Font ResizeBan on polystyren
In reading Mr. Rudolph Silva's letter (Sept. 13), he offers a very simplistic argument regarding polystyrene dangers due to the chemicals used in its manufacture. He fails to mention that the chemicals used in its manufacture no longer exist in their original form.
There are many products used in every day life that are derived from very dangerous chemicals, but when reacted , have no harmful effects.
A simple example of two products are common table salt, and essential oils (fragrances). Table salt is comprised of sodium and chlorine, both very toxic and dangerous to the human body. Essential oils are typically made from sulfuric and nitric acid and various other materials, but when reacted together, present a very pleasant fragrance used by many people.
Mr. Silva's comments are typical of many environmental groups They typically present the most dangerous arguments, but always fail to mention the facts.
Alfred Camisa
Pleasanton
Bravo, militia
If Robert Zanker, Concord (Sept. 10 letter), has ever met a gun owner or a member of the NRA, then he's met the militia.
That militia (so many gun owners) is a huge reason this country has not been invaded since the Revolutionary War. And then, it was the militia that began the fight to get this nation the freedoms we have.
Pleasanton
Let's have a debate
Hopefully people will react to Congressman Pete Stark's current position on debating his election opponent Eric Swalwell. Stark says he will not debate his opponent, Eric Swalwell, because he will be asked "stupid" questions. (SF Chronicle and ABC 7 News, Sept. 3)
The real reason is that Pete Stark himself looked and sounded "stupid" in the only time that he debated Eric Swalwell.
Check the debate on this site; http://bit.ly/T55tEY
I would encourage all voters to sign the petition requesting Pete Stark to debate Eric Swalwell at http://chn.ge/PI2Q5r.
There is a reason that no major newspaper has endorsed Pete Stark.
David Johnson
Pleasanton
Liberal media shame
Get ready, it's started. The election is less than 60 days away so its time for all the news outlets to again line up to their defend their 2008 choice of Obama.
The latest is this paper's above-the-fold front page article comparing gas prices during Bush's last term versus during Obama's term. And, as usual, the information and data printed has been cherry-picked, edited and/or had parts omitted.
Using data from 'U.S. Energy Information Administration' (who knew there was one), the graph shows that in September 2008, four months before the end of Bush's term, that nationwide gas prices averaged $3.96. That same graph shows that in January 2009, the first month of Obama's term, that gas prices were at $1.86. What? Gas prices went down over two dollars a gallon in just four months? Yeah, right. Another media shell game with the truth.
What prompts the media to promote this story? Easy. The much smaller conservative media are touting the absolute fact that gas prices have doubled during Obama's term. Own up liberal media
Steve Mahler
Livermore
Not a nice guy
Pres. Obama has a nice smile. Why do you think he always shows it off? He wants people to think that he's a nice guy. Anyone who believes and practices Saul Alinsky's policies, isn't a nice person. They are cutthroat, devious and mean.
When they hate the U.S. Constitution, its founders and American institutions, they feel righteous about annihilating their opposition by any means.
After watching both conventions it's apparent that the Democrats are less informed and more brainwashed than Republicans
P.S. I left the Republican Party 30 years ago to become a Libertarian because the Republicans were becoming more like Democrats. I didn't want to help Obama win in 2008, so I voted Republican. I feel the same today, so I'll vote for Romney.
Ray Greer
Danville
Obama's disastrous policies
In response to the Sept. 12 article "Romney's Worldview Simplistic," the key argument is if we take tough measures with China regarding their currency manipulations, they will retaliate by not buying our debt. The author apparently was not aware that China has stopped buying our debt months ago.
More recently, they have started liquidating our debt! The market for our catastrophic debt has become so limited; the Treasury Department has been printing money to finance the ever increasing debt! -- Obama's trillions of new dollars that will eventually create severe inflation. Sadly, this will be devastating to our economy.
Obama surely tops the list of simplistic world views. Obama's world apology tour was beyond stupid. People respect countries that are strong, not weak. Obama's policy of backing the revolutionaries in the Middle East has placed the Muslim Brotherhood in control; a known terrorist organization.
Mark Fernwood
Danville
Obama: 'Got to let him go'
Our pathetic president continues to give me reasons to despise him and his policies. After he was elected, Obama went to Cairo and gave his "I love the Muslims" speech. He lit the fuse to what he calls the "Arab spring," which is really the Muslim Brotherhood spring.
After that speech, Obama cut our military aide to Israel, cut our own military spending, borrowed trillions from China, and in April of this year, he gave Egypt's government, now controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood $1.5 billion dollars (with a "b").
The Muslim Brotherhood has declared jihad against the U.S. and Obama is giving them money? Now we are supposed to believe that the Muslims who attacked our Embassy in Egypt were (ticked off) about an obscure movie?
How about the fact that in spite of Obama saying he didn't want to spike a football after our SEALS killed Osama bin Laden, killing Osama on Obama's watch was mentioned 21 times at the Democratic National Convention. Think that might have upset the Muslim Brotherhood?
Before they kill our ambassador, the Muslims are yelling "Obama, we are all Osama!" Looks like his be-nice-to-the-Muslims Brotherhood strategy is back firing. And then our fearless leader announces stepped up security at our embassies on Sept. 12. Any President with a brain would of stepped up security on Sept. 10.
As Clint said, "Got to let him go."
Mark Marcotte
Danville
