LETTERS 05/06/08

Was it truly necessary to curse to make the point? It was the most offensive of curses, using the Lord’s name in vain. I am surprised and deeply offended that the expletive was not edited in some way.

I realize that not everyone shares my religious convictions. However, I am amazed and deeply troubled that there is apparently no standard of common decency left in our society.

Seth Hartsock

Kansas City

Ethanol fuel and gas mileage

My car hates ethanol. I used to get 40 mpg on the highway in my Toyota Corolla. With ethanol made from corn and blended gasoline, I only get about 35. That’s a drop of over 10 percent. Many other people have reported similar results. Theoretically, mileage should only drop 3 to 4 percent with E-10 (10 percent ethanol), as reported in Steve Everly’s article “Does Ethanol measure up?”(4/27, A-1).

America’s ethanol policy is contributing to food shortages and starvation around the world. New data shows that ethanol is not green after all, but is damaging the environment in many ways. Since ethanol is not what we thought it would be, America’s policy must change. People are beginning to learn the true cost of using ethanol.

If our government repeals our ethanol policy now, they can treat the whole thing as a failed experiment. If they delay, it will be viewed as failed leadership.

Chris Luhnow

Prairie Village

Oil prices have hit $120 a barrel, and yet we continue to hear critics fretting over the negligible energy difference between conventional gasoline and ethanol-blended gasoline. Underinflated tires, fuel temperature and erratic braking put a bigger dent in our fuel economy than using E-10, and still we act as though the ethanol industry is robbing us blind.

In fact, using E-10 may cause a 2 percent decrease in fuel-injected cars. That means a car that would normally get 30 miles to the gallon on the highway would instead get 29.4 mpg using E-10. That’s a difference too small for the average consumer to notice.

Moreover, it’s important to understand that ethanol is offered for reasons in addition to performance. Energy independence is at the forefront of domestic concerns, and ethanol has opened the door to homegrown energy sources. Ethanol isn’t the silver bullet, but unlike other fuel alternatives still years down the road, ethanol-enriched fuel is available now.

In the big picture, that seems a lot more important than a possible 2 percent dip in gas mileage.

Robert White

Director of operations,

Ethanol Promotion and Information Council

Omaha, Neb.

Sebelius’ stand on coal

Since our governor, Kathleen Sebelius, is so against the two Sunflower generation units at Holcomb, here is an idea for her to really substantiate her stand: How about the governor’s mansion being solely supplied electricity by wind generation?

Do you think on a hot summer day with no wind, hence no air conditioning, she might change her mind?

Bill Hill

Leawood

Justice Roberts’ speech

Last week I drove across town to hear a speech by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. at the Lied Center in Lawrence. He proceeded to read an excruciating essay, obviously written by a very bored law clerk, on the Louisiana Purchase.

I had high hopes that Justice Roberts would address a timely issue of great interest to us all, such as the War of 1812. I wish I had my gallon of gas back.

Richard L. Warrick

Lawrence

Photo ID requirement

The League of Women Voters of Missouri strongly opposes the constitutional amendment, HJR 48, which would require voters to obtain and show a government-issued photo ID before exercising their constitutional right to vote.

 

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