Don't tax America's big oil and gas companies' excessive profits or ask them to give up that $17 billion in tax relief. Instead, ask them to help their fellow Americans by reducing the profits they take from producing each gallon of diesel fuel. This support would help reduce the cost of farm products and food stuff in general, not to say how it would help to reduce the cost of busing our kids to and from school.

Surely the leaders of big oil could establish a cost-reduction figure easily understood that would be a significant advantage to their fellow citizens in this time of crisis. This effort would show their compassion and thanks to the American people for allowing the sharing of our national resources for the betterment of all.

William T. 'Nick' Smith, Wilson

Start somewhere

I appreciate humor, and the June 25 cartoon of the SUV with Sen. John McCain in it, stating that "If he says it's a hybrid, then it's a hybrid" was funny. However, I have also listened to Sen. Barack Obama and heard him say that any offshore drilling wouldn't get us any closer to energy independence except perhaps in the year 2017. Doesn't Obama know that you have to start sometime? Perhaps if politicians had started 10 to 15 years ago looking for domestic oil, we wouldn't be in the mess that we currently find ourselves.

At least McCain is proposing a plan, which is more than I can say for Obama. I find it ridiculous that Obama is saying "no" to everything that McCain proposes. Perhaps Obama should be called "Senator No." Now, where have I heard that before from liberal North Carolina Democrats?

David Burton, Raleigh

Real ramifications

The comment from Wake Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Betty Lou Ward in the June 27 article "Wittig not yet in the clear" that "in the private sector, I guess this would not be such a major deal" highlighted how out of touch our officials can be with the real world.

Having worked in the private sector for over 30 years at a Fortune 500 company, I can attest to the fact that personal responsibility for the use of company funds and effective procedures to authorize expenditures are standard practice. Profligate expenditure as seems to have occurred in this case would in my experience have resulted in dismissal not only of the individual concerned but probably his superiors who have exercised such poor financial judgement.

The provision of credit cards to employees is obviously a policy that should cease immediately because of an environment in which controls are inadequate and repercussions for misuse negligible.

Ed Davis

Chapel Hill

On to education

I wish I could say I was surprised by Craig P. Wittig's supervisor's approval of his inventive travels: whale watching, a casino trip, Disney World. But after working in public education for close to 15 years, I have grown accustomed to seeing supervisors condone many people who get paid for not doing their job.

Kudos to Joe Bryan and the Wake County commissioners for their newfound desire to cut out the chaff in the county. Maybe we won't need to raise taxes so often if we find out where the money is really being spent.

For years people have declared that the money is not the issue in government and in education. After reprioritizing government spending, let's move on to education. Once the county commissioners figure out how to make those government folks earn their paychecks or find another locale, they can move on to public education.

Nan Danehower

Raleigh

Gas guzzlers unite

There is no end to the kvetching about high fuel prices by everyone who drives a car or truck. But I would guess those doing the loudest kvetching are those who drive the gas-guzzling SUVs and pickups.

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