Letters to the Editor

Don’t let politicians fool you with their current rhetoric regarding “energy dominance” measures for the American economy. The new Environmental Protection Act rules will only help oil stockholders, but it won’t positively impact the U.S. economy in any significant way — even if it does help generate new jobs. As many jobs as would be temporarily generated by a boost in oil supply, tourism and agriculture would take permanent hits because of losses in landmarks, biodiversity and soil and water quality. Lawmakers should provide a stipulation that all new drilling on previously protected land should either pay a levee to local social programs or to local enrichment funds in order for the American people to see any benefit in sacrificing some of its priceless natural heritage for the sake of what conservative lobbyists spin as “economic stability.” With current legislation, the only class who will see greater economic stability are those entities higher up in the oil industry. Furthermore, oil supplies are finite but expanded drilling will cause long-term impacts on environmental health for decades to come. The American public needs measures that secure economic stability for the long haul.

Carol Janicke

Athens

NATIONAL DEBT

They all say we need to reduce the debt. But what do our politicians do, lower income and spend more. Sure everybody wants lower taxes, and the politicians want their vote, so they lower the government’s income. All they want is more votes. They do not care about the right way or the wrong way to do it. On top of that, they vote not to put a cap on the debt. They also take money from the military budget to build the wall. Now a certain person, who wants to get reelected at all costs, is worried about the economy, so he wants to lower taxes again, the results of which will raise the debt even more.

People really need to look at who they vote for. Ask yourself are they doing right for our country? Are they just doing things to look good? If the debt keeps rising, one day it will be too much. Then what? If you or I were in a comparable debt, we would be on the street. So when you vote, think about what is right. The problem is that probably whoever we elect will not see the crisis at hand. I hope our elected officials show some sense and do what is right.

Harvey Collen

Tyler

A DENT

An analysis from the Heritage Foundation:

In fact, if the government were to tax every American billionaire for everything they were worth, we’d have enough revenue to make about a 14 percent dent in the national debt.

It’s as if we’re falling from the tallest building, and as we pass the 60th floor we call out, “So far, so good!” Too bad it’s not Congress that’s doing the falling.

Brit Conner

Tyler

GOD WILL JUDGE US

Who is to blame for this nation’s violence? I know who is: Madalyn Murray O’Hair. I’m 86 years young and I remember every morning at school we had prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem.

I was raised in Massachusetts and I attended school with whites, blacks, Asians and all nationalities. We had one God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Our law was the Ten Commandments — the one removed by O’Hair from our schools.

America must return to roots, God’s law. We must love our neighbors as we love ourselves and do no evil to them. Love of God is not taught in some homes, and even the schools have lost their mission.

God will be judging America for our lack in following His laws. Our young people are spiritually sick.

Ann Mitchell

Tyler