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Stop cap-and-trade

EPA’s air pollution target: flatulent cows.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that greenhouse gases emitted by belching and flatulence amounts to air pollution and cows and hogs could start costing ranchers money if the federal government decides to charge fees for air-polluting animals.

The American Farm Bureau Federation said this would require farms or ranches with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or 200 hogs to pay an annual fee of about $175 for each dairy cow, $87.50 per head of beef cattle and $20 for each hog.

The executive vice president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation estimated the fee would cost owners of a modest-sized cattle ranch $30,000 to $40,000 a year and would bankrupt them. Some worried that the fee could be extended to chickens and other farm animals, causing meat to be imported. Of course, the EPA denies it is proposing any type of tax on livestock. However, it does sound like some might have an ulterior motive to destroy livestock farms.

Now, to cap-and-trade: A regulatory program under which the government would set a cap on the volume of harmful emissions (such as carbon dioxide, mercury, etc.) that would be permitted, and distribute the rights to allowed emissions, therefore seek to impose an insane law predicated on the “global warming” hoax; the belief that carbon dioxide, vital to all life on Earth, was a “pollutant” that had to be reduced and that its emission had to be heavily taxed.

Doug White, spokesman for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, warns that ultimately a cap-and-trade system will lead to higher energy costs, which is bad for the nation’s economy.

Quoting a Wall Street Journal column: “a complex cap-and-trade tax would ripple throughout the energy chain and ultimately the entire economy” ... “all consumers, not just ‘the rich,’ would pay more for goods and services that use carbon energy.” Europe’s program has driven electricity prices so high a facility routinely shuts down part of the day, saving money on power. Demand for its product is strong, but the plant has laid off 40 of its employees, trimming production.

U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, Rep. Marion Berry, Sen. Mark Pryor, all Democrats, plus Rep. John Boozeman, a Republican, have concerns this legislation would raise costs for Arkansas. Contact your elected officials, and let them know your concern that cap-and-trade will raise your taxes, energy bills, possibly limiting your energy consumption; also that animal air-polluting fees will raise your taxes, and food bills, while putting ranchers out of business, making it necessary to import our meat.

Shirley Bloodworth

Pocahontas

Find middle ground

I just wanted to comment on the article about unions by Sherry Pruitt.

The thing a lot of people interested in unions do not seem to understand is that there is a very real possibility of the company moving their entire enterprise to another location, mostly due to costs being driven far too high by greed. It isn’t long, in many cases that I’ve seen, before the company will end up going out of business or moved to a more agreeable location.

I do understand the need for structure and someone to second-guess companies’ business practices, but unions are often not the route. All sides should be carefully looked at before such a decision goes through.

We, the working class, need our jobs. Somewhere between unions and overbearing corporations, there has to be some middle ground, but that’s just a random thought...

Jennifer Kreh

Jonesboro

Heat kills quickly

I would like to agree with Vicki Adams! I was at the Post Office on June 26, and there was a puppy screaming, howling from inside a truck, windows cracked. I asked inside whose crying puppy was out in that hot truck. The man had been in the long line I was in, and he acted like, oh well, I just got it and the heat won’t hurt It.

I say baloney. It can kill very fast.

Attention, animal owners: Heat can kill everything — people, animals, etc.!

Jennifer Reed

Jonesboro





The market solution

Dr. Latanich’s column on June 24 was dismissive of Tom Cox’s “Belt tightening” comments, suggesting that spending is the only way out of a recesssion. He is correct about spending but not the source. The most effective use of money in a capitalist system is spending by the private sector (businesses and consumers).

This spending is direct “stimulus” and rewards enterprises according to the merit. Government spending is slow, ineffective and, as in the case of the many “bailouts,” rewards companies who have performed poorly or are not delivering goods and services the public wants. Further, government spending is watered down, with only a few cents of every dollar in taxes making it through the bureaucracy and back into the economy.

This is arguably why the Great Depression lasted so long. Every dime confiscated by the government and spent in the private sector is a drain on the market and actually competes with private enterprise (government hiring pushes up wages throughout the economy; government purchases drive up the cost of raw material for private firms).

You can slow the growth of the deficit and debt by cutting taxes and holding the line on unnecessary spending. Leave the money in the hands of those who can use it to drive the economy by either spending, paying down debt (which frees up capital) or saving (which creates capital). If you want a real, quick and effective stimulus, eliminate the payroll tax for six months or a year; people will see their paychecks increase by 10-20 percent instantly. It would benefit the people who actually work for a living, and it would still be cheaper for the government than the unbelievable spending that is happening now.

Unfortunately, that will never happen because the government can’t allow John Q. Public to realize how much it is taking from him every payday.

Darrin Blue

Jonesboro

Those left turns

Comment on the “Making left turns” Letter:

I agree with Jeanice Lesley fully. I do believe everyone should retake the driver’s test every eight years, which is every second renewal. In addition, I believe the local paper or local TV station should step up and start a column or section reminding people of these simple laws.

Most of the traffic issues are a result of being preoccupied by a cell phone, radio, kids, work, any numerous issues you are being faced with at the time, and not paying attention to what is going on around you.

The three main things in my mind people could learn or do to improve traffic flow around Jonesboro are:

1. You can turn right at a red light after you stop. Also, if the lane nearest you is open, you can turn into it, even if traffic is in the left-hand lane.

2. Most stoplights are timed, which means you have a pre-determined amount of time the light is going to be green. Please pay attention and go when the light turns green, and don’t let five car lengths get between you and the driver in front of you.

3. If you are going to go 10 to 15 mph under the speed limit, which is common every day around town, please get into the right lane. Also note that you can receive a ticket for impeding the flow of traffic and they are expensive, that is, if our Jonesboro officers would enforce it.

A hint to the JPD: You could write hundreds of these tickets a month on Stadium alone! Imagine the revenue this would generate.

Jimmy Laird

Jonesboro