Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Fight against high energy bills by going geothermal
Letters to the Editor
Recent letters to the editor
- Pick of the day: Passing the buck won't stop abuse
- Letters: Illegal traditions should not be tolerated
- Pick of the day: Teacher's conviction should scare parents
- Letters archive
From the RoundTable blog
Read the latest entries
Fight against high energy bills by going geothermal
Every month, people complain about their electric bill but seem to do little about it. One solution would be the use of geothermal heating and cooling. The geothermal heat pump is called a no-sacrifice technology because it benefits everyone: consumer, utilities and the environment. It is capable of providing heating, cooling and hot water in one package.
GHP uses the Earth's ability to store heat energy to minimize the burning of fossil fuels. This results in less acid rain, less pollution and less depletion of the ozone layer. Consumers benefit from lower utility bills, less maintenance and improved air quality. The use of GHP cuts air-conditioning bills up to 40 percent, cuts heating bills up to 70 percent and water heating bills by 50 percent.
GHP benefits utilities by reducing the need for new capacity and allows substantially lower distribution requirements and less long-term financial exposure to decommission of power plants.
This technology benefits everyone and can be part of anyone's building package, with the added cost being returned in just five years. It also can be retrofitted into existing homes. Therefore, we can fight back against the high cost of our electrical bills.
A political question about dental patients
Re: "Free dental clinic swamped by dawn," March 28 news story:
As I looked at the lead photo of fellow citizens waiting in line for dental care they apparently can't afford, I wondered how many of them were Tea Party supporters.
Commentary raised health care questions
In the March 28 Horizon section was a commentary from The Philadelphia Inquirer, "New health plan levels playing field." Several issues were covered about equal access to insurance by Congress, other federal employees and the currently uninsured. These people would now purchase insurance from a new state-based exchange at a higher premium.
Most of the government employees presently pay only 13 percent of the cost of premiums, but this would change to 30 percent with the new plan. To quote the writer, "The newly created exchanges, meanwhile, would generally cover only about 70 percent of the costs for those enrolled in them." Who will cover this 70 percent of the premium costs? Will the government (taxpayers) cover this amount, or will the insurance exchanges eat this expense to get this business?
As I have read elsewhere, the insurance exchanges did not work in California, but they will now? This article raised more questions than it answered. I guess these minute details will be worked out later.
Italians pay heavily for free health care
In a March 26 commentary, "Universal care is nothing to fear," Giulia Toschi Gustafson praised the benefits of free health care in Italy. Being a curious sort of fellow, I did a little research on taxes in Italy.
It seems if your family's gross income is $50,000, you would pay 38 percent of that in income tax. In addition to income tax, you would pay about 3.5 percent in local taxes. All your non-food purchases are also subject to a value added tax of 20 percent.
So it appears those who live in Italy who have a modest family income by U.S. standards pay a huge chunk of their income in taxes, but they do get free health care.
Va. communities have to pick up slack
The calculation behind Gov. Bob McDonnell's hewing to his apparent belief that "it's better to put a large number of people out of work rather than raise taxes" is becoming apparent. To maintain some measure of absolutely necessary services, local communities are being forced to raise taxes to make up for the irresponsible refusal of the governor and state government to do so.
When his term is over and he is running for national office, the governor will be able to tell his right-wing base that he was ideologically pure. What he has really done is force others to raise revenue to cover his intransigence. In fact, he has forced taxes to be raised, but done so in a devious manner to deflect any criticism of himself.
I hope all those who voted for him are very pleased with the result of their vote.
Obama, Biden show little respect
The behavior of the so-called leadership of this country is appalling. They should stop acting like 4 and 5-year-olds. Grow up; lead with respect, control and decorum. I'm so tired of watching bad behavior and bullying tactics.
The buck stops here. As president (despite what he's handed), Obama needs to respond with dignity, not incite angry actions. When the president, vice president or any public official addresses the public, there is never a need for profanity. They know an event is being televised; children could be watching. Is this bad behavior the change Obama talked about: I will do what I want, when I want, and manipulate people and situations to get that?
Through the Department of Education, taxpayers spend millions of dollars on Character Counts to teach children about character. Why, when the adults running our country can't act like adults? The Six Pillars of Character say it all. So do as I do, not just as I say. Modeling starts at home, but goes all the way to the White House.
Vitriol provoked violent expressions
Recently reported threats and violence against legislators who support health care reform are not surprising to me. The vitriol mouthed by legislators and their supporters in governmental chambers, during press conferences, in news outlets, on the radio and in online venues have had the effect that they should expect.
Their public and highly visible, continued and angry language triggered the emotional responses they desired. However, only a fool should expect use of emotionally charged words and phrases such as Armageddon, communist, socialized medicine, baby-killer, ruin America, Obamacare and government takeover will not agitate the fringe elements of society.
Some of these listeners have been galvanized to express their frustrations with violence. The phrase "rabble rousing" comes to mind. How can these instigators expect that inciting a riot will not have consequences? And now we see the same people who fomented this acrimony talking about how wrong the threats and violence are. They should be held accountable publicly now, and in our future voting, for their actions.
Conductor's Met debut is worth noting
It is disappointing that not a word has appeared in The Roanoke Times about the upcoming debut of Opera Roanoke's own Steven White as conductor of "La Traviata" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
This news was online via The New York Times and AP, after an apparent fiasco with the unprepared (so the critics said) Leonard Slatkin at the helm for the opening performance of the season of that opera. After scalding criticism, Slatkin withdrew from further performances.
White has been on the staff at the Met, as Opera Roanoke fans know, but conducting rehearsals and as back-up, so far.
White has given local opera fans great pleasure over the years. Unfortunately for us, this is a Saturday evening performance, not available either on radio or TV.
