U.S. already doing its fair share
During President Obama’s campaign, in answer to the reporter’s question of how he would get the industries to go along, he replied, “We’ll bankrupt them” — short for we will tax them into submission. The tax will be paid by the company’s customers: Americans.
A recent letter writer supported cap and trade. What supporters are so naive about is that the U.S.A. has already done more than our fair share in reducing emissions. I remember flying along the eastern seaboard years ago, as a pilot for both TWA and Pennsylvania Air National Guard, how restricted the visibility was. Gradually, from 1970 to about 1980, the visibility improved on the East Coast to a point it was no longer a factor in Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flying. Smog is now a rarity in Los Angeles.
Not so in the rest of the world. When you fly over southeastern China on a cloudless day, you cannot see the ground from 35,000 feet. In Shanghai, I can rarely see the other high-rise buildings one mile away from my hotel window. India is no better. I have not seen VFR weather in Delhi or Mumbai. Lima, Peru, has far worse smog conditions than LA ever did. In Lima and Mumbai, you can smell the air.
Much to his chagrin, Obama cannot control the rest of the world. He just apologizes for the U.S.A. being U.S.A. No carbon tax on China, India, etc, just tax the U.S. companies who have already outspent their overseas competitors 1000 to 1. U.S. companies have no choice but to pass on this tax, Only Americans will pay it, not the foreigners, as they will not be buying our overpriced products caused by a carbon tax.
William B. Secrest, South Shore
Assault continues on Christian faith
As refreshing as this time of year is to a lot of us, with leaves changing color and weather turning cooler, it also unfortunately signals a queue for politically correct hand-wringing liberals to continue their shameful assault on the upcoming Christmas season, and now with a president who jumps at every opportunity to disgrace and apologize for America, it doesn’t look like things will change any time soon.
President Obama has declared that America is “no longer a Christian nation” but rather a nation of others, including Muslims and nonbelievers, a comment that not only flies in the face of every previous American president, but one that clearly offends the 90 percent of our nation who celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Earlier this year, Obama dialed up his disdain for the country he leads by disrespecting and ignoring our National Day of Prayer last May before, believe it or not, choosing to honor the Muslim religion with an Islamic Day of Prayer in September.
I just don’t get it. At a time when the United States remains under constant threat of attack by radical Islamic lunatics, our own left-wing radicals, like Obama and all who surround him, bend over backwards to ensure that nothing in America’s public square or mainstream society could ever be considered offensive to Muslims and, one way or another, liberals end up demanding that this country’s vast Christian majority keep its religious feelings to itself, an outrageous demand that leads to outrageous results.
Although we thankfully haven't seen its affects in Ashland yet, in many cities and school systems around our country, the over-sensitive liberals among us have all but eradicated Christmas in their attempt to cleanse our way of life of anything that might offend anyone — anyone besides Christians, that is.
Randy Webb, Ashland
Most Americans support reform
This is in response to the Nov. 22 letter by Kris Langstaff criticizing the Obama administration’s decision to try terrorists in New York.
First of all, the facts are that our civilian courts have tried 195 terrorist cases since 2001, including Zacarias Moussaoui for his part in the 9/11 attacks. That means they were tried under George Bush. Where was your anger then at how un-American he was?
Second, Gallup polls show that 56 percent of Americans are in favor of the health care reform, 33 percent against, and 12 percent have no opinion. Sadly, one can find polls to support any opinion one wants to advance, but it would better to use unbiased ones.
Ms. Langstaff admitted her dislike for our president, and that is her prerogative, but in the future, she should not get all her facts from pundits that couldn't even finish college, i.e., Hannity, Beck, Rush ....
A. E. Westfall. Raceland
Cap and trade will eliminate jobs
At a time when America is suffering from unprecedented unemployment rates, a job is a job and we need as many as we can get. Despite this, the Obama administration and some in Congress seem to value “green” jobs more than others. By pushing cap-and-trade climate legislation, the Obama administration is going to eliminate thousands upon thousands of good, high-paying jobs, all in the interest of creating just a few thousand “green” jobs.
Cap and trade will create a market for carbon credits where companies who pollute less can sell credits to companies who pollute more. While we do need to protect our environment, cap and trade covers only the United States, putting us at a disadvantage with the developing world. While many companies are already going out of business and those that are still open are moving manufacturing to places like Mexico and India, cap and trade will be the death blow for those trying to hang on here in America.
While the goals of protecting the environment and creating green jobs are laudable ones, cap and trade is not the answer. Until our economy fully recovers, we need to protect every job we have, green or not. Cap and trade puts thousands of jobs in unnecessary peril and I hope that the Obama administration and our leaders in Congress will recognize it before it’s too late.
Danielle See, Lexington
Blackcats having a great year
Being a sports fan and resident of the Ashland area for the past 43 years, I have enjoyed following all the area teams.
I moved to the Ashland area shortly after graduating from high school, and have coached for several years in various local junior sports leagues. Coaching gave me special ties to area high school teams and players, therefor I was always happy to see them have good seasons and do well.
This football season was no different from most others, as it had its share of big games and memorable moments, where some teams greatly exceeded expectations and others fell just short.
I’ve always enjoyed going to the games or reading the recaps in our local newspapers. The local sportswriters do a good job reporting these games, but as I stated earlier “I’m a transplant” and my high school is obviously outside the coverage area (by about 10 miles).
So, I would like to pass along the following information.
The Blackcats of Prestonsburg finished the regular season 10-0, Ranked No. 2 in state 2A. They had 10 impressive regular season wins including victories over Belfry, Breathitt County, Sheldon Clark, and Pike Central, and after playoff wins over Knott Central, Middlesboro, and Corbin, are 13-0 heading into the state semifinals at Louisville Desales.
They’ve accomplished all this with 38 very dedicated players and 14 of those are freshmen. Many of these players were coached in middle school by Jamie Howell (I had to include just one "proud dad" statement).
Hats Off to coach John DeRossett, his staff of hard working assistants, and most of all, to those 38 “"gritty” and talented young men who are the 2009 Prestonsburg Blackcats.
Go Cats.
Wendell Howell, Ashland
