Letters: Ignorance about gas prices; Reasons to vote
Ignorance about gas prices
A letter appearing in the May 26 issue of CDT, signed by Ken Criste of Ferguson Township, shows again how people can completely misunderstand the economics of the petroleum industry. Of course Mr. Criste is frustrated by high gas prices (we all are), but he is totally wrong to lay the blame for this on one person, even an influential person like the American President.
Astute readers will notice that Mr. Criste does not explain what President Biden did to cause high gas prices. A person’s political emotions are always laid bare when he assigns blame with no explanation to support the logic of his claim.
What economically literate voters are thinking as they purchase gasoline is exactly what was expressed in the excellent letter by Margie Swoboda, appearing in the CDT on March 27: that prices are determined by supply and demand, a natural consequence of our free market economy.
Mr. Criste refers to the Biden Administration as “inapt” (by which he may have meant “inept”), while his letter reveals his own ineptitude regarding basic economics.
In closing, the letter reveals what might be the writer’s real reason for his Biden-bashing. As a Trump loyalist he might still be relitigating the outcome of the 2020 Presidential Election.
Reasons to vote
“Pro Gun. Pro Life. Pro God.”
In that order. No cognitive dissonance.
They are, in fact, a twisted amalgam…
of warped “values”
false religiosity
threatened masculinity
avarice, cruelty and lust for power.
They hide behind religion
and plastic smiles
on shiny-clean faces.
They claim to be “protectors of the unborn,”
from fertilization onward.
They are a new confederacy of witch hunters,
tasked with punishing women and children.
They have watched
as living, breathing children go to bed hungry...
Or worse, they die in scores, as the expendable, collateral damage of “freedom-loving” gun deregulation.
Weapons of war now available for teenagers.
Texas mirrors other tragedies.
19 dead children, 2 teachers who loved them.
Dreams broken. Families shattered.
The callous politicians are incapable of seeing the faces of their own children, and grandchildren … in the faces and hearts and dreams of the dead little angels.
The same emotionally constipated expressions of the politicians
standing nervously on the news platform on the day after,
all eschewing blame, embracing tired excuses and refusing to act.
They are coming for all of us.
Our votes. Our Rights. Our Bodies. Our Children.
Vote them out.
Every. Single. One.
Legislation can protect public, maintain Second Amendment
Democrats shout, “gun control,” Republicans “Second Amendment!” Our way or no way! And that is exactly what we have, no way. This has to stop. A firearm is a tool. In the correct hands a very powerful tool, in the wrong, deadly to themselves and others. We don’t throw a set of car keys to people without adequate training and licensing. Create meaningful legislation that protects the public and maintains the Second. One idea; standardize a national permit with two levels. Level 1 is the right to purchase firearms after the user has passed both a background check and a firearm safety course. This would allow the user to purchase from a vendor by showing the card without completing a worthless paper form. At the time of purchase a call with real time “red flag” checks. Any transaction would require documenting the permit and call. It would close the gun show and private sale loophole. Level 2 – concealed/carry endorsement, after showing the completion of an additional safety course specific to those who carry. The gun owner benefits from a streamlined purchase with one card without fear of going into a community that nullifies their current permit. The public has a far safer gun owner. Both sides benefit, this is diplomacy!
Most importantly the gun is a tool. The root issue is identifying those that will manifest into violence. We can have all possible controls in gun ownership but those with mental health issues, left unchecked, will just find another tool.