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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2009

We've 'been had'

I have a few questions related to the article, "Saving the planet," (Views, Oct. 25).

The article said carbon dioxide emissions get trapped in the atmosphere and will act as a blanket to increase the planet's temperature. This is a one-to-one correlation: more CO2, more heat. So my questions are:

1. With more CO2 in the atmosphere now than in 1998, why has the planet not warmed since 1998?

2. Why did none of the climate-change models predict this?

3. Why does the latest research from professor Richard Lindzen of MIT show that heat is radiated out in space at six times higher than any computer system to date can account for?

The "Saving the planet" article says planting more trees would help trap billions of tons of CO2.

I love trees, and more should be planted, but natural decomposition from forest and grassland alone emits 440 trillion pounds of CO2 each year. Compare this to man-made CO2, and human output is negligible.

The Tampa Tribune is my hometown paper, and to see major stories that need to be questioned just being ignored is the real crisis. The more you dig on this story the more you will find out that we all have been had.

BURK SMITH

Dover

Poor economy
I just heard that President Obama believes that the "economy is heading in the right direction." I also remember that he had said if his stimulus package was not passed, unemployment would reach 10 percent.

Well, national unemployment is now over 10 percent. Tampa Bay area unemployment is over 11 percent, and Michigan is over 15 percent.

Mr. President, high unemployment rates do not mean that an economy is heading in the right direction. A 10 percent national unemployment rate is one of the factors in a depression.

KERRI OUSLEY

Trinity

Improper salutes

It never ceases to amaze me how conservatives and liberals use mean-spirited minutiae to criticize each other ("How not to salute," Letters, Nov. 2) As a Vietnam veteran, it did not concern me that a nonmilitary person might render an improper salute, but it was somewhat disconcerting to see a general rendering a salute with a bent wrist. Gee, do you think I should write a letter to the secretary of the Army?

MICHAEL CROUCH

Seffner

Independent voters

Michael Smerconish tried to make the case that if only 20 percent self-identify as Republicans, this means that only the hard-core conservatives are left. I disagree.

As the election in New York's district 23 has shown us, the "Republicans" are by and large the moderates; the conservatives are "independents." Like most Republicans I know, I'm registered and vote that way, but only so I can vote in the primary. I'm a conservative independent.

I'm firmly convinced that a staunch conservative can win state- or nationwide by presenting a conservative agenda and then explaining why it is good for America, without spin or pandering to any group. Those on the ultra-left are lost anyway; those in the middle will know that, while they may disagree on some specific issues, they are closer to him than the other guy.

ERNEST LANE

Trinity

Supports gambling

Putting aside the ongoing dispute between the Seminoles and the state ( "Gambling stalemate gets dicey for state," Our Opinion, Nov.1), why exactly is gambling always portrayed as being bad?

We live in a state that relies on tourism. We should embrace an industry that produces a product that cannot be outsourced and employs thousands, right here in Florida.

Yes, gambling, like many other activities, can be abused. But, like your opinion stated, gambling has been here for years in the form of horse racing, dog racing, offshore casino boats and the lottery.

So end this lame diatribe that treats the American public as if we are children.

Give the Seminoles and all existing parimutuel facilities the same gaming restrictions and enforce all laws and regulations that govern the industry. Then get out of the way, and let the public decide if it will survive.

JIM HARVEY

Tampa

Health reform

Why are calorie-count boards on vending machines and fast-food places in the new "PelosiCare" health bill? What does this have to do with health insurance reform?

Well, from what I can see, this bill has nothing to do with health care and everything to do with government control of the American people. This bill should be renamed the "Tax & Control Reform Bill."

JAMES F. DAHMER

Tampa

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