Green has him seeing red

Green has him seeing red

EDITOR:

Recently it has been reported that Congressman Ryan has obtained funding for “green” jobs training and a “green” incubator. While I have long been a supporter of “incubators” I feel that the proposal for this one is nothing but a cruel hoax on the Valley’s taxpayers by a congressman who is casting about for votes. The same goes for his proposal to fund “green” jobs training for the area’s unemployed.

Not only isn’t there a demand for workers in this field, there aren’t even any training programs yet developed. This money has people scrambling around putting up 45 foot tall windmills and claiming to be able to instruct the new “green” students. If it wasn’t so sad it would be funny.

The same goes for “green” incubators. Incubators aren’t research centers, they are primarily designed to help budding entrepreneurs using existing or newly proven technologies to start businesses. Unfortunately, there are years of research needed before wind or solar are ready for “prime time”.

I have no objection to our government investing and assisting in research (such as it did to make America the leader in space exploration), but it certainly shouldn’t just be handing out millions of dollars to congressmen to spend on hare-brain ideas. It’s a wonder we aren’t getting a “jet belt” training center here as well.

To understand just how impractical wind power is at its current state of development, consider that a kilowatt hour of coal-produced electricity costs about 3 cents, while one produced by wind power costs nearly 35 cents. In other words, if there was such a thing as wind-power-produced gasoline, it would cost you about $30 a gallon.

The claim that “green” energy is in demand in Ohio is based solely on the state ordering electric producers to get at least 12.5 percent of their power from renewables, and Obama’s proposed climate regulations to be forced on our industries. In other words, there is very little commercial or consumer demand for this high cost electricity. Clearly, most of the little demand that exists is either forced or subsidized by government.

Now I understand that the congressman never worked in a factory or on an assembly line, but can someone tell him that maybe people who are smart enough to build Cobalts without any government funded training could probably build windmills or construct solar panels as well?

I think it’s high time we put aside the foolishness of the “green” agenda and get off the backs of American industry so it can get back to work making things and creating jobs. Let China and India shoulder the “climate change” burden for a while.

DAN MOADUS

Girard

Time to say ‘enough’

EDITOR:

I am calling for the impeachment of President Obama and the recall of all senators and House members who are in favor of the health care bill and cap and trade.

Instead of trying to put people back to work, Obama spends over $1 trillion for bailouts of banks, AIG, auto companies and making big payouts to big unions, trial lawyers, teachers union and government employees.

There’s a major crisis coming in Social Security, Medicare and unemployment.

His health care “cure” that most Americans don’t want would have you pay twice as much for half the benefit we have now.

ROBERT HAMELLY

Sharon, Pa.