Theory doesn't hold up to scrutiny

The faith-based approach to letter-writing consists of first propounding a theory, and then cherry-picking the data to support it.

In his letter "Private sector always does it better," (July 19)Bob Whalen demonstrates a perfect example of this approach. The North County Times word limitation prevents me from refuting many of his egregious examples of the "supposed" superiority of private institutions over the public sector, so I shall stick with one in which I have some expertise, education.

I spent 28 years as a professor of electrophysics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a private college. … Nevertheless, almost all of the state universities â€"â€" in California, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, to name just a few â€"â€" do a comparably good job, often at a much lower cost to the student. Additionally, there are literally hundreds of privately run diploma mills in the U.S.A. whose degrees are not worth the parchment on which they are presented.

So, Whalen, here is some advice I always gave to my students: First, get your facts straight, then use a reason-based approach to develop a theory to explain them. This theory will hold up to scrutiny.

Sorab Ghandhi

Escondido

Radical green agenda will be our downfall

Meteorologist, Weather Channel founder and global warming denier John Coleman believes the case for man-made global warming is based entirely on a flawed theory claiming that carbon dioxide emissions are responsible for the greenhouse effect. However, legitimate scientists should know that CO2 is a natural component of our atmosphere. It is used by plants to trigger photosynthesis. We humans emit it with every breath. It is not a pollutant. It is not smog. It is a naturally occurring, invisible gas. So how can CO2 be harmful?

Coleman says that billions of grant dollars go to scientists who make a career out of trying to build a case against CO2 as a means to support the global warming theory. These scientists then get together at international conferences, where they endorse each other's papers, thus creating peer-reviewed conclusions allowing them to claim we will all die if we continue burning fossil fuels. This leftist mind-control scam, backed by the United Nations IPCC, Al Gore, Hollywood and environmental alarmists, is then portrayed as a war against global warming by the liberal media, striking terror in pandering politicians who meekly fall prey to serving the radical environmental agenda aimed at American's downfall.

Darrell Beck

Ramona

Nuclear power dangerous, expensive

Nuclear energy has fatal flaws: It is dangerous, prohibitively expensive and does not address climate change. The health danger from coal-burning generations is substantial, but one single accident in a nuclear plant could kill 140,000 people, contaminate an area the size of Pennsylvania and destroy our homes and health. There is no fail-safe technology because the designers and builders are human. Renewable-energy sources are safer, cleaner, cheaper and better able to address climate change and proliferation risks.

The government's own data show that wind energy now costs less than half of nuclear power, that wind can supply far more energy, more quickly, than nuclear power and that by 2015, solar panels will be economically competitive with all other conventional energy technologies. …

Since 1949, the U.S. government has provided about $165 billion in subsidies to nuclear energy, about $5 billion to solar and wind energy together and even less to energy-efficiency programs. If nuclear energy is so darn great, why hasn't private capital financed any new plants? … Furthermore, dwindling uranium supplies like oil are becoming exponentially more expensive. The price of wind remains constant.

J. Howard Crews

Fallbrook

We have been betrayed

President Bush must be held accountable for his betrayal of the American people. The cost of this war has damaged our country in ways that will be felt for generations to come, not only financially but in quality of life, respect lost in the eyes of the world and in areas we won't even be able to identify for years.

This isn't the America of my childhood, and I'd like to go back to a time when trust was a given and our elected officials actually worked for the people, not their own personal agendas.

Merrill Edelstein

Encinitas

Losing faith in Democrats

Dennis Kucinich is a hero. It disgusts me that the Democrats in Congress that I voted for let these crimes continue. I cannot vote for a Republican, but I'm beginning to think that there's little difference between the two parties when even holding the majority isn't good enough to hold this administration accountable for its entirely illegal and immoral conduct. As a California resident, I realize I have two tough-as-nails ladies working on my behalf, but I'm starting to wonder what their effectiveness is. Why are they not standing alongside Kucinich on a daily basis and demanding real action?

No more playing politics! I don't care if Karl Rove is wearing a nice suit: Have him arrested, held in a cell and escorted into the hearings. He is in contempt of court and in contempt of our country.

Amy Krescanko

San Diego

Send a clear message

This presidential election, we must be heard above the choices we're being force-fed. The GOP continues to disregard Republican principles with a party unity slate that's pushing a pro-war, economically illiterate, big-government presumptive nominee.

The media ignore the strong support of a candidate who would reduce government, cut spending, restore the U.S. Constitution, bring our troops home, defend against enemies both foreign and domestic and make America great again: the true definition of Republican. This candidate, Ron Paul, officially suspended his presidential campaign, but started the Campaign for Liberty (www.campaignforliberty.com), to be launched with a rally on Sept. 2 in Minneapolis.

We must send a clear message that we're tired of being given two evils to choose from. We want real choice, real change and restoration of liberty. Join 10,000 others, and sign the Letter to the GOP at www.lettertogop.com today.

W. David Aderholdt

Oceanside

Nature lobby needs to get on board

While I respectfully disagree with Buena Vista Audubon Society President Dennis Huckaby and Mary Oren ("North County Times fumbles on energy editorial," Community Forum, July 23) of the Citizens Climate Lobby regarding development of America's offshore oil resources, I am encouraged by their expression of support for the development of alternative and renewable energy.

For decades, the environmental lobby has hampered, objected to and litigated against renewable energy projects across the nation. … I strongly support the development of wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy resources. …

The Bureau of Land Management is currently processing applications for the use of 500,000 acres of federal land in Southern California, for clean, renewable solar, wind and geothermal energy projects. Will Huckaby and Oren join me in publicly supporting the creation of a streamlined environmental review process by state and federal agencies so that these important energy resources can be available to replace foreign energy sources as soon as possible? And will they support the construction of the infrastructure needed to connect these needed projects to California's electrical transmission system?

Let's get busy building these essential clean-energy projects and freeing ourselves from dependence on foreign energy.

Rep. Darrell Issa

49th District

Vista

Invest in health care

During the month of August, there is a mail-in ballot campaign for Tri-City Medical Center, Proposition A. I would like to encourage all district residents to seriously consider a yes vote for Prop. A. The cost of the bond per household is very small; in many cases, about the price of a good cup of coffee. This investment will bring the residents a state-of-the-art medical center that will serve all residents for many years to come.

We invest in our schools, our roads, our libraries â€"â€" why not invest in our health care?

James Bryan Greenlaw

Oceanside

We can't drill our way out of mess

As a lifelong oil man, T. Boone Pickens has been saying on television lately that we cannot drill our way out of this mess. With more and more frequent deadly and economically devastating fires, hurricanes and droughts, it is reckless to contribute to more dangerous global climate change by drilling for more oil off our coasts for the remote possibility of lowering gas prices by a couple of pennies by the year 2030.

Drilling offshore will just feed our harmful addiction to oil.

We need Democratic congressional candidate Nick Liebham to replace Brian Bilbray in Congress. Nick Liebham has clear, responsible solutions to high gas prices and the energy crisis that do not include drilling off our coastlines and feeding our addiction to oil. Nick Liebham can be trusted to protect our way of life as he implements wise, effective energy solutions.

Christina Tillotson

Cardiff

Use other means to raise money

StopTaxingUs.com and Gary Gonsalves are doing a great job helping us defeat Proposition A ("Group lobbies voters on Tri-City bond," July 20). Let Tri-City use other means of raising money.

My house value dropped $200,000 in the past two years. I am struggling to make ends meet so I don't lose my house. Now they want to increase my taxes so I can lose my home.

Tony Perra

Oceanside

McCain thinks women don't matter

McCain says the reason women don't receive equal pay for equal work is because women need more training and education. He says insurance companies can cover Viagra for men, but he voted against birth control help for women.

If you don't like what McCain says about this and other matters facing women, his economic adviser recently said you are "whiners." Think carefully before you cast your vote for president this November.

Daniel Lynch

Vista