Published: October 12, 2008 10:49 pm            

Letters to the editor 10/13/08

Enid man predicted gas prices would drop



In early April I let my sarcastic, cynical side show. Everybody was complaining about the price of gas at the pump. I told everyone who would listen my own understanding of what was happening.

I told people how the gas prices would dip slightly in late April to mid-May. Then the prices would spike again for Memorial Day. They would remain fairly high until after the Fourth of July and then begin to ease off.

I predicted we might not even have a Labor Day slump, being this is an election year. Then, I predicted in mid-September to early October prices would slump, perhaps even getting under $3 a gallon.

Guess what? I was more on target than ever expected. Big oil knows when to let the prices slack off so they can maximize their profits in non-election cycles, maybe even lose a little in the middle of an election, and re-elect the same champions who deal the non-regulation hand for big oil and finance industry.

I was trying to be funny. But they didn’t even pretend there was a cause for the slump, noting “prices would go up” when hurricane Ike devastated the Gulf Coast and shut down the refineries. Do they really think we are that stupid?

By the way, News & Eagle, I love the historical notes you include in the paper. I challenge you to continue with other items of historical interest after you do all the presidents. Keep up the good work.

Edward E. “Sam” Justice

Enid



Thumbs up to Lucas for voting ‘no’



This letter is in regard to the issues in the Oct. 2 and 4 editions of the News & Eagle — “House OKs bailout” plus “Lucas’ lone ‘no’ in financial rescue vote.”

The $700 billion is only a piece of the actual bailout cost. There were some bailouts before like Freddie and Fannie and the ones that will show up now looking for their bailout.

In the articles, I saw no mention of the hard working Americans who are, by the way, the ones who are going to pay for the trillion plus dollar bailout. I missed the part too, where these unscrupulous managements would be prosecuted for their criminal activities.

The government is going to protect the $700 billion with government oversight committees. We all know how well they work!

The folks in the articles were talking about how good the bailout was for the country. They fail to mention how long it take the working people’s children and grandchildren to pay for this bailout. If you’re wondering how long it will take big companies to recover, the answer is not long. Look at the increased prices you’re paying already. Don’t worry, they will increase again. Big money men will recoup their losses as soon as the $700-plus billion is given to them.

To borrow from ENE’s occasional practice of thumbs up, thumbs down, I would like to personally give a thumbs up to (Frank) Lucas for voting against the bailout and for the working folks, and a big thumbs down to (John) Sullivan, (Mary) Fallin, (Tom) Cole and (Dan) Boren for voting in favor of additional hardships on the working folks.

William T. Johnson

Enid