Letters to the Editor

Does saving energy mean saving money?

Mr. Brotherton’s article in the PVT on December 3, 2014 was well written while suggesting and implying that we should ignore alternative energy sources like solar and allow private enterprise to produce the cheapest energy available such as coal. He didn’t mention the two main reasons why our country is developing alternative sources of energy such as solar, those reasons being that at some point we will not have enough fossil fuel to run our planet and according to 97 percent of our scientists, our global warming is caused by humans.

Let’s consider one of the worst polluters of our planet, David Koch, of the infamous Koch brothers. David Koch hired a well-known scientist, Richard Mueller, to research and prove that global warming was not caused by humans. Long story short, on 7/28/2012, a NY Times op ended by Richard Mueller was published. It was “The Conversion of a Climate-Change Skeptic.” Mueller wrote: “Call me a converted skeptic.

“Three years ago I identified problems in previous climate studies that, in my mind, threw doubt on the very existence of global warming. Last year, following an intensive research effort involving a dozen scientists, I concluded that global warming was real and that the prior estimates of the rate of warming were correct. I’m now going a step further: “Humans are almost entirely the cause.” The single biggest funder of this study was from “Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation ($150,000.)”

However, I agree with Mr. Brotherton that private enterprise is the most efficient means of production and that whenever possible we should allow that avenue to work. But, sometimes it becomes necessary for the government to get involved and almost inevitably our government will burn large sums of money. For example, George W. Bush blew something like one trillion of our taxpayers’ dollars, most of it unaccounted for, in his war against Iraq.

Solar, wind, nuclear and thermal are the alternative choices we have. These all produce clean and renewable energy. I agree they are not as cheap as fossil fuel, but should we destroy our planet by continuing to release billions of tons of carbon into the atmosphere? Further, when we consider the enormous cost of health care brought about by poison water and air from pollution the overall cost becomes less. Are 97 percent of our scientists wrong? I don’t think so.

Jim Ferrell

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

Ever wonder why regardless of who is president we continue the same anti-American policies that continue to chip away at our civil liberties, wealth and freedom?

Take for example Bush the younger. Among other things, he promised us no wars, no nation building, smaller government and a strong economy. None of these things ever happened.

In fact, the outcomes were 9/11 (sorry, it could have been prevented), Afghanistan Part 1, Iraq Part 1, the Patriot Act, NDAA, Gitmo and a nearly collapsed economy (he didn’t see it coming?). Looks like we got Bushwhacked!

For our next act, enter Barack Obama. Let’s see, he promised to end the wars, discontinue nation building, and create a vibrant economy with lots more jobs and a restoration of our civil liberties. Great job (at lying) Barack! The economy is worse than ever, ongoing endless wars (Afghanistan Part 2, embarking on Iraq Part 2, and trying for Syria, Ukraine, Iran and maybe Russia), our wealth continues to be severely eroded and we are living in a virtual police state. And, Obummer wants our guns too. Give me a break!

The ESTABLISHMENT neocon republicans and progressive democrats have been destroying this country for over 100 years and Wall Street and the military-industrial complex are their masters.

What we really need are true liberal and conservative Patriots who believe in the Constitution and will serve the people instead of the elite.

George W. Hoeltje