I am writing you about a few thoughts that concern me greatly. First and foremost, I wonder how the president of the United States can justify his action by spending billions of taxpayer dollars protecting foreign oil such as in the Desert Storm War, then import oil from these foreign countries benefiting them and not our economy. Then, he turned around and locked up hundreds of billions of dollars worth of coal that would bring billions of dollars in royalties to the economy of the nation, create needed jobs that will put millions of dollars into the income tax pot, along with Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security. He did all of this for the sake of a few votes.
It seems we need to take a serious look at our system of government when billions of dollars are traded for support and campaign contributions from special interest groups.Next, it puzzles me that the government can pass laws and expect the general public to obey these laws, yet the government does not have to honor the rules written for themselves if they interfere with special interest group desires.
It problems me greatly that in a sinking economy with a budget deficit, that we let the EPA close down job openings in favor of wilderness owls, gosshawks, turtles and other creatures - disregarding the economy. I am in favor of protecting the environment and preventing toxic wastes from our land and streams, but I can't see bugs, birds, turtles and other creatures having preference over people.
Reducing the deficit would be easy if we could develop our own resources and use these instead of importing all of them, thereby profiting our own nation instead of foreign countries.
LaVal A. Sawyer
Mayor, Hatch, Garfield County