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to solve energy crisis
Crisscrossing our country are thousands of miles of power transmission lines, nearly all on endless 40-plus-yard-wide grassy right-of-ways. Imagine those right-of-ways covered with photovoltaic arrays feeding electric power into those transmission lines several hours each day. No land needs to be purchased. Access roads for construction and maintenance already exist. The solar power conveniently produced right next to power lines would not require extensive hooking up.
And imagine all the jobs that would be created, how much fossil energy would not be needed and how much pollution would be avoided. So what’s holding us back?
Ambulance fees are the last straw
Re: “Volunteer firefighters blast proposed ambulance fees,” July 27
With the budget deficit continuing to grow, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett is flooding the airwaves with yet another enlightened money-saving proposal.
Hold on to your wallets, folks!
Dreamed up with help from County Council President Mike Knapp, Leggett’s concept could only have been created in the confines of his new $65,000 “throne room.”
His idea is to save millions annually by charging county residents $300 for use of an ambulance and $800 for a medic unit.
Leggett and Knapp tell us not to worry, because our insurance company will pick up the tab.
Just send the bill to Blue Cross Blue Shield and presto, it’s paid. Who says there’s no free lunch?
It’s even better if you’re an illegal alien or if you have no health insurance.
Leggett and Knapp will continue to pay your ambulance fees whether it’s an emergency or not.
If you demand to be dropped off at the nearest county health clinic, utilizing a Montgomery County-provided translator, you’ll get free health care services.
But don’t try to use the clinic if you are a citizen with private health insurance. You are not welcome.
There’s plenty of Montgomery tax dollars available for CASA of Maryland’s day laborer centers, making ladies’ rooms accessible for transgenders and enforcing contracts for domestic workers, but no funds for advanced math teams, English-speaking teachers and diesel fuel for school buses.
Think back now. Did you really vote for Leggett and Knapp knowing this was their corrupt, anti-citizen agenda?
Brad Botwin
Director of Help Save Maryland
Dependence does not determine personhood
Re: “Unborn are totally dependent on other people,” Letters, Aug. 1
A “pre-birth fetus” is a living, developing human being. We know it is human because it is the genetic product of two humans, and we know it is living, otherwise it could not grow and develop.
One’s degree of dependence on others is not what makes a human being a person.
Bruce Gilson should keep reading the dictionary definition of “person.”
His “parasitic dependence” reasoning is not mentioned or even implied.
Alternative fuels, not more drilling, will save us
I feel as if the oil companies now own the United States. I have children, and I would like to pass on some sort of decent environment to them.
If we allow President Bush and his cronies to walk all over the environment now, it will take decades to even try to repair the damage, some of which will be irrevocable.
More drilling is NOT the answer! Alternative fuels are.
So simple — yet because it’s not financially profitable for big oil, it’s not being considered.
Ludicrous.
Chantilly
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