Inept Congress does nothing constructive

The current Congress, with a dismal 13 percent approval rating, has failed to develop a long-term energy policy aimed at energy independence. The liberals in Congress, who hate free market capitalism and pander to the powerful environmental lobbies, have done nothing constructive to back up their big talk about creating a better economy through alternative energy sources.

For instance, in a recent display of lunacy Congress, rather than looking in the mirror and asking why the dollar is devalued, voted overwhelmingly to sue OPEC for "limiting oil supplies and working together to set crude oil prices." Then Big Oil representatives were grilled in committee where the most colossal fool of all, Rep. Maxine Waters, exposed the left's real agenda when she blurted out that if Big Oil didn't reduce prices that the government would "socialize â€"â€" or take over and run all of your companies."

The last thing we need is for government to nationalize industry. Especially this aimless Congress that refuses to encourage oil exploration, drilling and refining. Especially this inept Congress that sits dead in the water over nuclear energy, and especially this bungling Congress that supports burning food for fuel, causing inflation and food shortages.

Darrell Beck

Ramona

Anti-global warming agenda questioned

Just a few questions for Darrell Beck (Letters, May 12) and Dave English (Letters, May 31), who have made a mission of writing to this forum disputing the reality and threat of global warming.

What are their qualifications in research of the subject that compel them to disdain the meticulous and voluminous study of global warming by eminent scientists worldwide who, in their respective disciplines across the spectrum, and by majority consensus, conclude this phenomenon is not only very real, but dangerous to survival of the biosphere? Is this hot-air media hype and some kind of political conspiracy, as they claim? Are global glacier retreat, polar ice cap melt, areas where most of life-sustaining water is stored, resultant rising sea levels a myth? Do satellite images lie? Why are temperature records across the planet being reset at a record rates? Is this only theory? …

Agendas greased by Big Oil insult public intelligence along with prices. We see the ghosts of dinosaurs that cloud their vision and crowd their thinking. Is it only about money?

John Harris

Oceanside

Forget the homes, but build the road

Regarding, "Governor declares statewide drought," June 5: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a statewide drought Wednesday after two years of below-average rainfall, low snow melt runoff and the largest court-ordered restrictions on water transfers in state history. The governor and top water officials said residents and water managers must react now to cut their water use, or face the possibility of water rationing next year if there is another dry winter. 'We must recognize the severity of the crisis that we face,' Schwarzenegger said at a Capitol news conference."

Well, these words should put a halt to the Valley Center-Bill Horn trade-off of 3,000 homes for a two-mile fire-safety road for the foreseeable future. After all, how could any public official or agency allow, or encourage, more people to visit or move here under these conditions?

However, the county of San Diego still has the responsibility to provide an access for safety for its constituents; therefore, I suggest that the county grade and gravel the two miles as soon as possible for the safety of the VC residents. Anything less would constitute criminal negligence. Regardless of the cost, safety prevails; it must be done.

Gil Noble

Vista

Form your own opinions

Most Internet users often receive e-mails containing false and derogatory information encompassing numerous and diverse subjects and persons such as Sen. Obama. The recipient is told the information appeared on http://www.snopes.com and for politics at http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/obama.asp for this specific candidate. The recipient assumes the information, such as Sen. Obama being a Muslim, actually a falsehood, is true because the recipient seldom goes to the Web site to learn what it actually reports and thinks the falsity is real because, otherwise, the sender would not include the Web site in the same message.

I suggest you go to this site and you may be surprised to see all the false mental beliefs you may have. Typically, these are distorted Republican attack e-mails generated by operatives or extremists. But how they impact beliefs, public opinion and perception on even historical events is what is truly scary. Next time you get a hate mail, look it up before you close your mind. Stop being manipulated.

Ed Towers

Oceanside

Obama will lose with Clinton

In the upcoming election, Mr. Obama will get my vote unless he picks Hillary as his running mate or lets her control any of his campaigns. I am a registered Independent voter, and usually lean toward the more conservative candidate, but this time I think we need a change and Mr. Obama seems to be what I want.

I always vote, every time, no matter what, so I will have to vote for someone other than Mr. Obama if he willingly picks Hillary as his running mate, or is too weak to fight off the party forcing him to pick her.

Just my opinion, but the only way he can lose the election in November is if he runs with the nasty … truth-stretching, history-seeking Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Glen Chappell

Oceanside

Get all the info before forming an opinion

The letter condemning Brian Bilbray (Letters, June 6) is guided by Democratic tactics in Washington D.C.

I was in Denver at the 1st Marine Division Convention two years ago when then-candidate Jim Webb was the speaker. He said if elected, he would "introduce legislation to get free college tuition for veterans." This is a result of lots of political arm-twisting and designed to embarrass one party or another.

The real reason Bilbray voted against the bill was that it provided for four years' free tuition for three years of service. The Republican bill would have provided the same benefit for four years of service. It never was voted on because of â€"â€" you know the rest. Please read all the information before forming an opinion.

Robert Neal

Oceanside

Gay marriage does not equal polygamy

In response to Mr. Boonstra's letter of June 6 where he states the recent California Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage would lead to polygamy, I would like to ask for some proof for his assertions. He states that, "Sympathetic stories in the news media about 'polyamour' arrangements have already appeared, and there have been court cases." I would like to see what news stories it is he is referring to; simply stating "some people say" is not hard evidence or proof of anything.

Furthermore, last I checked, the only group of people in this country advocating legalization of polygamy are the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints who, among other things, oppose ordination of African-Americans in their church and see homosexuality as an abomination unto God. I think it would be safe to say they aren't advocating for gay marriage any time soon.

Ryan Smith

Carlsbad

Earth warming data inaccurate

On Saturday, May 17, the local weather forecasters predicted a high temperature for Sunday in Oceanside, of 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The actual temperature in our backyard, which has a direct line of sight to the ocean, was 91 degrees F, an error of approximately 20 percent. The prediction was based on "proven" models, an extensive array of real-time measuring devices and overhead satellite sensors.

Now we have a group of shyster lawyers (Congress), who wouldn't know anything technical even if it kicked them in the rear, coupled with a collection of computer-modeling scientists telling the public what the temperature of the Earth will be, within a degree, 20 years from now. Given that we are currently unable to predict temperatures accurately a day ahead of time, how can anyone with common sense believe that Earth warming is real? Earth warming has about the same credibility as Chicken Little's cry that "the sky is falling" from the old children's fairy tale.

I believe it is time to kick the old-school members of Congress (both Republican and Democratic) out and get some real, nonlawyer individuals in control. All of you have that opportunity this November. Do it.

Richard Staszak

Oceanside

There are better uses for airport land

Perhaps the opportunity exists to close the nonessential, nonproductive Oceanside airport and convert it to productive beneficial uses, thus eliminating the negative aspects of an airport â€"â€" noise, pollution, danger to residents, little if any revenue and lack of tangible benefits. The KFC (Kern, Feller, Chavez) proponents have failed completely in identifying claimed benefits. Candidates for the City Council should state their airport views.

I can't see why an airport that benefits perhaps 150 pilots and friends (one in every thousand area residents) should be supported. Pay the FAA whatever is owed â€"â€" the federal government could well use the dollars for truly beneficial causes. Pilots can go to other airports (Carlsbad, for example) and make them more profitable.

Bob Sheard

Oceanside

Community invited to meet the candidate

I would like to invite members of the Oceanside community to join me at Heritage Park on Saturday, June 14 for an old-fashioned political picnic. I am running for Oceanside City Council in November because I believe that your community counts. I would like to meet you, have some fun and discuss how we can work together to improve Oceanside.

The picnic will start at 1 o'clock and end about 3 o'clock. I sincerely hope you will take time to join me. I look forward to getting to know you.

Charles "Chuck" Lowery

Oceanside