Posted: Thursday, July 3, 2008 12:00 am
Quote the whole Second Amendment
It is interesting that Mr. Hibbs' letter concerning the Second Amendment quotes only the portion that supports his perspective and not the whole amendment, which reads, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." At best this selective quote would seem disingenuous, at worst…? My perspective on the Founding Fathers is that they had quite strong language and writing skills and had they wanted "the right to keep and bear arms" to be the primary point of the amendment, they would have lead with that statement, rather than leading with "A well regulated Militia." It is interesting that the SC judges deemed conservative and traditionalist are the judges that interpret the language according to their modern standards. I do however, support Mr. Hibbs' attempt to "embrace diversity;" so should we all.
Drew Foster, Wren
Think gas prices high? Try UK pumps
There is much wishful thinking on the subject of gasoline costs.
First, Peak Oil is here. Production peaked mid-2005. As oil peaks, what it depletes most is the lightest grade of oil, which flows easily from highly-pressurized reservoirs. What is left behind are all the heavier grades of oil, which have to be heated to get the oil to a point where it flows. This uses a lot of energy.
So while British Petroleum said recently that known global reserves have actually increased by 14 percent over the past decade, this is expensive oil, much of it from tar sands and oil shale. This oil takes a lot of energy to produce. So the net gain is much lower. And it takes a long time to bring to market.
So the days of cheap, easy oil are over. Gas prices have risen everywhere, but more rapidly in the United States. In part, this is because as the value of our dollar depreciates, the price of imports has to rise, and we import a lot of oil.
Our dollar depreciates because of our enormous debts to other countries, in part a function of our wars. And fighting these wars uses enormous amounts of gas, which lessens the supply at home and increases the price at the pump.
But we can be glad that we do not live in the United Kingdom, where gas now costs $9.
Diana Carsten, Corvallis
Pray for answers to health care crisis
At our church we regularly pray for wisdom for public officials: mayors, city councils, state legislators, Congress and the president!
It is very reassuring to me to know that the good Lord has answered our prayers in the following important instance:
In their wisdom, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has adopted a resolution supporting national health insurance organized through a single-risk pool!
By unanimous vote, the mayors backed a resolution calling for enactment of the "United States National Health Insurance Act," H.R. 676, also known as the Improved and Expanded Medicare for ALL Act.
Ninety members of Congress have joined Rep. John Conyers of Michigan to support H.R. 676. How about Rep. Darlene Hooley and Rep. Peter De Fazio? Not yet, but we can continue to pray for wisdom for them! And each of us can call or write them asking their support.
Dr. David Prensky, a retired dentist who helped promote the resolution, said, "This is a major achievement, a qualitative change in the movement for genuine health care reform."
He commented that "Mayors are closer to the people than most elected officials … they are closer to the grass roots, where their communities and constituents are suffering. Meanwhile, their city budgets are being shattered by health costs for their employees."
How about Corvallis Mayor Tomlinson and the City Council? What's their position on health care reform?
Betty Johnson, Corvallis
Health care choice: None of the above
"Americans have a perennial fear of "tax time," but I now have an even greater fear each summer: Reading the glossy brochure about changes in my health insurance plan for next year.
You see, "choosing the coverage that's right for me," as my health insurer kindly states, is getting more difficult. Four years ago, there were 7 different plans to choose from. Now I am "offered" 13. To keep the same premium I paid last year, my benefit package would drop from a "Silver" to a "Bronze" coverage, with higher out-of-pocket payments, even before my insurance kicks in, should I dare to use any of the services I subscribe to.
Under the high note of "consumer-driven health care," I am supposed to be able to do "smart shopping" for my health insurance, as if I were choosing between cars with or without a sunroof or fancy wheel covers.
The fact is, I am asked to play Russian roulette, because I cannot predict what health tragedy awaits me at the next corner, and what health services I should forgo now to keep my premium affordable.
More plan "choices" actually allow private health insurance companies to manipulate our healthcare security for their financial profit.
This is not the "affordable, universal" health system we should ask for. In this crucial year of health care reform, we the voters should ask politicians who promise us much and deliver little the simple old Wendy hamburger question: "Where's the beef"?
Chinh Le, Corvallis