Importance of ethanol in energy policy
Re: “Has Gov.-elect Bill Ritter made promises he can’t keep?” Jan. 3 Al Knight column.
Al Knight criticizes Gov. Bill Ritter for his approach to renewable energy through the promotion of biofuels, primarily ethanol. From an air-quality standpoint, the American Lung Association has a great interest in fuels which are less polluting than oil.
In his column, Knight cites the only scientific critic of ethanol, David Pimentel. Pimentel has long and close ties with the oil and gas industry, and Pimentel’s study has been rebutted by more than a dozen peer-reviewed scientific studies from universities, research labs and energy experts. The facts are that Pimentel selects only data that fit his beliefs, makes assumptions that are outdated, and when debated on his study, as was done earlier this year at a National Press Club event, cannot defend his results.
Not too long ago, the National Defense Council Foundation reported that economic penalties of America’s oil dependency totaled $297.2 billion to $304.9 billion annually. If reflected at the gasoline pumps, these “hidden costs” would raise the price of a gallon to be more than $5.28, making a fill-up well over $100. We need an energy policy that secures our fuel supply and helps support clean air. Ethanol will never be the full answer, but it can be a significant part of addressing our energy challenge.
Curt Huber, Executive Director, American Lung Association of Colorado
President’s plan to send more troops to Iraq
Re: “Bush adds troops, admits ‘mistakes,”‘ Jan. 11 news story.
Why do we need to send more American service personnel into harm’s way? So far, the president’s “plan” seems to have produced great destruction in Iraq and here at home, particularly of families and lives and other things we hold dear. Maybe Mr. Bush missed the results of November’s election – or maybe he just doesn’t care.
Jeri Lou and Mike Maus, Arvada
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Sen. Wayne Allard says he supports the president’s new plan for escalating the Iraq war. Polls indicate that nearly two-thirds of the public are against that idea. I wonder just what Mr. Allard knows that we don’t. Is there some secret he would like to share to enlighten us? The president says his plan will hasten the return of our troops. I just hope they don’t make the journey home in body bags.
Richard Cron, Clifton
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President Bush has “changed course” in Iraq by deciding to send in additional troops. Most of the Democrats in Congress have started making noise about passing resolutions to go on record that they don’t approve of Bush’s plan, but none – except one – seems willing not to appropriate funds to continue the war. The Dems want a different plan, but except for one, none has proposed one. The only clear alternative to continued war in Iraq is to get out with a workable plan. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D- Ohio, has proposed such a plan. Once again, the media have ignored him, just as they marginalized and ignored him when he ran for president in 2004. He is running for president in 2008 because of the Iraq war and its impacts on Americans. I urge you and your readers to review Kucinich’s comprehensive plan to bring our troops home, stabilize Iraq and rebuild American standing in the world, at www.kucinich.us, and for you to begin reporting seriously about this foresighted man and his plan.
Bonnie Mandell-Rice, Broomfield
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I’m struck by the similarity between George Bush’s speech Wednesday night and Richard Nixon’s first Watergate speech, on Aug. 15, 1973. President Bush stated that he takes responsibility for mistakes that have been made in Iraq. He did not refer to his mistakes.
Similarly, Nixon accepted “full responsibility” for “abuses” that occurred during his administration. Nixon then proceeded to place blame on everyone but himself. We all know how that ultimately worked for him: Without Gerald Ford’s pardon, he probably would have served jail time.
A man who cannot accept responsibility for his own mistakes cannot re-establish lost credibility. The American people, and the U.S. Congress, would be tragically mistaken to believe President Bush again. Americans need to insist on a true new strategy, based on diplomacy rather than on escalating violence, to solve the ongoing Iraqi crisis that President Bush has brought upon us.
Jeremiah Kaplan, Boulder
Frontier crew heroes
Re: “Collision averted on DIA runway,” Jan. 7 news story (early edition).
If we are looking for heroes, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than the flight crew for Frontier Airlines that avoided a certain tragedy on Jan. 5. Granted, it is their job to fly the aircraft safely, but to make a split-second decision is beyond normal, everyday operation.
The flight crew should be making appearances on TV talk shows and we should be acknowledging their skill.
Tom Vorhauer, Centennial
States’ involvement in health care problems
Re: “Governors tackle health care,” Jan. 11 editorial.
I hope, as you say, that Gov. Bill Ritter will take a cautious approach to health care in Colorado. Government has an amazing ability to make things worse instead of better.
Here in California, where heavy regulation mandating additional types of coverage already drives up premiums, the governor wants to require insurers to pay for gym and Weight Watchers memberships – which will further drive up premiums. The governor also wants to impose a new “provider tax” on the income of both hospitals and individual physicians, adding more cost to the system.
Hopefully Colorado will find a better approach.
Richard E. Ralston, Executive Director, Americans for Free Choice in Medicine, Newport Beach, Calif.
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