Published: April 24, 2008 02:28 pm            

In Your View — 04/25/08

Fuel prices sole cause of recession

I’m writing about the runaway price of fuel. Congress just stands by as if it has no power to stop it and lets the oil companies rake in record profits.

Fuel prices are on the verge of bankrupting this country, yet the powers-that-be do nothing. Fuel in the form of gasoline and diesel fuel and home heating oil, are necessary to life and health, just as electricity and water are.

Government agencies do not stand by and let electric companies raise the price of electricity out of the reach of some people, or they don't let utility companies raise the price of their services without going through a government agency. Yet, these giant oil companies raise their prices without answering to anyone.

They claim they need to, in order to stay competitive. This can’t be true if they’re now making record profits in the billions.

School boards are having to lay off teachers to be able to pay for fuel for buses. Police forces are having to lay off police officers to be able to afford fuel for patrol cars. Independent truckers are going out of business because they can no longer afford the price of diesel.

Tied to the price of diesel fuel, the price of food at the markets is getting higher and higher. When you’re on a fixed income like me, you cannot afford to go anywhere and you really have to watch what you buy at the stores.

I think its about time our government officials did something to save this country. The price of fuel is the sole cause of the recession we are now entering into, but I guess too many senators and representatives own oil stocks to expect anything to be done about this.

Robert Burchett, Olive Hill



Education key to safe borrowing

The vast majority of people borrow money to be able to live the American dream: To finance a child’s education, purchase a home or buy a car. But how many Americans really know what they are getting themselves into before they sign on the dotted line?

As the current subprime mortgage crisis attests, what we don’t know can hurt us when it comes to borrowing money. Loan documents are binding legal contracts that can expose individuals and families to escalating obligations they are unable to meet. The time to understand the risks and obligations of consumer credit is before you make a commitment.

To help you improve your financial literacy, the American Bar Association is launching www.SafeBorrowing.com, an online resource offering free information relating to automobile lending, student loans, home finance and credit card products and providers.

Education really is the key to protection. Understanding the consumer credit options out there is a start; knowing potential warning signs is crucial.

Legal documents can be intimidating unless they’re clearly explained. At www.SafeBorrowing.com, key legal terms are defined, such as “good faith estimate,” “Truth in Lending Disclosure Statement,” “APR,” and “average daily balance method,” to help you understand your rights and responsibilities.

This need for caution among consumers is more important than ever, as the economy falls under greater strain. As gas prices continue to soar, foreclosures multiply and jobs are in jeopardy, the burden is even greater not to overextend one’s credit.

A worsening economy shouldn’t discourage any American from pursuing his or her own dream. But it should make consumers cautious when it comes to personal finances and motivated to understand the complexities of consumer credit.

William H. Neukom, president, American Bar Association



Clinton proves she’s best choice

With her impressive win in Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton has again carried a vitally important state for the fall. Winning Pennsylvania was no small feat; she was outspent 3-to-1.

Proving again that she is the Democrat in the strongest position to defeat John McCain in November, she won in every corner of the state. Her win also gives her a majority of the national popular vote.

Her double-digit victory should silence those calling for her to drop out. She is a fighter and that fact was proven once again in Pennsylvania. Her strength, resilience, motivation, and grit carried the day. And that’s what it will take to beat John McCain in the fall.

The choice is clear for Democrats: Do we want someone who has the strength and experience to defeat John McCain or someone who falters under pressure and isn’t able to close the deal with voters?

Tyler Murphy , Flatwoods



Obama has helped the working class

I’m suprised at how many of my fellow Pennsylvanians accepted Hillary Clinton’s claim that she will help the working class. They seemed to ignore Senator Obama's impressive track record as an advocate for the working class.

Kentuckians who do their homework before May 20 will learn that, from his days working as a community organizer on Chicago's South Side to his work in the U.S. Senate, Obama has fought tirelessly for the working class for more than 20 years. Obama has concrete plans to raise the minimum wage, protect unions, invest in businesses, create jobs, and provide tax-cuts for working-class families in Kentucky and nationwide.

Senator Obama performed well in Pennsylvania, nearly halving Clinton’s initial lead. Voters nationwide helped Obama to win more states and more delegates than Clinton. They understand thatObama's leadership will put the focus of our economy back were it belongs: On average Americans.

Zach Singer, Haverford, Pa.



Unasked questions about elections

Election Day is coming soon. Is anyone asking the following questions? Last time I heard anything, Dick Gephardt was asking them right after the 2000 debacle. That's eight years ago!

About election day: Why only one day? Why a weekday? Why a winter's day?

About voting: Why not by fax, which we trust with insurance claims? Why not by snail mail, which we trust with absentee ballots? Why not by telephone, which we trust with TV shopping? Why not by ATM, which we trust with our money? Why not by Internet, whose ID/password/PIN/secret-question systems we trust with everything?

What’s the problem?

J. Andrew Smith, Bloomfield, N.J.

        

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