The American Spectator

A heads-up to the people of Oklahoma: As the Pelosi Recession deepens, expect caravans of cars packed with indigent Californians — you will call them Calies, no doubt — looking for jobs in your better-managed, lower-cost state. Until then, man your border and prepare a Joad-like reception.
— David Govett
Davis, California

It is too bad the one thing that could be done to instill confidence in the economy is not even mentioned as it has gone away for a while. It is so blatant that a fifth grader could see it and that was the rise in gasoline prices to 4 dollars a gallon. That is when the people stopped buying cars and trucks because when you have that kind of price increase people quit buying the hog that uses the gas.

A very simple thing would be to open drilling up any where the oil can be found and allow the oil companies to come in at very reduced lease rates and start drilling. The billions set aside for ACORN could be used for refineries, soon the confidence in the economy would rise to the point the workers would be recalled and working again. No doubt the Wall Street mess has a share in this but the cost of gas hits home to the every day working man and woman. It is something they see that takes real money out of their hands and they do without to buy gas. Also, Obama needs to stop his fear mongering and be positive about things.
— Ken Roberts
Lebanon,Ohio 

THE PITTS
Re: Brent Pittman’s letter (under “Imagine a World With No Bailouts”) in Reader Mail’s Builders’ Bawling:

Wow. Mr. Pittman you really nailed it on how to fix the economy without taxpayer bailouts or economic stimulus plans. I wonder, however, if I could get some clarifications on a couple of your points:

1. You say we should repeal tax incentives for companies unless they pay a living wage of $14/hour. Not sure where that figure came from. Wouldn’t things be a lot better if we forced companies to pay $34/hour or maybe $44/hour instead? If not, why not?

2. You say we should enact a windfall profits tax on oil companies, but give them a rebate through tax incentives for drilling. I thought congress and the current administration have pretty much blocked drilling anywhere offshore, in ANWR and in most of the western states. Where would you recommend the oil companies drill to get these tax incentives?

3. You say we should increase taxes on fuel guzzling vehicles. Since every gallon of fuel already has federal and state taxes on it, aren’t owners of fuel guzzling vehicles already paying more taxes compared to people who are driving more fuel efficient vehicles?

4. Finally, you say wealthy individuals should pay more to fund the Wall Street bailout and the Iraq war. The current administration keeps lowering the amount you can make to be considered wealthy. What is your definition of wealthy and how much do you think they should pay?
— Garry Greenwood
Gearhart, Oregon

A RELIGIOUS RIGHT HOOK
Re: David Fisher’s letter (under “Delayed Reactions”) in Reader Mail’s Builders’ Bawling:

I assure David Fisher that there is a long list of things I am “fed up with” our fellow Christians. Among them is the “baptizing” of the liberal left agenda as God’s own demand for justice and righteousness. This version of holy agenda that all Christians rigidly were supposed to be obligated to was on the scene long before the Supreme Court’s radical “liberalizion” of abortion — a profound provocation which led to conservative Christianity’s break with its historic “quietism”.

I am old enough to remember that as long as religion was in support and in active advocacy of liberal causes, the mixture of Church and State was just fine. Beforehand, Liberals used to feel all superior that they were engaged in the big societal issues and their conservative counterparts were not. It was only with the emergence of the Christian Right that all of a sudden our self-righteous and self-serving “deep thinkers” began to have “grave” objections to the appearance of the bible-thumpers on the political forum. Not the least of liberal churchmen’s anger at their conservative brothers and sisters was that liberal influence on Capital Hill was greatly diluted. No longer could they claim to speak for the entire Christian Church as they once had.

Most Christians — both liberal and conservative — are acutely aware that God has HIS own purposes beyond our political disagreements. While we all are influenced by our faith, the church is one kingdom and the “prince” is quite another. In the realm of politics and care for God’s creation, we are left to be guided by prudential judgment in governing a very imperfect world. The faith tells us what justice is. Prudential judgment tells us just how much justice we can afford and withstand.

Don’t like the influence of the religious crazies?” Too damn bad. What can you do about it? Engage in the fight. Welcome to America.
— Mike Dooley