Dan's Papers - September 26, 2008 -

Dear Editor,
On September 6, 2008, John McCain said there were "tough times all over America." In recent days he has repeatedly said: "the fundamentals of the economy are strong."
Aren't massive job losses, soaring deficits, devaluation of the dollar, rising unemployment, bank failures and the mortgage meltdown basic 'fundamentals' of the economy? Here's a question I would ask him: "Which is it, John? How do you have a fundamentally strong economy when the aforementioned economic indicators have all headed south?" A question the news media should be asking him.

Maybe south heading fundamentals. - DR

Dear Editor,
I read with interest your article in which you have again demonstrated your intellectual curiosity. However, I must offer a correction. The intellectual property rights you describe are actually trademark and possibly service mark rights, not copyrights. If you wish I shall be happy to explain the difference.

They all mean you can't use 'em. - DR

Dear Editor,
Being a Hillary supporter, I thought I would sit out the election, but when Palin appeared on the scene, I got a head's-up. Just the thought that she'd be a heartbeat from the presidency sent shudders through me.
How can any woman vote for a gun-toting, pro-life, all- show and no-substance woman!

The Annie Oakleys of America? - DR

Dear Editor,
This past Wednesday, my sister's friend went to the Hess gas station on North Ocean Ave (LIE exit 63) in Farmingville. She was filling her gas tank when a man in a pickup truck pulled up on the passenger side of her car, reached in and stole her purse, which was on the passenger seat. He took off narrowly missing a pedestrian and another car. Another man saw this happen and took off after the truck but could neither catch up to him or get the plate number. When SCPD came, they said that this has been happening frequently at local gas stations and parking lots- (Hess Rte 112 and Patchogue Mt. Sinai Rd. has also been hit.)
Her purse was found Thursday morning in the Selden Post Office mail box, money, phone, her glasses and credit cards gone...they left her wallet and license. She canceled her credit cards but, they had already charged $300 to one of her credit cards by the time she had called to cancel...they work quickly!
The cop advised her to lock her car windows and door when filling her car with gas and never leave a purse on the seat where it can be easily seen and taken.
Something to think about!

They rob you one way or another. - DR

Dear Editor:
The next time you get upset when filling up at your local gas station, take a close look at the fine print concerning what you pay at the pump. Contrary to popular myth, oil companies don't take as great a percentage of profit as one would think. Uncle Sam has an 18.4-cent excise tax to support the Federal Highway Trust Fund. New York State takes 8 cents state sales tax for the general fund; 8 cents state excise tax for transportation projects; 16.4 cents state petroleum business tax for transportation projects; 0.5 cents state petroleum-testing fee for fuel-quality assistance and 0.3 state sales tax for oil-spill remediation. New York City has a 16 cents sales tax for the General Fund. Nassau and Suffolk Counties also get their respective shares. Finally, there is a 1.5-cent tax for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to support general transit operations. We need a combination of expanded drilling off shore and in Alaska, increase in public transportation use combined with expansion of nuclear, compressed natural gas (CNG), methanol, ethanol, solar, wind along with other alternative energy sources. In the long run, this will reduce the cost of heating and transportation along with allowing us to become energy independent. Why continue to send hundreds of billions of dollars abroad every year? In many cases, we are supporting nations who don't have our interests in mind and couldn't care less about any threats from international terrorists who have targeted western democracies, including us.
Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens unlike our career politicians - liberal or conservative; Democrat or Republican - has offered a real plan for future energy independence. Citizens looking for solutions should vote for public officials signing on to his program. Vote the same old tired faces out of office if they support the status quo.