Letters: Wind Power Editorial Breezed By the Facts

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: December 29, 2009

Wind Power Editorial Breezed By the Facts
Editor, Times-Dispatch:

In the recent editorial, "Batty," you discussed the difficulties of bringing wind energy to Virginia. There are two flaws in this editorial: an apples-to-oranges analogy in comparing the commonwealth to West Virginia, and the assertion that wind power will replace only a small fraction of our current energy mix.

The editorial asserts that wind power faces many environmental concerns in Virginia. Fortunately, the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium (VCERC), which has been tasked by the General Assembly with research on wind placement, has identified areas offshore that are outside migratory patterns for birds and other animals.

The editorial falsely claims that wind power can meet only a small portion of Virginia's energy demand. Research provided by VCERC shows that we could meet more than 20 percent of our energy needs by tapping into the winds blowing off our shores.

Unfortunately, you did not choose to share these facts with your readers. Wind power is an environmentally friendly power source and a potential economic engine for the commonwealth. I would encourage you to consider these facts in future editorials.

J.R. Tolbert.

Richmond.

Will There Be Established Payoffs?
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Many questions have been raised concerning the health care bill.

I have another: If this bill is enacted into law, will our legal system be affected by the method used by our leaders in the House and Senate to get enough votes to pass the bill?

I am referring to payoffs (state exemptions and multimillion-dollar earmarks) to certain congressmen and senators to get them to vote in favor of the bill. Will there now be an established precedent in law that anyone who promises special favors (bribes) to obtain his goal is within his legal rights?

Proponents of the bribery system in Congress have justified this method by saying that is just how things get done here, everyone does it. Won't a businessman now be able to use the same argument if he is accused of bribery to obtain a contract? Seems reasonable to me.

Ella Epes.
Waynesboro.

Non-Government Workers Don't Make That Money
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Recently, USA Today reported that "the growth in six-figure salaries has pushed the average federal worker's pay to $71,206, compared with $40,331 in the private sector." That same article included a statement from Jessica Klement, government affairs director for the Federal Managers Association, stating the federal work force is highly paid because the government employs skilled people such as scientists, physicians, and lawyers.

At least 400,000 government workers now make in excess of $150,000 per year; but the article implies the professionals are still underpaid compared to the private sector. As a scientist in the private sector, I question that statement. With federal raises mandated by law and the ability to add merit increases on top of that, this is a government out of control. It is disrespectful to every worker in the private sector.

I have listened to members of Congress publicly vilify the heads of many private corporations for their excesses. It is now time for Congress to take a good look at its own house. When one adds to this report the latest $1.1 trillion spending bill and the undefined medical reform package, the time has come for responsible citizens of both parties to stand up and say to Congress: Stop.

Congress needs to just walk away from what it is doing and spend a month or two taking a hard look at what is going on. Where will the dollars come from to support the raises for the 1.8 million government employees? How can a member of the private sector making 40 percent less in salary pay taxes to support the federal government, let alone the pending cost of health care, cap-and-trade, ad nauseam?

David Lindsay.
Chester.

Destroying Jobs Will Create New Ones
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Will cap-and-trade destroy jobs? Yes, it may. So will rounding up prostitutes and arresting drug kingpins and closing down illegal businesses of various kinds.

The hypocrisy of using the "loss of jobs" card to argue against improving our lives and our civilization is getting tiresome. When we change direction to eliminate dangerous and destructive practices, guess what happens? New jobs are created. Sure, the comfort level of people wanting to continue the same-old, same-old will be jostled; but that's progress -- and that's what makes the world a better place.

Melinda Skinner. Richmond.