News & Articles

The road to freedom from gas prices

My grandmother raised her children in The Great Depression of the 1930s. She would say: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without.” And so it is today as we deal with our changing automotive needs in a world threatened by a changing climate. It takes a lot of energy to produce a car or truck, so we’re not likely to just discard our half-used gasoline or diesel vehicles. But we can start using them less. And when it comes time to get a new car or truck, consider this.

Freedom from gas prices is liberating! I have a 2004 Dodge pickup. I now use it only for dump runs and chores; it costs about 35 cents a mile for gas. I still shudder each time I have to pull in and fill it up. Until recently it was what I drove everywhere. My wife drives a Toyota hybrid which is not nearly as painful to fuel, but we still cringe at the price. By contrast my Chevy E-car is liberating. It releases an unexpected sense of freedom: a hundred-mile round trip on $4 worth of electricity. A trip to town used to cost me $5, now is costs me 60 cents. When I got the E-car about a year ago, I hadn’t realized how liberating it would be. I now go places and do things that in my old pickup, due to gas cost, I would not have gone. This E-car has set me free.

George Einar Busséy
Town of White River, Wisconsin

UFOs?

In early June the U.S. Defense Department released a report (long overdue) about the UFO sightings by the U.S. Air Force. Most of us have assumed that our government has kept any UFO details under “lock and key.” I personally believe in UFOs and there is an excellent program on the History channel called Ancient Aliens. It is hosted by several scientists and authors of UFO books. The July 1st program was called “UFO’s Declassified.”

Now there is a new definition of UFO’s. It is – Unidentified Foreign Oil! Biden’s current trip to Saudi Arabia will include requests for increased oil production by many countries. Biden continues to blame high gas prices on “Russia, Russia, Russia”! How can he say this with a straight face? At the G7 press conference a reporter asked “how long will these high prices continue”? Biden’s response was “as long as it takes.” Americans will not tolerate this no plan comment. Plus, in his recent trip to Taiwan to let them know that the United States will defend them in case China invades, he also stopped in Japan. His comment to Japan’s leaders on the U.S. gas prices was – “this is a difficult transition.” Biden was practically laughing as he said that!

So, yes there are definitely UFOs! Biden’s Unidentified Foreign Oil. Biden absolutely believes in UFOs and does NOT want to be energy independent like the United States was under Trump!

Chuck Bracken
Cannon Falls, Minnesota

Hold candidates’ feet to the fire

It is 11:59 p.m. The younger you are, the more worried you need to be. This is not the time to be patient.
Recently Senator Manchin again found reasons to single-handedly kill a key climate action bill. More than 200 congressional staffers, most of whom helped craft the bill, and mostly young, sent a letter to senate and house leadership urging that a climate change bill must be passed, now.

I have heard candidates for our Minnesota legislature and federal offices comment that addressing climate change will take time. That is not the necessary answer. The time to talk about and seek perfection is over.  We need to take immediate and meaningful action, now!

I’m afraid my generation is failing you, the youth, the future of our country and world, and my grandchildren.  You can no longer tolerate my generation’s dithering. 

You must take action, yourselves! Hold all candidates for climate change accountable. Demand that they acknowledge climate change as the number one, single most important issue, whether at state or federal level, facing our future. At political events ask what their sense of urgency is. If the answer is “It will take time”, respond with, “Wrong answer! It must be addressed, and action taken, now!  Will you commit to that?”

Keith Steva
Cook, Minnesota 

What has happened to the Grand Old Party?

I cannot believe that not even one Republican senator in Washington supports President Biden’s proposed environmental legislation. Sen Joe Manchin from West Virginia is able to stop the bill.

When I served in Minnesota Legislature environmental and other legislation were supported by both parties. Rep. Willard Munger of Duluth, the greatest environmental legislator in Minnesota’s history, passed huge number of bills and had bipartisan support. 

I miss The GOP Party of President  Abraham Lincoln. They cannot even get endorsed unless they are right on 4 Gs: God, Guns, Gays, Gynecologists!   

Mike Jaros
Duluth, Minnesota
     
Family fun? It’s Specieism!

Once again rodeo has been reported as family fun. But, wait. When otherwise calm animals are suddenly bucking up a storm it’s not part of a fun game for them. The bucking strap that is pulled tight around their groin and abdomen is very uncomfortable.  That’s what they’re trying to get off when they throw the cowboy. But do rodeos sell pet-size bucking straps for family fun?

What about calf roping? A dangerous whiplash with a dangerous fall. Family fun?

What about steer wrestling? An animal with thin legs and a huge body is thrown down. Wouldn’t you expect internal injuries?

What about children riding sheep and pigs? The animals are confused and terrorized.

Rodeo is blatant Speciesism. An example of why when we say, “We were treated like animals” it always means something bad.

Karen Moore
Duluth, Minnesota