I have until now admired Israel's tolerance for those who question the current government's policies and practices. Do I now have to change my mind? After all, Israel is a Democracy and democracies stand for freedom of thought and speech. The USA are well known to tolerate no criticism of Israel and has done the USA and Israel no favor by vetoing all UN resolution critical of Israel. But now Israel is falling into the same trap as the USA - anybody who dares criticize what Israel does it ostracized and marginalized. Those Jews and others who support without question the current Israel and USA approach to the conflict with the Palestinians confirm popular prejudices against Jews. Are they doing Israel a favor?

I hope you had fun poking fun at my screen name. Your screen name also lends itself to humor, but let's not descend into that sump, shall we? This column is supposed to be devoted to the issue at hand. Sorry GoodCellery, I found nothing in your long (more than 1000 words!) contribution that had anything to do with the article or my comments.

You are so correct: The only way to deal with high gas prices is by driving less and use fuel efficient cars. Now why didn't we think of this several years ago? Actually we did until the current Administration did everything in their power to stifle fuel efficiency and the development of alternate sources of energy. The only initiative, bio fuels, has proved to be disastrous. The government deliberately encouraged the move to SUVs by taxing them like trucks. If people think $4.00/gallon is bad, consider fuel prices elsewhere. I live in Germany and gas costs €1.50/liter. That is €5.50/gallon or more than eight dollars. California still has a long way to go!

In my opinion, McCain is on the wrong side of almost every issue. But he is correct on free trade. It isn't free trade that is taking jobs away but our and the developed nations' failure to deal adequately with countries that pay slave labor wages and run amok over the environment. For decades now the US and Europe have benefited from consumer goods produced in underdeveloped countries under conditions that would be illegal at home. The same people who cry about lost jobs also took advantage of inexpensive imports.

We should say "Yes" to free trade but at the same time demand that all imported goods are produced under equitable conditions. But who is to control it? We don't even seem to be able to prevent importation of tainted food and toys from China. Better quality control in exporting countries, combined with inspections of workplace and environmental standards could be an answer And don't let the exporting countries complain about infringement on their sovereignty. if they want to sell to us they need to allow us to control the production process.

Hey, if you are concerned about the environment why don't you stay home?

Let me guess: She was taught by her mother and whoever else helped raise her that any part of the body below the belt is dirty and never to be touched. Not even by her own hands. It would help to know exactly what the pediatrician did to traumatize her. Was it something about which to be traumatized? And sex is something to be suffered only with your husband and only for procreation.

She is now trying to break out of this pattern of fear but once programmed in a certain way the human mind is difficult to be healed.

This is indeed a populist master piece. This proposal will bring him countless votes from those who are hurting the most because of high gasoline prices. Never mind that gas prices in the USA have been much too low for decades, giving people a false sense of economic wellbeing. Because of low fuel costs, people thought nothing of driving 100 miles a day to go to work. In reality gas should be taxed higher to encourage people to live closer to their place of work, to help repair the crumbling infrastructure and to encourage development of alternate energy sources. There are other ways to help those who need to drive to work over great distances. What about an income tax rebate to those who have to drive to work more than 20 miles a day? To drop gasoline taxes only encourages more pleasure rides.

Russia under Putin did indeed revert back to Stalinist ways and, one might say, ways already in place under the Tsar. After the Soviet Union collapsed, we tried to convert Russia into a Western style democracy. Our style of democracy was developed over a period of several hundred years. To believe that we could bring it to Russia practically overnight is almost as naive as the effort to bring it to Iraq. The result was chaos with a few getting super rich by ripping off the country's wealth for their own benefit while most of the people became impoverished. Putin was swept into power, a reaction that was all but inevitable. The only alternative would have been a complete collapse of the country, a development that also would not have been in our best interest. Russia now has a new President and the tenor has already changed. Let us not forget that the USA and Canada, Europe and Russia, plus Australia and New Zealand belong to one culture. We need Russia if we want to have a chance to prevail over the Islamists, China and India. Prevail economically and culturally. There is no room for major military conflict in the 21st Century. The last thing we need is another cold war with Russia. We need to do everything in our power to help Russia to slowly overcome its reliance on oppression and rule by a strong man. What McCain proposes is suicidal.