House GOP Plays Partisan Games

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I had thought about writing a letter concerning the special transportation session of the General Assembly. But when I saw a photograph of Del. Scott Lingamfelter, I knew I had to write.

The Republican Party continues its position against raising taxes, which shows it is more concerned about getting re-elected than about what is good for the people. None of us wants higher taxes -- especially in today's climate, when everything is going up. However, it only makes sense that at some point we have to raise taxes to meet the need.

Knowing a little bit about how the General Assembly works, I figured the transportation bill would go to the House Finance Committee. But noooo -- House Speaker Bill Howell played games and sent it to the Rules Committee. This move shows Republicans are not interested in open debate.

Too many politicians are more interested in doing what they think will get them votes rather than doing what is best for the people of Virginia.

Laura N. Lennox. Richmond.

Energy Issue Needs Balanced Consideration

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I do not often read the letters to the editor, but several have caught my attention. They demonstrate the difficulty of solving our energy problems.

There continues to be friction between folks who shoot from the hip. Environmentalists are depicted as tree-hugging lunatics who find reasons to halt every energy option, while the other side is depicted as not caring about the environment or anything but selfish options. Neither side seems capable of producing ideas that are acceptable to the other. Meanwhile, everyone suffers and nothing gets started.

I wish that we could agree that we need action and we need it now. Unfortunately, our Congress is responding exactly as expected. Fast action, however, does not mean shooting blindly from the hip. We need oil, gas, and coal and I think environmentalists need to accept that. We need proper oversight. We also desperately need fuel that is renewable and safe and we need to get started now. That means that solar, wind, tidal, plug-in hybrid cars, and biofuels must be developed.

Nuclear probably must play a partial role but that role should diminish as truly clean options become available. There is not enough space to describe why nuclear should be minimized. Though it does not produce carbon dioxide, does not smell or appear dangerous from a distance, it is like the most insidious but terrible parasites. Study the entire cycle; from mining to becoming dependent on purchasing uranium from other countries to storing the wastes to reprocessing the wastes into plutonium.

If you think we have a problem with oil prices, just wait till everyone wants uranium. And watch those terrorists drool over all that bomb-making material in the hands of countries that do not like us.

Ron Sauer. Richmond.

Flag Merited Tribute, But With Editing

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Robin Beres is applauded for writing a tribute to the American flag. The piece can stand two adjustments. Our flag is indeed forgetful if one of its proudest moments was when it was used as a pillow to cradle the head of the dying President Lincoln.

And to suggest that the flag doesn't represent just the individuals who make up our government today fails to recognize the important role that our government plays in making this the "greatest, freest country the world has ever known." Regardless of whether we agree with our policy makers all the time or not!

Guy Larry Brown. Charlottesville.

Bush Had the Answer Six Years Ago

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Who's to blame for soaring gas prices and our debilitating dependence on foreign oil? That would be the obstructionist majority party, aided and abetted by selected "maverick" Republican sycophants.

Democratic attempts to wean the U.S. from fossil or nuclear fuels without a viable or practical alternative are irresponsible at best, suicidal at worst. And they put us at the mercy of foreign oil suppliers and hostile regimes.

Democrats were saying the same thing way back when the Carter administration featured long lines at the pumps and rationing: "We can't drill our way out of this -- it's too late." You think that the U.S. launching into full-scale exploration and production won't affect the futures market and the speculators? Not to mention send a sobering message to OPEC? I think it would.

We have untapped deposits that could dwarf those of the hostile or unstable players in the Middle East. And due to our technological superiority and environmental oversight it would engender far less damage to the environment.

Bottom line: If we'd implemented the Bush/Cheney commonsense plan to explore and exploit all of our own resources a mere six years ago we wouldn't be in this fix now.

Tom Eaton. Chesterfield.