Letters to the Editor: Sunday, August 31, 2008
Letters to the Editor: Sunday, August 31, 2008

I'm mad as a hornet about our federal government's attitude toward domestic energy woes. Its most generous subsidies are going toward "green” energy sources such as wind and solar power and biofuels, all of which have two things in common: They're heavily subsidized and comprise a very small proportion of our viable energy sources.

The energy sources that are least viable are the ones I'm being forced to support with my taxes and the ones that are most viable (coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy) are the sources we're being kept from accessing through burdensome regulations and taxes. I know several old-timers who can tell about the days before the prohibitive government regulations on oil refining. They didn't have to go very far to find a productive oil refinery helping to fuel America. They've become so rare lately because of adversarial government policy concerning how petroleum is to be refined.

Congress and the president need to lift all government regulations concerning exploration of energy sources. No subsidies are needed. Just get off the backs of those who are trying to keep us independent of terrorist nations and supplying us once again with cheap, safe, reliable energy.

Scott Esk, Oklahoma City

When Bill Clinton left office in January 2001, he left a federal budget surplus of $127 billion. President Bush ran a budget deficit of $319 billon in 2005. The deficit will hit $482 billion in the 2009 budget year. The Republicans had the majority in Congress for the first six years Bush was in office. The Democrats didn't take control of the Congress until the midterm elections in 2006.

I continually hear Democrats being blamed for the mess our economy is in. Take a closer look at who's to blame. The math doesn't add up.

Mary Anne Henry, Oklahoma City

Bravo to Ken Lisle (Your Views, Aug. 23) for his comments regarding unsafe autos. He hit the nail on the head by referring to many of the vehicles on our highways resembling those found in Third World countries. We've all seen vehicles held together with duct tape, bumpers and fenders flapping wildly as they fly down the road at breakneck speeds. How many times have you braced yourself for the inevitable rear-end collision when you see a vehicle looming in the rearview mirror and brakes screeching loud enough to raise the dead? How many times have the fumes from a neighboring car almost choked you into a coma?

Yes, our roads are teeming with unsafe vehicles driven by irresponsible people who don't care for their safety or anyone else's. I believe the majority would agree something needs to be done, but the resounding argument will lie with the cost to re-establish, maintain and oversee an annual inspection program. I wouldn't mind paying for a comprehensive safety inspection.

Let's do something now before Oklahoma ends up at the top of another national list with negative connotations.

Elane Peek, Midwest City

Because of the tremendous effort by our amazing troops, Iraq has free elections and a democratic government. Now that government and the people want the U.S. to leave. President Bush has made a tentative agreement for this to happen by 2011. If Iraq wants us to leave, let's do it. But we need an agreement that allows the U.S. to have its permanent bases in Iraq to make sure that democracy stands firm. Then our wonderful fighting men and women can come home, Iraq can spend its own money taking care of itself and our deficits can come down by the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Andrew Case, Oklahoma City

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