ORANGE, John Castillo: The Register gave us its reason why gasoline prices are rising [“Why gas prices are spiking,” Editorial, April 25]: Citizen opposition to both hydraulic fracking and air pollution and the crisis
|Traffic on the 91 Freeway (Register file photo).|
in Ukraine and Libya.
Just remember that gas prices have been rising since the 1970s oil embargoes, long before the fight against fracking. We should have started serious fuel efficiency efforts back then.
Notice the two words “hydraulic fracking.” This process uses tons of surface and ground water and replaces the water with contaminated hydraulic fracturing waste water in our already stressed aquifers. This is bad because clean water is more precious than oil. As for fighting deadly smog with air quality regulations, I doubt these regulations are the cause of gas rising from 33 cents a gallon to more than $4 a gallon.
Regarding Libya and Ukraine, leave it to diplomacy. It may turn out that speculators manipulating the markets are the actual cause behind price increases. Bottom line, we need to use less oil and smarter alternatives.
Costly international commerce
LAGUNA WOODS, Harry Rockey: The Register editorial, “End export-import bank” [Opinion, April 24], was excellent. This institution is truly a waste. But I take issue with your contention that international commerce is a vital component of a prosperous America. Such commerce costs us far more than we gain. Your focus on executive pay illustrates this.
Most of this pay is from government subsidies. We have enough of everything right here at home. The export of natural resources from the North American continent is not only unpatriotic, it’s stupid. We would be better off if we kept these resources and escaped national debt increases.
However, the Register deserves some sort of Pulitzer award for its watchdog approaches. Reporters like Teri Sforza are to be commended. Thank you.
Identity fraud and voting
IRVINE, Mike Noggle:After reading “Voting Rights Act epitomizes the ‘race card’” [Letters, April 26], I can conclude that the letter-writer fails to realize that laws that apply to all citizens are not automatically race related. There are probably more whites who have committed voter fraud.
This is yet another Obama administration ploy to divide the nation. One cannot get on an airplane, drive a car or cash a check without an ID. So why should anyone have the right to cast a vote to elect a government official if one can’t prove identity? What stops someone with no ID from assuming many IDs?
I don’t give a hoot what color a person is. A legal ID should be required to vote. Just because voter fraud may not have been a problem in one given area, does not mean it might not be a problem there in the future.
Pregnant with complications
TUSTIN, Judith Oropeza: Women who seek a blood test prior to conception are better advocates for their health [“Knowing blood type is key for pregnant women,” UC Irvine, April 14].
Health care providers can educate patients to better understand their blood types. This is critical for pregnancy and for medical emergencies where a blood transfusion is needed.
Understanding the complexity of red blood cells such as the antigen Rh is critical. Rh-negative women, who have been exposed to Rh-positive blood, build antigens that can cause complications to future pregnancies.
The article fails to mention that a Rhogam shot is given 28 weeks into a pregnancy. The importance of prenatal care builds a transitioning bridge in which health care providers place health care directly in the patient’s hands.
Perhaps an observational study can indicate whether or not women newly insured through Covered California use health care services to avoid this issue.
pet section expansion
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Ann Keith: I have been a Register subscriber for more than 50 years. Considering the large number of pet owners in Orange County, your coverage of animals and pets in the Monday edition is inadequate.
Why not expand on that subject for animal lovers? I think it would be most appreciated by many of your readers.