We have ways to be energy self-sufficient, but not the will

Re: U.S. could quickly be energy self-sufficient,” From Readers, July 15

Steven Valsanis just doesn’t get it. The U.S. has had 40 years to develop clean, cheap and renewable energy sources and the technology to do it.

But we have a political system in which large corporations provide the money needed for politicians to get elected. They, in turn, only support policies that favor these large, vested interests. As long as this system is working, there will be no meaningful energy policy.

Christopher Avery

Washington

Congressional futures depend on more drilling

Forget the naysayers. More than 75 percent of Americans want to drill for our own oil and gas, which we need now.

OPEC wants to discourage our own production. When President Bush took off the executive restrictions on drilling, there was an immediate price drop. During the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries oil embargo in the 1970s, the price nose-dived down to the $10-to-$20 range when we reacted in the same way.

If Congress doesn’t bring the issue to an immediate vote, they’ll lose their chance. After November, Nancy Pelosi will be known as the first and last Madam Speaker and Harry Reid will retreat to the back bench.

Joseph P. Carrigan

Fairfax

Gramm has a lot less to whine about than we do

Former Sen. Phil Gramm, now on John McCain’s campaign staff, says America is a nation of whiners and that all our troubles are imaginary.

It would be very interesting to know Gramm’s net worth. My guess is that he has much less to whine about than the rest of us. Somebody ought to invite him to live “on the other side of the railroad tracks” with the poorer 95 percent so he understands our suffering.

Lawrence K. Marsh

Gaithersburg

D.C. continues to deprive citizens of their rights

Re: “Locked and loaded,” July 15

Congratulations, D.C. citizens. You are as defenseless as you’ve been for the past 25 years while your crime rate skyrocketed, even as it fell in neighboring states. Remember, you can leave. Virginia and Maryland will welcome you as they welcomed me when I left D.C. for the same reason.

Even after a citizen jumps through all the hoops of the city’s new gun law, she must still keep her firearm unloaded and disassembled. How fast can you assemble a shotgun, find the keys to the trigger lock, unlock it, find the ammunition, load the gun safely and get ready to fire when a criminal is already inside your house, threatening you with his own illegal gun?

D.C. is still trying to find ways to continue to deprive law-abiding citizens of their constitutional rights — even rights the Supreme Court ruled the city had been violating for 25 years.

Janine Wonnacott

Arlington

Candidates have already addressed these ‘taboos’

Re: “The taboo truths Obama and McCain must ignore to become president,” July 14

Melanie Scarborough, your neocon columnist, has struck again, claiming that neither presidential candidate dares to address several vital issues. Where has she been?  Both candidates have talked about each of these topics over and over again:

1. “If you don’t have health insurance ... get a job.” Many of the 54 million Americans who have no insurance are employed.

2. “Population diversity will destroy us. ...” That’s what Ben Franklin said about all those Germans.

3. “Paying higher salaries ... doesn’t solve the education problem. The answer is to make it more difficult to become a teacher.” Not worth a comment.

4. “We must reform both Social Security and immigration. ...” Sure. How?

5. “So long as welfare mothers can afford manicures, hair weaves and cell phones, it is ridiculous to talk about confiscating more from the wages of productive people. ...” Ms. S doesn’t give her sources for this questionable observation.

David F. Naley

Alexandria