Letters:
India needs fossil fuels I am a visitor from India, and I would like to congratulate the Obama administration for getting the tough energy bill passed in Congress, which will hopefully get the nod of the Senate. We in India have also initiated quite a few measures to promote hydroelectric, solar, and wind-power technologies as substitutes for fossil fuels. The Indo-U.S. nuclear agreement is also intended to shift the focus toward clean energy for future development.
India needs
fossil fuels
I am a visitor from India, and I would like to congratulate the Obama administration for getting the tough energy bill passed in Congress, which will hopefully get the nod of the Senate. We in India have also initiated quite a few measures to promote hydroelectric, solar, and wind-power technologies as substitutes for fossil fuels. The Indo-U.S. nuclear agreement is also intended to shift the focus toward clean energy for future development.
However, the urgent need to raise the standard of living of our people in general compels us to continue, at least in the short run, with traditional energy policies dependent on fossil fuels. Indian industries are, of course, required to comply with strict anti-pollution measures.
I believe that the research and development resulting from the pursuit of green technology initiatives of the Obama administration will considerably boost the international trend toward such technology. Indeed, it will be a very important first step toward stalling global warming.
Arvind G. Nadkarni
Lansdale
No honesty
in warming debate
Tony Auth's cartoon Tuesday, lampooning the 212 congressional members who voted against the global-warming bill as a head-in-the-sand ostrich, missed half of the story. He should have depicted global-warming-legislation supporters as hear-no-evil, see-no- evil monkeys.
The outright suppression of data and the demonization of voices arguing for prudent skepticism regarding the complex relationship of human activities, carbon dioxide, and global warming are just as offensive and dangerous.
The modern scientific method, refined through the centuries and characterized by cautious, conservative conclusions regarding cause and effect, is supposed to be the hallmark of our enlightenment.
The associations between our carbon-footprint activities and melting ice caps, hurricane intensity, or polar-bear migration pattern, have no place in what is supposed to be a serious scientific debate.
Christopher Knob
Media
Take the load
off taxpayers
Last month, Mayor Nutter and City Council President Anna Verna said that if the state didn't approve the budget that they proposed, they would have to lay off police and firefighters and cut some city services. Now, Gov. Rendell says if he doesn't get his budget passed, there will be layoffs of state police, and he's blaming the GOP for it.
Rendell's term is up next year, so he won't be able to run again. As for Nutter, at the rate he is going he'll be a one-term mayor. The economy is bad; times are tough for some. But to put more on the taxpayers is not the answer.
Mario Marchetti Jr.
Philadelphia
How was test discriminatory?
How is it that it does not surprise me that The Inquirer takes a position in favor of discrimination based on race ("Court turns a blind eye," Tuesday)?
After much talk about how the firefighters test was discriminatory against certain minorities, I have seen no details on the test or the questions it contained. As for The Inquirer's snotty comments regarding Chief Justice John Roberts, opposing racial discrimination is not "judicial activism," and I for one would very much like to see - in Roberts' words - an end to "divvying us up by race."
Mike Morgan
East Goshen
Draw lots
for promotions
Although the white firefighters have won their lawsuit, there is still an underlying reality. Four of the nine Supreme Court justices voted in favor of allowing the test results to be discarded to benefit minority firefighters.
What are we going to do to determine the qualifications of a person to either obtain a position or advance within a profession?
Perhaps we should take so many white applicants and so many black applicants and draw lots. No test, no discrimination, and no lawsuits.
Bill Towey
Philadelphia
Declining
aspirations
At Sixth Street, we have Independence Hall, where our founding fathers declared independence. Two blocks away at Eighth Street, Gov. Rendell is promoting dependence on gambling. A sad commentary on the decline of American leaders' ideas and ideals.
Carol Nickels
Narberth