Bailout is unconstitiutional
As a U. S. citizen, I am not in favor of an economic bailout plan. It is unconstitutional for the government to make decisions for the American people, especially of this magnitude. I would like to inform you that putting Americans into debt is tantamount to slavery - both are against our constitutional rights.
Let the chips fall where they may. If we have to start over, so be it. History has shown that the bartering system does work. Our money isn't worth the paper it is printed on. Let's quit being the laughingstock of the world and take this as an opportunity to reform our monetary and banking systems so they serve "we, the people," not just billionaires.
Margaret Fortuny / Rogers
Alaskan oil not being exported
I have read several recent letters arguing that Alaskan oil goes to Japan, so expanding exploration in Alaska is a pointless waste of time. Oil was never shipped in vast quantities to eastern countries; the only oil exported was shipped in a like-kind exchange where oil from Venezuela was shipped to East Coast refineries to avoid the trip around South America. The Panama Canal is too small for the modern tanker. Simply made sense to reduce shipping costs. Truth is, less than 10 percent of production ever went anywhere but to California refiners. And even that has stopped. We do still swap oil as a matter of convenience with Canada and Mexico, which are our largest energy trading partners. In fact, we get much of the electricity for the Northeast via Canada. When I have quoted statistics before, your editorial staff has asked me to back up my statements. I wonder why you do not apply the same standards to letters like the recent one of Ruth Kiehnau (Sept. 30 ), who plainly repeated, without support, an urban legend.
Terrel Shields / Siloam Springs
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