Letters
Letters for 09-01-2010
Lift the moratorium
Dear Editor,
As the owner of Oilfield CNC Machining, I have firsthand experience of the negative impact that the restrictions on offshore drilling are having on the Louisiana economy. My business has come to a halt since the moratorium went into effect, but I’m just one of hundreds – if not thousands – of small business owners whose livelihood depends on the oil industry.
Now Congress is considering an amendment that would further damage our domestic energy industry by removing the manufacturing deduction that they receive under Section 199 of the tax code. Many embers of Congress think that these new taxes will punish BP and other large oil companies, but the reality is that anything that makes it harder for oil companies to invest in domestic energy projects is going to end up hurting ordinary working people, like me, who depend on this industry to provide for their families.
Continuing the moratorium and adding new tax burdens on op of it will destro our state’s economy. In the long term, oil companies are going to respond to unreasonable drilling restrictions and taxes here on the Gulf coast by shifting their drilling equipment and resources overseas. Once gone, it’s not likely they will come back anytime soon.
Congress needs to lift the moratorium and stop efforts to raise taxes on our domestic oil and gas industry.
Thomas Clements
Owner, Oilfield CNC Machining
Broussard
Reader thanks community
Dear Editor,
I am writing this open letter as a very special “thank you” to all that took part in the recent benefit that was held on my behalf. Thank you to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church; Bennie Cain of the Marcus Cain Center; Cold Front, Inc.; area vendors; local stores; and people of the community for their host of donations and support.
The group of young men and women at Cold Front, Inc. that spearheaded this venture, as well as others in the past, has taken a positive stand in the community. I feel they should be acknowledged. For too often our young people are spotlighted for destructive behavior and not contributing in their communities. Job well done. Continue being a positive role model and your community will continue to support your efforts and events.
Again, thank you and God bless each of you.
Sharolyn “Monnie” Cormier
Jennings
Reader hits the dictionary
Dear Editor,
Oxymoron: A figure of speech in which words of opposite meaning are used to describe the same situation.
Some time ago I looked up the word after seeing it in an article. I had to go to the World Book Dictionary – smaller dictionaries did not include the word. It is not an everyday word but there are everyday happenings that it describes accurately.
How about this one, “I – with no experience or knowledge, arrogant posture and finger pointing upward – can manage GM better than the auto industry executives,” or this, “My tax evading, clueless czars can stop the oil leak faster than the geologists and petroleum engineers who spend their lives in the industry.”
In The Advertiser on Aug. 20, Guest Column Charles Larriviere says it very well, “In any crisis, American Ingenuity, free enterprise are our best bet to get us out of a bad situation.”
Now, if B.H.O. and his dingbats would get off our backs and get out of the way we could change back to the America that we loved and was so great before the “change”.
Earl Hargroder
Jennings
