Wind energy’s benefits are exaggerated

Don Coats’ In My View piece of Dec. 16 on wind energy is a gross exaggeration of the cost/benefits of wind energy. If it were not for huge government (federal and state) subsidies, tax-credit incentives, accelerated depreciation, loan guarantees and grants, the wind “industry” could not exist. Thus, all of the jobs created have been government subsidized.

As someone once said, “With enough money, even pigs can be made to fly.” Thus, claims that wind energy production is at parity with other sources of energy production is only due to the above mentioned government handouts, e.g., our tax dollars. Without these handouts, there would be no wind farms.

Joe Jezukewicz

Bend

E-cig risks are understated

After reading the Dec. 17 article headlined “Study finds e-cigarettes surpass the genuine article for teens,” written by Sabrina Tavernise of the New York Times News Service, I was quite concerned with the rather cavalier attitude taken by the author that the only negative with e-cigarette use was the “minor” amount of nicotine used in these devices.

What she failed to point out is the existence of dozens of studies that have detected a multitude of metallic substances in the cigarette’s vapor such as tin, nanoparticles of other metals and a host of other toxic contaminates. A substantial cottage industry has developed in the manufacture of these e-cigarettes, with the bulk of the raw materials required to manufacture them produced in China and other Third World countries.

I believe it would provide a real service to The Bulletin’s readers if your writers would do some online research and publish the findings of these particular studies. I believe the result of their findings would provide a more balanced view of the potential harmful effects of e-cigarettes.

Del Heller

Sisters

Paying for politicians’ past mistakes

Would you pay more to balance the government’s budget? If there were a referendum on the ballot to balance the federal budget by raising the price of everything from apples to zippers, would you vote for it?

I don’t think many people would. I think most Americans feel as though the politicians, not the people, should be the ones to pay for the politicians’ past mistakes. So it’s amazing to me that some people in Congress are planning to do just that. They think the way to balance the budget is to make us all pay more for everything.

They are not brave enough to say it like that. They claim they will make those greedy oil companies pay “their fair share.” They forget to mention that energy companies, according to The New York Times, already pay a much higher effective tax rate than the average American company. They also forget to mention that their plan would cause prices for just about everything to go up.

Make oil cost more and transportation will cost more. Oil goes into the materials that make the roads and everything that travels over them — food, education (school buses), clothing, etc.

There have to be smarter ways to balance the federal budget and reform the tax code. This one is no different than raising taxes on everyone to pay for politicians’ mistakes. These politicians know we would not vote for that, so they hide behind attacks on “big oil.” Don’t be suckered — you’re the one who would pay.

Keith Rockow

Redmond

Don’t support ‘The Interview’

It seems the country has finally gone mad. Everyone was concerned that producers of “The Interview” would cave to cyberattacks and threats and therefore not release the movie.

Am I the only person sane enough to see how grossly arrogant and irresponsible it is to have made a movie about killing the leader of another country, a leader and a country that is not known for their sense of humor, a country that is one of the most likely to take offense at such an egregious lack of respect when it is respect that country wants the most?

How would it be received if North Korea had made a movie about killing the president of the United States? I don’t think our government would take it lightly. Despite the fact that we are a nation proudly supportive of the freedom of speech, common sense should have prevailed not to add additional stress to an already highly strained international relationship.

This movie is proving to be a serious threat to any future detente between our two countries. World stability and peace is not a thing to be laughed at. If this means anything to you, I encourage you to dissuade others from supporting this ill-conceived attempt at comedy.

Rick Craiger

Redmond