We Must Overcome Oil-Company Tyranny

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Regarding the news story, "Gas Prices Shift Energy Views": It doesn't state in the article who ran the public opinion survey? Shell, Chevron, Exxon? They obviously haven't polled most Americans.

There is a way to save the planet and not destroy our shorelines by drilling for oil. America has the greatest minds in the world. We can find alternate fuel sources for transportation, if weak politicians -- controlled by oil lobbyists -- would step up and make legislation for this new change. It's time oil companies stopped running this country and Americans stopped allowing themselves to be at their mercy at the pumps. And articles such as this one give the companies license to do so.

Recently, in our own state of Virginia, we've seen our elected officials cave-in to another energy supplier, Dominion Virginia Power. Now, a coal-burning plant will be built in the most beautiful part of our state, the Blue Ridge Mountains. Why have we, taxpayers and citizens, sat idly by and watched this happen? Why doesn't Virginia offer solar incentives for every house and apartment building? We could conceivably use solar panels for 80 percent of each household's electrical use and we wouldn't need a new coal-burning plant.

Why hasn't Virginia offered tax breaks and incentives to homeowners for these solar panels? Other states are doing it. Why are we letting Dominion Virginia Power and oil companies keep us in the dark ages of coal and oil? We have the means, we have the knowledge, now we need the courage and determination to move forward not backward as articles such as this one forecast.

Connie Koslow. Richmond.

Stop Taxing; Start Cutting

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I read with amusement the letters from people who have better-than-average income and who think more taxes would be an acceptable way of curing the state's transportation woes. It's fine for them if they can afford to pay more, but has anyone considered the plight of citizens who are on fixed incomes? Or those in the real estate or mortgage businesses whose income has decreased drastically in the last year or so? Or people in sales occupations who have to drive for their jobs?

Gas is already at $4 and promising to go up. Add more taxes and these people would be better off on welfare. Electricity is going up 18 percent and those with asthma, COPD, and other breathing illnesses are going to be straining to pay for prescriptions and air conditioning just so they can live. When winter comes and oil and gas are that much more expensive, who can afford to heat their homes? Only those people with above-average incomes -- and that's not me anymore.

How about having the state legislature, as well as the federal government, take smaller salaries for a start? And how about an intense investigation into government spending? Instead of more taxes, let's cut the spending. These days, our country is looking more and more like it did before the American Revolution. Let's start electing representatives in Virginia and Washington who will represent all the people, all the time, and start with the working poor, the disabled, and the retired. Tax the people who can afford it.

Beverly Lane. Henrico.

Bold, New Plan Would Ease I-95 Gridlock

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I have an idea that will ease traffic woes on the Interstate 95 corridor and reduce Northern Virginia's transportation gridlock. It's a bold plan, but keep an open mind.

We should develop a high-speed, high-volume Bullet Individual Passenger System, or BIPS for short. Set aside a five-foot wide corridor alongside the existing Interstate roadways to install a large, tubular Lexan tunnel, roughly four feet wide by six feet tall, in which twoor four-passenger capability capsules speed along a welded tubular steel track propelled by induction magnets. Much like a Busch Gardens roller coaster. Passengers will ride bobsled style, only more comfortably.

Zero to 150 mph in 15 seconds. Richmond to D.C. in 36 minutes. No weather impediments, no driver error or driver fatigue. Travelers relax while reading the morning's

Times-Dispatch on a heads-up flat screen while sipping a Starbucks Frappacino.

The Big Three auto makers would sell the capsules, like cars, with options, but only one-tenth the cost and size of a car. Or, the commuter could rent a capsule rather than owning one. The capsules require no gasoline, negligible maintenance, nary an insurance payment, and are as green as can be.

The system is computer-controlled and monitored. The software and electronics allow these CAPS, as I call them, to safely merge into and out of the mainstream line, exiting on side tracks at their destinations. The bar-coded CAPS are then shunted off to a parking depot until their owner's return. One then takes a taxi, the Metro, or straddles a Segway to his final destination.

The infrastructure would be built on Interstate highways at first, expanded to state roadways later, or constructed to desirable destinations clamoring to have it all and willing to pay for it.

Let's get started.

Joseph Ondishko. Richmond.

Bigotry Still Distorts Christ's Message

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I would like to add my voice in support of the Rev. Dr. Robin Gorsline in light of his courageous Op/Ed Page column concerning the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Richmond.

As a student at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School for Christian Education (Union-PSCE), I am well versed in the biblical and doctrinal debates regarding human sexuality and gender roles. That tragic history boils down to this: vicious discrimination has severely tarnished the image of the unified body of Christ for two millennia.

Today, outright persecution of minorities at the hands of the socially privileged continues to undermine the very ideals that Jesus of Nazareth came to Earth to embody. Therefore, praise God for the ministry of Pastor Gorsline, which speaks in testament to the powerful call of God that continues to be active and inspirational in today's world -- even in spite of our current context of fear and prejudice.

As former president and member of the LGBTQ alliance at our seminary known as A Safe Space, I have had the honor to work for a safe Richmond with the MCC congregation, a community of faith in which all members are ministers for Christ and committed to social justice.

May the Spirit that continues to vivify people of all races, genders, ethnicities, and sexual orientations hasten the day in which the sacrament of baptism unites all those who would be separated by political ideology into a truly inclusive community.

Andrew Taylor-Troutman. Richmond.