Letters: Oil companies profit from misery in Ukraine
Well, because of Putin’s brutal war on Ukraine, the price of oil is skyrocketing. The big oil companies are thrilled. The rest of us are hurting.
Big oil’s windfall profits should be taxed and returned to the rest of us to help with the extra cost of filling our tanks. They shouldn’t be profiting off the misery in Ukraine.
Tony Potochnik, Newport
As nations support the people of Ukraine by eliminating dependence on Russian oil and, as a result, contribute to rising gasoline prices, it is worth noting that once a vehicle has reached its optimal fuel economy – generally 35 to 50 mph – gas mileage decreases. According to fueleconomy.gov, a car that gets approximately 27 miles per gallon at 65 mph will get 25 miles per gallon at 70 mph and only 20 miles per gallon at 80 mph. Or, as fueleconomy.gov points out, "You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas."
Reducing the speed limit on interstate highways would benefit the United States in multiple ways: It would conserve gasoline; it would help us achieve our Paris Climate Accord goals; and last but certainly not least, it would reduce accidents and save lives.
Cynthia Starr, Hyde Park
Many people are concerned with climate change and rightfully so. But these same environmentalists don't seem to care about litter thrown out ruining neighborhoods or cities. Nobody wants to look at beer bottles or soiled diapers on our streets.
Everybody needs to clean up their garbage in front of their house or in their neighborhood. Old $500 litter fines could also curtail the onslaught of garbage. How do the "go green" people worry about coal-filled air when we are smelling somebody's bag of refuse.
Time to act and lets clean up the grounds of the United States and then move onto electric cars.
Lee Eyerman, Amelia
The Fox News entertainer Tucker Carlson, not to be confused with an actual reporter or journalist, managed to express racism and misogyny in one demand that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson produce her LSAT (Law School Admission Test) before her consideration to be a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
In addition, other Americans lament in Forum that, allegedly, sports are not fair to Muslim girls, jails are not "safe" enough, and their political opponents are "neo-Nazis." God help us if we ever have to come together to fight to the death for this country that so many people constantly disparage.
Gerard Ahrens, Westwood
Whatever our color, background or ZIP code, we Americans value our freedom. The freedom to have a say in decisions that impact our lives – from curbing the pandemic to creating jobs to making health care affordable.
But now, the same faction who have endangered our lives with unfounded lies about COVID and Joe Biden's electoral victory are trying to sabotage future elections by passing anti-voter bills in Republican-led states. Together, we can demand that our senators pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act that would strengthen voting rights and the Freedom to Vote Act that will create national standards for our elections so all of us can safely and freely cast our ballots, ensure that trusted local election officials count every vote, and elect leaders who deliver on our priorities.
Debra Tarter, Monfort Heights
In a recent article, I read the United States is sending $500 million to Nepal to build roads, with protestors railing against their parliament to not accept it. (And how many years have politicians promised money for the Brent Spence Bridge?) On the same day, I went for an annual physical at the V.A. facility in Florence. During my visit, the lights went out. I was told that happens frequently because they want to save on energy. And the water from the faucets is at a small drizzle because the V.A. needs to save money!
What is our government thinking (or not) when they want to give a country millions that doesn’t even want it, but can’t provide for the very people who served their country?
Jim O’Connell, Lakeside Park
As Russian troops continue their assault on Ukraine and China continues to pour millions into advanced military equipment, the U.S. is putting its soldiers through training on transgender pronouns and coaching its officers on when to offer gender transition surgery (Source: Washington Free Beacon). If you're beginning to become concerned that America might be unprepared to meet the threats posed by our two main adversaries, you have a right to be.
William Longmire, Mt. Lookout
As a former IRS employee in the 1960s and the preparer of my own tax returns ever since, I can only say both the federal and state returns have become overly laborious and time-consuming.
At one time, the state’s return was somewhat user-friendly, but that is no longer the case. On the state’s schedule of credits, for instance, about 9 credit certificates are requested and the Schedules of Withholding and business sources comprise at least 1 ½full pages. Now it would seem both the feds and the state of Ohio are in a duel to see which can become the most difficult.
Clearly, it is time for both to change over to a one-page return with gross income and estimated tax payments and withheld taxes only. In short, the tax preparers have killed the goose who has been laying the golden egg and keeping them in business,
Rodney Haworth, Western Hills
If higher gas prices and inflation are the price for imposing sanctions on Russia, that is a very small price for Americans to pay in comparison to the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Period.
God bless the Ukrainian people!
Viola Powers, Anderson Twp.
