The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Won the Battle, Lost the War

1.7.09 @ 6:01AM

(Page 2 of 2)

I also couldn't get home if I did drive it to work. They should have changed the name from EV-1 to Pelosi. That describes it in a nutshell: very expensive and useless. But it did save gas and, if used in my situation, could have provided many opportunities for long walks. And a few million of them might have saved some gas.

But every time Americans do what they are asked to do, like save gas, a new tax arises. Here in North Carolina our fully Democrat state government is considering a mileage tax. Why? Well, because we did as we were asked to do and cut down our driving. This reduced the funds available for mass transit (hidden in a roads fund). So now when we get our vehicles inspected the mileage from the previous year will be recorded and a per-mile tax will be assessed.

For those of you thinking of moving here, everything in North Carolina that moves is taxed and so are most things that don't, and often twice. This is a state that Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Reid would feel very comfortable in. Like California, the government gives you a small allowance and takes the rest. I'm leaving.
-- Jay Molyneaux
North Carolina

What is the true cost of using oil as a fuel, the price at the pump? Might you also consider the other costs of gasoline?

Ninety billion in subsidies to the oil companies such as no royalties for drilling in U.S. territorial waters? A nine billion dollar a week war in Iraq? Billions spent protecting oil fields in the Persian Gulf, in fact more money spent protecting the oil than the value of the oil imported? The billions in health care costs due to lung disease, and related illnesses? The many billions in cost of CO2 emissions to the environment, and the financial  losses due to extreme climate conditions as a result of excessive carbon emissions?

So if you look at the economics of oil, it really doesn't make much sense. We could have used the 700 billion we gave to hostile foreign governments in oil exports last year to completely convert our economy to run on renewable energy and  electric cars, and create a sustainable energy future for us and our children.
-- Peter Oppewall
Editor, EVtransPortal.com

THE PISCOPO EFFECT
Re: John C. Wohlstetter's Awaiting Obama: Can "The One" Learn From "The Voice"?:

Sinatra was a man with a wonderful singing voice, and the ability to use it. But I first knew him as a celebrity icon and not a singer, and that celebrity icon came across as an arrogant blowhard who was more likely to be the butt of jokes than the idol of millions.

It took me years to get past that to appreciate his greatness -- my music collection has very little Sinatra in it even now -- and, I imagine, many others cannot get past it yet.
-- Robert Nowall
Cape Coral, Florida

YOU CAN KICK HIM OUT, BUT HE'LL BE BACK
Re: Chris Reed's Benedict Arnold:

How can we kick this Hollywood clown out of our party? Is there any precedent for doing so? He is a "Republican" by name only.
-- Chuck Volker
Liberty Corner, New Jersey

Republicans, this is what happens when you compromise your principles: everyone is angry at you.
-- P. Aaron Jones

Letter to the Editor