How about solutions instead of politics?

We need solutions to problems, no politics

 Numbers don’t lie, but they provide a great tool in spinning a case one wishes to make. Take, for example, the recent You Tube message from Congressman Patrick McHenry on the price of gas. He said the price of a gallon of gas was $2 a gallon at the beginning of President Obama’s term and today it is $4 a gallon, which is true. Then, J.V. Fitzsimmons, in his May 14 letter, points out that the profit margin on a gallon of gas is a mere 8 percent.

What the congressman didn’t mention was the reason for the $2 price, which was an economy on the brink of global collapse. He also had a lapse in memory of the $4 price in 2008 under President Bush.

Mr. Fitzsimmons failed to point out that a paltry 8 percent profit margin somehow resulted in Exxon being last year’s most profitable company in the U.S. He failed to mention that 3 of the top 10 most-profitable companies in the country are oil companies. He failed to mention the 9.7 percent return on revenues and 12.5 percent return on assets turned in by Exxon last quarter.

Long-term energy prices will be set by the forces of supply and demand. I am sure our congressman and Mr. Fitzsimmons would agree. I am also sure Mr. Fitzsimmons knows that the Federal Reserve is the key driver of monetary policy. They most likely know oil producers don’t want to depress their margins by flooding the market with oil. I am also confident they realize oil drilled in this country finds its way into the global market competing for the best price.

Agreed, a weak dollar is reflected in what we pay at the pump, but so is Wall Street speculation. We have no comprehensive energy plan after 40 years of saying we must have one because our politicians would rather fight than come together. Defending tax subsidies for big oil is tantamount to a handout to the person who just stole your wallet. What price at the pump must we endure before politics takes a back seat to solving problems?

David Turman
Hickory

Obama’s stance on Middle East is puzzling

 It saddens and puzzles me and a lot of my friends that President Obama would presume to suggest how the Middle East borders should be set or, for that matter, intervene at all to bring peace to the Middle East.

We do not have a consistent policy regarding Middle East countries. Until we do and until we reach a resolution on Iraq and Afghanistan, any suggestions or efforts on our part would appear disingenuous.

Glenn Hardison
Hickory

Ned Jarrett really is a remarkable gentleman

 I really enjoyed Charles Deal's story on Ned Jarrett. I had the honor to meet Ned a number of years ago, and you guys are right. He is one of the nicest and most gracious people I have ever met in my life.

He talked to me like we had known each other for years instead of being total strangers. I mentioned how articulate he is and how well he enunciated so that even the folks in the back could understand every word. He related to me what Charles mentioned about the Dale Carnegie course.

Ned said if we were talking when he was younger, he would be looking at the floor all the while because he was so introverted. He said that the course not only taught him to speak, it taught him the confidence to look people in the eye.

He didn't mention if it taught him to lock out the rest of the world and give his undivided attention to the person with whom he was speaking. If they didn't teach that, I figure he picked it up on his own just because he is a polite and caring individual and he thought it was just the right thing to do.

During our brief conversation, he locked on like we were the only two people in the room and only my patter mattered to him.

Even though he does not know me from Adam, that evening he added another to the long, long list of people who admired him these many years.

Ted Smith
Hickory