Letters to the Editor
AlecsMom
Published Letters: 638 Editor's Choice: 18
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A Disturbing Interview
[Read the article: "Why do these men want to coach little girls?" ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]As an educator who works with children, I am very disturbed by the tenor of this article and the title as well. Both Julia Wallace and Jennifer Sey capitalize on rumor and innuendo in a very unfair and dishonest way. Most people who work with children, in either sports or dance or art or education, do so out of a desire to help children develop. They are not abusers or predators or wierdos.
That said, as we all know, there are far too many poeple who work with children who do not behave or teach appropriately and even go so far as to violate the law. The latter can be arrested and imprisoned. The former, who represent the greater number, are squarely the fault of organizations, communities and parents who do not know what children need. The gate keepers, however, are the parents and they should never abdicate that responsibility.
The fact is that too many parents get swept up in their children's dreams and put all else on hold so that their children can basically pursue, at a very high level, their hobbies. So, I wonder where the children get the idea that one activity comes first to the exclusion of all else, such as health and dignity?
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The DNC needs to change electoral Procedures
[Read the article: Whose fault is the Clinton-Obama stalemate?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The DNC holds to two types of contradictory electoral proceudres. The first is pledged delegates who are elected. the second are the superdelegates. Frankly, I see no reason why this group of individuals should exist. They already vote once, right? Why do they get to vote again and have more "say" than the rest of us?
IMO, the DNC should do a few things. First, shorten the process so that there's far less time between contests. This might also remedy the conflicts between states as seen in the FL and MI debacle. Secondly, toss the superdelegates. There's no legitimate need for these people. The other solution would be to just eliminate proportional representation altogether. This would end the contests far sooner.
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Even when Oprah is good...
[Read the article: I Like to Watch]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Even when Oprah is good, she's bad. According to Heather and others here, this woman just can't get anything right. I guess the fact that Oprah consistently airs television shows about giving to others and follows through by giving away many tens of millions of dollars herself makes no nevermind to you. I wonder what you guys would do with all of her billions. My bet is not nearly as much as she has done.
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Reality Sets In
[Read the article: The education of an oil reporter]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The days of cheap and plentiful gas are over. When there are approximately 5 billion people increasing their consumption of a resource each year, it goes without saying that the resource will become more expensive. Demand goes up, price goes up. Of course, if we could wave a magic wand and suddenly come up with billions of barrels of easily accessed oil reserves this might not occur. That hasn't happened and it won't.
Instead, Bush et. al. have sat on their hands while consumption soared and did nothing to curb usage. I believe the US still outstrips both India and China in consumption. Now, McCain and Clinton have latched onto one of the worst ideas to come along in a while. Make gasoline artificially less expensive by eliminating the federal taxes on it, despite the fact that these taxes go directly to transportation systems and needed jobs. No, far better to stick a very small bandaid on the problem and watch as the price of gasoline jumps as more Americans delude themselves into believing that consumption (demand) doesn't drive the price. It does folks.
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@picardian
[Read the article: The education of an oil reporter]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The cost of gasoline is not uniform everywhere. It fluctuates all over. The primary factor in the cost, especially the rising cost, of gasoline is consumption and supply. Any other factors are miniscule comparatively. If you are wondering why prices are falling today, for example, the answer is easy. Demand is slowing.
Making gasoline less expensive during the summer months, when consumption in the US is generally 5% higher, is the dumbest idea going. This is the Clinton/McCain solution. No one who cares about long-term energy solutions could possibly endorse this idea. Consumption NEEDS to drop. In this regard, the high prices are a positive good.
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@Marshall
[Read the article: The education of an oil reporter]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It doesn't matter what you plot the price of oil in, dollars or euros or whatever. The fact is that real demand across the world has jumped over the past several years. Oil is a finite source and the old standard "blame the Arabs" gambit won't play. They are pumping lots of oil. The fact is that demand is skyrocketing and there is no way to easily or inexpensively produce more output. Throw in natural disasters like Katrina and you know why prices have been climbing for years and will continue to do so. There is only one remedy: reduce consumption.
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Bush at it Again
[Read the article: Bush misleads on ANWR]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Bush and his cronies have been at this for years trying to open the ANWR up to drilling. Now that gas prices are stratospheric (and will go even higher) he blames environmentalists for the problem. Typical idiocy from Bush. Congress needs to push back and let Bush know in no uncertain terms that this will not happen. The emphasis has to be on conservation efforts.
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How much longer...
[Read the article: Obama: "I am outraged"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]How much longer will we have to hear about Reverend Wright, as opposed to our energy policy, unemployment, education?
This debacle, from the beginning, has been about smearing Obama with Wright's words. Why is that OK? Obama has been quite clear in his own speech and actions about what his beliefs are. He shouldn't have to answer for Wright. Hopefully, this issue will die a quick death but I highly doubt it.