Letters to the Editor

Obama kept his promise of higher fuel costs

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

When President Obama was running for office, he promised "change." A majority of voters didn't bother to discover the change Obama was touting. They voted for him on faith that any change would be preferable to Sen. John McCain.

Obama kept some promises but not others. He promised that his reckless, brash borrowing-and-spending plan would keep unemployment below 8 percent, but that figure quickly rose to more than 9 percent and remains there to this day.

Obama did make a promise that he kept. During the campaign, he noted that fuel prices would necessarily skyrocket under his energy plan. The day Obama took office, the national average of a gallon of regular gasoline was $1.79 per gallon. Today, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report, a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.39 per gallon.

Obama's energy secretary, Stephen Chu, has stated that the U.S. must find a way to increase the price of gasoline to the very high levels seen in Europe. In cooperation with Obama and Chu, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that he "wanted to coerce people out of their cars."

If the president wishes to produce jobs and revenue, opening our county's oil and gas reserves to responsible drilling and development would quickly open well-paying jobs and increase revenue for local, state and federal governments.

Long-term economic growth and job creation must come from the private sector, which produces self-sustaining jobs, not from government. The private economy is the goose that lays the golden eggs of jobs, prosperity and wealth.

Fillmer Hevener.

Farmville.

Auto insurance is a state requirement

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Every now and then someone submits a letter in favor of Obamacare and citing the mandate for automobile insurance as an equivalent for requiring health insurance. This is a specious comparison. Auto insurance regulations are instituted by the states. If the federal government imposed auto insurance on drivers it would be unconstitutional.

William Londeree.

Ashland.

All loving parents should be able to adopt

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Virginia is in desperate need of adoptive parents.

That's a simple fact. There are currently 6,000 youth in Virginia's foster care system, and more than 1,500 of them are available and waiting to be adopted. According to the state's own records it is first in the nation when it comes to children aging out of the foster care system without ever finding a permanent home.

The question before the State Board of Social Services in Virginia is whether we continue to allow child welfare agencies acting on behalf of the state of Virginia to ignore potential adoptive parents because of who they are or who they love.

There is no credible evidence from 30 years of reputable, peer-reviewed scientific sources that children raised by gay and lesbian parents suffer disadvantages. Children raised in gay and lesbian households have exactly the same opportunities and chances to lead healthy and fulfilling lives as every other child.

Given the obvious need for adoptive parents and the overwhelming evidence that placing children with gay and lesbian parents is an acceptable and responsible solution, it is in the best interest of the state to consider all qualified parents.

If you take politics out of the equation, the only responsible decision by the board is to accept the proposed regulations and ensure that every state agent is considering all qualified parents, regardless of sexual orientation.

The needs of the youth in the Virginia foster care system dictate that we take politics out of the situation and act in the best interest of children. The Virginia State Board of Social Services has reopened the public comment period and is asking for input.

The only real question remaining is whether it will listen.

James Parrish,

Executive Director,

Equality Virginia;

Jennifer Chrisler,

Executive Director,

Family Equality Council.

Richmond.

Why should students pay admission?

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Last week I attended the Thomas Dale/Hopewell junior-varsity football game. I am always surprised at the low attendance at these games. I now know why more students do not attend. They have to pay $5 at the gate just to get in and cheer for their team.

This is ridiculous! They should not be charged — or, at the very least, should be charged a reduced amount.

If Chesterfield is that desperate for money, recovering it from students is not the answer. Maybe the county should stop wasting millions on ventures such as SportsQuest and start investing in our students.

Bob Hart.

Chesterfield.