Letters to the editor: Politics

The Statesman publishes political letters in the order they are received, space permitting. These letters were input Sept. 18-19.

Perils of liberalism are Republican myths

In his recent letter to the editor, Darrel McRoberts wrote that Democrats would use power to enact a liberal agenda, then asked readers to consider history when voting.

His request inspired me to do just that, and while studying, I found a new non-partisan scholarly work written by Carl R. Summers that calls into question the underlying assumptions Darrel alludes to in his letter. All voters may want to read the entire work available at www.outsidersdc.com, but for starters the empirical data clearly shows that:

Businesses "perform better under Democratic administrations than their Republican counterparts."

Unemployment is lower with Democratic presidents than Republican presidents.

Investors don't invest more under Republican "trickle down" economics.

Democratic administrations do not tax more than Republican administrations - evidence points in the opposite direction.

On average, Democratic administrations spend less than Republican administrations.

After comparing the two parties' performances, I'm voting for Democrats. The cherished myths of the Republicans are falling under the evidence.

GRETCHEN BATES, Boise

McCain's right: Obama would raise tax burden

Political referee David Lightman committed an error by using only one of Obama's redistribution-of-wealth planks to penalize the McCain campaign. Mr. Lightman ignored Obama's continual call for eliminating the Bush tax cuts. This will increase my taxes considerably, and my retirement income doesn't come anywhere near $100,000. So McCain is right: Obama plans to increase almost everyone's tax burden. Pull the referee from the game.

Incidentally, your story about the grenade in Idaho Falls (Sept. 10) is dangerously incorrect. Live grenades are green (OD:Olive Drab), and inert grenades are blue, meaning no explosives. Some training grenades are OD as they have live fuses and a small spotting charge which vents through a hole in the body. I'm sure the Idaho Falls bomb squad is familiar with military ordnance color codes, so it must have been an error on the reporter's part.

SCOTT JONES, Council

Will McCain do any better than Bush?

Do I have to denigrate the accomplishments of Gov. Palin if I disagree with her politics? How can a man win the Democratic nomination for president and not have leadership experience? What are the real issues?

George Bush advertised himself as a compassionate conservative and environmentalist, but has almost bankrupted the nation with his wars and tax cuts for the wealthy while seeking to exclude real science from policymaking and denying until recently the existence of global warming. Why did he behave so differently than his promises? Who did he really intend to represent? Will an even wealthier nominee from the same Republican establishment do any better?

The entire Republican establishment can say nothing but good about McCain. If he is really a maverick, why are they so united behind him?

DAN MCGILL, Eagle

Health care that works should be top priority

Are you wondering whom to vote for this year? For me one of the most important issues is health care. Ask any person between the ages of 55 and 65 what might keep them from retiring and they will probably say "health insurance." How many seniors in their 70s and 80s are working to pay for medication not covered by their supplemental plans?

Or, ask Micron workers about their new health plan. Let them tell you about prescriptions now costing $50-plus per month and how their doctors are no longer covered.

It does not matter what your income is if you cannot get health insurance that is affordable and covers prescriptions. The fear of not having health insurance will keep many of us working past when we want to or even past when we are able to. Please check the candidates' position on this vital issue. We need a health care system that is affordable and effective.

INA THOMPSON, Caldwell

Minnick will bring fiscal responsibility

Year after year it seems we hear more about our country going deeper and deeper into debt. And, year after year we continue to elect those who claim to be fiscally conservative, yet refuse to actually follow up those words with actions.

Congressman Bill Sali is a perfect example of not following his fiscal conservative talk with any action. On his Web site, he states that "As the deficit continues to grow, so does the burden we will pass on to our grandchildren. This is wrong and I'm committed to changing that." However, Sali was one of a small group of Republicans to oppose a pay-as-you go rule when the 110th Congress started in January 2007. While not a perfect solution to controlling spending, it is a bipartisan approach to ensure that no new debt will be brought on any spending bill.

It's time we have a representative in Washington who talks the talk and walks the walk. The Blue Dogs, a group of fiscally responsible Democrats, have endorsed Walt Minnick for Idaho's 1st Congressional District, and I believe he'll make the changes we need to see in our nation. He'll get my vote this November.

ARLENE BALDWIN, Meridian

Sali's social positions reflect Idaho values

"How are you going to vote?"

This is a question I get about this time every election year. I usually advise them to go to the party platforms of each party to see how they stand on the issues, especially the social issues.

For instance, the Democrat Party is in favor of "reproductive freedom," meaning abortion.

Then, for "same-sex marriage," they say they are "against discrimination." This means they are against the "marriage amendment" that was passed by the voters two years ago in Idaho.

Democrat Walt Minnick even gave $200 to Idaho Votes No, a group that lobbied to try and defeat the marriage amendment, which is certainly an indication that he believes in same-sex marriage.

This doesn't go over well with Idaho voters.

For all of the above reasons, my vote is to re-elect Republican Congressman Bill Sali.

BARBARA FORREY, Nampa

McCain skips details on oil drilling policy

The McCain campaign mantra is "Drill Baby Drill," but they have left out a few minor details.

Between 1999 and 2007, the number of drilling permits issued in public lands increased by more than 361 percent, yet gasoline prices have also risen dramatically, contradicting the argument that more drilling means lower gasoline prices.

According to House Committee on Natural Resources, "Combined, oil and gas companies hold leases to nearly 68 million acres of federal land and waters oil and gas that they are not producing. Currently, inactive leases could produce an additional 4.8 million barrels of oil and 44.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas each day."

"That would double total U.S. oil production, and increase natural gas production by 75 percent. It would also cut U.S. oil imports by more than a third."

Offshore drilling would make only a 1 percent to 4 percent difference in supply of oil. The same is true for drilling in Alaska, and we wouldn't see that oil for another 10 years.

In McCain's own words, "I don't see an immediate relief ... but exploiting those reserves would have psychological impact that I think is beneficial."

As T. Boone Pickens says, "We can't drill our way out of this crisis."

ANN GUARDIOLA, Boise

Popkey article makes wrong comparison

Dan Popkey in his article of Sept. 14 on Sarah Palin cleverly adds in a campaign promotion for Walt Minnick by attempting to somehow equate Minnick with Palin.

Walt Minnick is the Democrat candidate for Congress. A vote for Mr. Minnick would be a vote for retaining Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House of Representatives and the most powerful person in the U.S. Congress.

Ms. Pelosi is an advocate of abortion, gay and lesbian marriage, the ban on drilling for oil. surrender in Iraq, increased taxes, and income tax rebates for those who pay no income tax.

Mr. Minnick as a Democrat has much in common with Nancy Pelosi but nothing in common with Sarah Palin. Nice try, Mr. Popkey.

FRANZ SUHADOLNIK, Sun Valley