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Rational policy has regulations
Edward Cross, president of the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association, claimed to cheer for “a rational energy policy and commonsense regulatory structure” for the oil and gas industry (“America is able to take control of its energy future,” June 21 Business Today). But his words reflected the same tired wrong-mindedness of the Republican right. That is: There should be no government regulations – except when we think they are needed to keep those others in their places.
Didn’t lack of government regulations get us in the Enron mess? Didn’t that contribute to the housing and banking meltdown? And, in hindsight, we understand it contributed to the Dust Bowl.
The United States may “have more fossil-fuel resources than any other country on the planet,” but does that make it right to exploit those resources at the expense of future generations? Is it coincidence that Oklahoma averaged about 50 earth tremors yearly before the hydraulic-fracturing industry and now has more than a thousand? Is it really not understood that fossil-fuel use by humans has contributed to global warming? The bizarre and awful weather we’ve had is just a natural process? I think not.
KRISTEN JACKSON
Wichita
Pipe dream
No matter how intelligent and well-reasoned, any argument for the legalization of marijuana is a pipe dream. It will not happen, mainly because it is opposed by three entrenched and powerful groups.
First are the lawyers. Every pot bust makes work for at least two attorneys and one judge, who is usually an attorney as well.
Second are the cops. Pot smokers are not likely to be as violent as crackheads and speed freaks. So why would the police want to jump in with the sharks and barracuda when they get paid just as much for shooting fish in a barrel?
Third are the politicians – most of whom are also lawyers. As long as they can appear oh-so moral by opposing legalization, they will continue to do so.
If, by some miracle, marijuana should be legalized, nothing would change. Considering the amount of “sin tax” that has been piled on liquor and tobacco, it is not hard to see what would happen to legalized pot prices. The black market would continue to thrive.
ALAN HURLBUT
Wichita
GOP spenders
Regarding “Obama’s record” (June 14 Letters to the Editor): Go to any website that shows the charts and graphs of presidential spending, and you will see that the letter writer is sadly mistaken as to the spendthrifts.
During the Reagan presidency and both Bush administrations, the spikes in spending are quite evident. Supply-side economics, which only benefit the wealthy, was the dominant factor in causing our current fiscal fiasco. President Obama has contributed to it, but far less than the Republicans would have us believe.
I’m not an Obama fan. Our current money crisis needs action now, and he is not stepping up to the plate. But Republicans just say “no” to everything Obama.
Time to throw them all out and replace them with representatives who will fix our problems without partisan politics.
STEPHEN TITUS
Halstead
Worst review ever
My husband and I saw the movie “For Greater Glory.” We had heard from other sources that the movie gave a good depiction of the Cristero War in Mexico of the 1920s.
The mini-review by McClatchy-Tribune was the worst movie review I have ever read (June 1 GO!). The reviewer appeared to have translated the battle cry “Viva Cristo Rey!” to mean “God save us from these heathens!” The actual translation is “Long live Christ the King!” And the review completely overlooked the splendid acting, the magnificent cinematography and the actors who personally related to the history of their own native country’s strife.
This movie was either intentionally underrated or was reviewed by a person who has no appreciation of history and the real struggles and hardships that Mexico and the United States have endured, and will endure, to retain our religious freedoms.
AMY BAXT
Wichita
