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Clean-coal plant in Wise County shouldn't be delayed

Re: "Power plant opponents plan court battle," July 8 news story:

I support the recently approved clean-coal power station in Wise County. Virginia is facing a severe energy deficit and this station is needed to meet our growing energy needs.

I am concerned that efforts to delay the power plant through litigation will result in energy shortages in the commonwealth. I am also worried that these efforts will increase the cost of constructing the power station.

The station has undergone an intense amount of scrutiny and has been determined to be a clean-coal power station that is in the public interest. The recently issued air quality permits confirm that this station is going to be among the cleanest, if not the cleanest, in the country.

Dominion has been a good corporate steward throughout the regulatory permitting process. I congratulate the company on beginning construction.

Time to look to Cuba as a biofuel source

I must comment on A.E. Raque's letter "Dump corn for sugar as an energy source" (July 21) as one of the best I have read concerning the energy crisis.

Corn for ethanol not only is hurting grocery prices, but putting an unneeded burden on farmers trying to feed their livestock as well as increasing beef prices. Raque's mention of sugar cane from Brazil and Cuba is the most sensible that I have heard.

Will we ignore Cuba forever? Where are any sensible, level-headed politicians who would pursue this issue? Not in the present Congress, I assume. Maybe after the November elections?

Vote for Rasoul, and green-collar jobs

As a father and grandfather, I am greatly concerned about the long-term prognosis for our economy. It is apparent to me and many of my friends, both conservative and liberal, that our country needs to make a concerted effort to cultivate a new economy that eliminates our dependence on foreign oil, creates jobs here in America and is committed to environmentally responsible prosperity.

Sam Rasoul has already made a personal and professional commitment to do his part in helping to lead Virginia's Sixth House District into a green 21st century. He knows of the tremendous human and natural resources we have available and believes that we have what it takes to create a bright future for ourselves and our progeny.

This is why he is proposing an initiative to invest in green-collar jobs that will help Southwest Virginia transition from the oil-dependent economy of the past to one that has at its foundation quality jobs that are based here in our district.

Our current congressman is anxious to hurry up and go nowhere with his insistence on off-shore drilling, and does not support investing in a green future. Please support and help elect Rasoul.

In search of an honest candidate

The Bible has an answer to this presidential election. In Mark, Jesus was being honest when he said, "Follow me."

He made no false pretenses. He did not bribe anyone by the offer of an easy life. (The government will take care of you.) He did not offer peace. He offered glory and greatness. (Eliminate terrorism.)

William Barclay writes in "The Gospel of Mark: The New Daily Study Bible": "The honesty of great leaders has always been one of their characteristics." A great leader will not ask nor legislate anything that he is not prepared for or willing to face himself.

Will an honest leader sell his honor for profit? Change his mind for a few votes? Change his commitment to appease others? An honest leader must have a personal list of rules that he will not break. It's called integrity, and if honesty is on his list, he will be a great leader and a president we need for the U.S.

Do we have an honest candidate?

Obama lacks the experience to lead

Re: Gerald Millner's July 18 letter ("McCain's too old to lead in this age"), stating that John McCain is technically challenged because of age and inability to use the Internet:

My 12-year-old grandson has Internet savvy, but I wouldn't vote for him just yet. Could Barack Obama fly a Navy attack jet? I think McCain learned more about technology at the Naval Academy than Obama did at Harvard in law.

While I think both candidates are capable individuals, my question is: "Who would be the best leader?" Has Obama ever had the responsibilities of leadership? Has he ever had to put the men he leads in harm's way? Has he ever put himself in harm's way?

I have never known of a leader, including George Bush, who did not agonize over the decision to put his men in danger. If Obama wins, not only will he be the president, he will be the commander in chief of the United States Armed Forces.

Art's worth can't be bound by politics

It is well known that Nazi Germany adamantly rejected as degenerate any art that did not conform to its socio-political views and agenda. So, it is awfully ironic that Erin Pope has succumbed to the same restrictive attitude in her noisy piece "Fascist's work is not worth admiring," (July 18 letter).

Referring to genius, Thomas Mann said (indeed, of Hitler, himself), "The phenomenon of the great man has after all been most often an aesthetic, not an ethical phenomenon." The wonderfully innovative and cinematically exquisite work of Leni Riefenstahl well deserves to be admired in just this way, which was Angela Watkins' true point in "Beauty that stirs ugliness" (July 13 commentary).

To the extent that "beauty is as beauty does," as Pope has offered, the artwork of Riefenstahl can be most positively appreciated as the work she did.

Try living where you make your living

How many people who work in Roanoke actually live in the city? Likewise for Roanoke County and Salem: How many live where they work?

Do people have a genuine investment in their jobs if they live elsewhere, or are they just earning a paycheck? Is it oftentimes easier to criticize the area where you work versus where you live? Are you possibly a contributing factor to the negative criticism because your allegiance is elsewhere?

If you believe the area where you live to be superior to the area where you work, then why don't you work where you live? Are you not able to find employment where you live? If not, why not?

Do you think if you worked where you live, some of the same problems might evolve that evolved where you work? In other words, what part are you contributing to the negative?

Do you think it might make a difference in your commitment if you lived where you worked?

A likely story of the Tech meeting

Re: "Va. Tech release of records omits some key materials," July 21 news story:

Since Virginia Tech will not disclose what was said at the meeting to discuss what to do on the morning of April 16, 2007, I will release the notes here.

Official No. 1: "Well, we waited three hours to hold this meeting, so that bought us some time. Now what should we do?"

Official No. 2: "We don't want the media to broadcast the news of the dorm shooting; that would just be more bad publicity. We have reason to believe that the shooter has left campus, so let's just keep it quiet."

Official No. 1: "I agree. After all, our reputation is more important than erring on the side of safety. So the plan is to say nothing until the shooter is caught and we are able to downplay the incident. Any objections?"

(Silence)