Wednesday, Jul. 08, 2009

Letters 7/8

Which way to turn?

Global warming is the big concern today. As I recall, years ago it was concern about an ice age.

We are producing ethanol from corn to make fuel. Ethanol is not an efficient use of corn. It does not produce as much energy as oil. We need the corn for food to feed starving people.

We stopped cutting trees for lumber because of the Spotted Owl and saving old trees. That put lots of people out of work. Old trees die and forests can be replanted and animals will be safe.

Plastic siding is used for our homes, as it lasts and is low maintenance. Only it comes from oil, which we will not drill for. We prefer to buy oil so Dubai can build more islands.

Windmills can produce electricity, but too many will disrupt the natural wind flow and thereby can change the weather, and maybe make more global warming.

Thousands of acres of mirrors can be placed over desert areas to collect the sun's rays and generate electricity. This will, of course, keep the sun's rays from reaching and warming the Earth and its creatures, which could also change the weather patterns and nature's ways.

Nuclear power plants provide lots of clean, cheap power in smaller spaces, but could be dangerous -- maybe, what isn't?

This and drilling for oil would put people back to work, keep money in our country, provide a stronger, more patriotic country and reduce dependency on other countries.

Lew Hiatt

Belleville

Where's the outrage?

Instead of being worried about a fly the president killed, how about Mary Wild killing seven dogs by leaving them in a hot van? She should have to spend one day shut up in this van for each dog she killed.

Dr. Laura Ivan said it was poor judgment. Killing seven dogs to me is more than poor judgment. What kind of vet do we have? Ivan said the handler was very reputable. I don't think so.

Marvin Bell

Collinsville

A politician's pledge

I have a suggestion to counter what the Obama administration is trying to pass as health care for United States citizens (socialized medicine). You simply have the president, all of his cabinet members, all senators and congressmen publicly take and sign this oath:

"I (name) solemnly swear that if we pass socialized medicine in the United States of America, I and all my family members agree to only use the same doctors and hospitals provided to the United States citizens. I further agree to sign in on the waiting list and will take my turn in order for all medical appointments. I will accept no special treatment."

I think this would put an end to the idea of socialized medicine in America.

Raymond Tribout Sr.

Fairview Heights

Dress is low priority

I would like to comment on the Sound-off, "Fashion perspective." I'm glad the person who wrote it has nothing else to worry about except what a person wears to a private funeral. The funerals of Sheri Coleman and her two sons was a time for mourning, not making a fashion statement. All I can say to this person is, get a life.

Pete Grohmann

Belleville

Lincoln's resume

It seems to me that when folks say President Barack Obama has little experience, they are considering his meteoric rise and what he did in the Illinois legislature as well as the two years he was in the U.S. Senate.

History does tell us much about Abraham Lincoln's background and experience prior to running for U.S. president. He was a captain in the Black Hawk War, spent eight years in the Illinois legislature, and rode the circuit of courts for many years. Lincoln was part of a rotation of Whigs that were nominated to represent their district in the U.S. House.

President Polk and the U.S. accepted the Texas claim to the border going of the Rio Grande when Texas became a state. While Lincoln was derided for his position on the apparent seizure of Mexican territory (not on the war per se), he did not run for Congress in part due to the rotation and his desire to seek federal office in the Taylor administration.

Then, like now, Illinois was heavily Democratic and as such Lincoln stood a small chance of defeating Stephen Douglas statewide. It was his speeches during the Lincoln-Douglas debates that brought him national attention, enabling him to defeat Douglas in the 1860 presidential election.

It surprises me that people are unable to get their facts out clearly, especially when challenging someone else's viewpoint.

William Jenkin

Granite City

Dance at age level

I attended the Dance Station annual recital recently and I want to commend the staff for putting on a recital that showcases the talents of the dancers without tarting them up. All costumes were age and dance appropriate. In an era where too often our young girls are dressed up way beyond their years, it was nice to see a studio revel in their youth.

Carole McKinstry

O'Fallon

Thanks for service

A grateful thanks to all emergency first responders -- police officers, firefighters, EMTs, doctors, nurses, et al, whose jobs are to protect and save, and of course, to our military forces all over the world. What on earth would we do without them?

Barbara Bertschinger

Belleville

Go easy on the a/c

The summer heat is on. That means the air conditioners are in use, and this is OK. However, excessive use is leading to some quick hit power outages. They only last a couple of seconds, but I know they occur since I see the flashing digits on the microwave and plug-in clocks.

I did not have air conditioning as a kid, and I'm glad it exists. How-ever, there is no excuse for excessive use. Many people keep their thermostats at about 70 or 71, 24 hours a day, so they can have total, optimal comfort. Some people even turn the temperature down to 68 or 69 degrees at night so they can sleep with the covers on. How stupid is that?

Most stores and businesses keep the temperature unnecessarily cold. All of this overuse of energy is expensive and environmentally unsound. The more electricity we use, the more carbon and mercury emissions there are from coal-fired power plants.

We should turn our thermostats up to 82 degrees in the daytime and turn off the air when we leave home or turn in at night. Businesses should raise their temperature one or two degrees. These small steps would save a huge amount of energy and cut pollution significantly.

Americans do not have a birthright to be energy hogs. A bit of self-discipline in the use of air conditioning would certainly help.

Larry L. Brown

Glen Carbon