?" I admittedly do favor Christians, because I trust them. I agree with Barton that Christianity by itself is not a church, and that the purpose of the "establishment clause" was to prohibit a fourth body of government such as the once-despised Church of England. Some of the Wikepedia posters are known enemies of the Christian faith, and its rights to free speech and religious exercise. Their agenda is clear. One, Republican Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, has stood firmly against rights of the unborn, and his motive is particularly suspect. Some of the debate over Barton was about Jefferson's "1802" letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, actually dated January 1, 1803. The exact text of that letter is available to the public. I have read it several times, and it is contained in William Federer's book, "America's God and Country" ISBN 1-880563-09-6 (subtitled "Encyclopedia of Quotations"). Also available to the public is First President George Washington's published Farewell Address, among many other historical documents.
Ron and Vicki, Oklahoma City - Aug 24, 2008 at 8:00 am
Sallie, Get a '57 Chevy car. They looked like they were meant to mount guns in the hood.
Floyd, Oklahoma City - Aug 24, 2008 at 7:33 am
Sallie, if you do end up mounting that bazooka on your hood, watch out for the back flame on the thing when you fire it. ;-)
Stephen, Ada - Aug 24, 2008 at 6:50 am
For a quick and dirty answer, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Barton

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.
B, Oklahoma City - Aug 24, 2008 at 1:00 am
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"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." U.S. Const. amend. II>
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."
J, Oklahoma City - Aug 24, 2008 at 12:57 am
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