TO THE EDITOR:
What are we doing to ourselves? Oil and natural gas prices are going up because of two factors. The first factor is because of the stringent regulations imposed by Biden on oil drilling and fracking in our country. Instead of being an exporter, energy independent, we now import oil. This means there is less oil available on the world market, raising prices. Oil companies can not be assured the costs of the new regulation will allow for profits if they drilling new wells. The second factor is the Ukraine war and the Russian Oil. Why is Russia in Ukraine and why is China placing offensive weapons on Pacific islands they do not own? Our Strategic Oil Reserve (SOR) is for emergencies/war. We could be in a war where we need the SOR and can’t defend ourselves because we do not have the oil. If we want to lower the oil prices, then we need to lower the regulations to realistic regulations, then build pipelines and refineries. This would make us energy independent again. Once again, we are our own worst enemy regulating ourselves out of jobs and allowing other countries to profit without regulation and polluting the planet.
Barry VanBuren
Clearwater, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
I agree with Karen of Annandale (somewhat). There is global warming happening. Seen and unseen, this has been going on for sometime. But she’s only looking at the small picture. It’s not only happening in Minnesota, but it’s happening around the world. The demise of mankind (global warming) started when man and woman discovered fire. The man invented the wheel. When the dinosaurs died and left this planet with fuel for the caveman and woman to keep his fire going, to keep warm and to cook his family’s food. I think to reverse global warming, we should do as the caveman did. Walk softly and carry a big club.
Gary Kisner,
Becker, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
Why is a jury only now taking up whether the Parkland shooter gets life or the death penalty? Nikolas Cruz was captured on February 14, 2018, hours after walking into Stoneman Douglas H.S. in Parkland Florida where he shot 34 people, killing 17. There was no question as to whether or not he did the shooting. What should have happened to this individual is that within a week of his capture he should have been executed, preferably by firing squad on live TV. Instead he has been kept alive in relative comfort, fed three squares a day, given free medical care, been converted into a cash cow for the legal profession and allowed to be revered by a small segment of the country that wishes to follow his example. Our judicial system is broken. I don’t care about rehabilitating this monster. Less than a 100 years ago if this would have happened, Cruz would have been put down almost immediately to serve as a lesson/deterrent to anyone, no matter their mental state/ability, to not perform a similar act. Today however psychiatric professions wish to endlessly study every broken individual, and we are told that the death penalty is not something one human would do to another human. How many murders have since been were carried out by someone who admired Cruz? Imagine a mass murder like this happening in your neighborhood, what would you want done to the killer?
Bret R. Collier
Big Lake, MN
