I have a question for Big Oil and our government. On April 21, NYMEX West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil for May delivery closed up 79 cents at $117.48 per barrel. This price is the cost for May delivery. So how is it that the cost of gas at the pump has gone up when Big Oil has not received the oil at the higher price?

I think Big Oil believes that all people in the United States are stupid and don’t know how greedy the oil companies are.

This is a windfall profit, a rip-off, and the joke is on every driver in this nation.

Is this greed or is it terrorism?

The most common definitions of terrorism are acts that are intended to create fear. Fear that we will not have money to buy food, clothing, heating oil, medicine and/or provide for our family needs.

It is time that our government does something other than hold hearings. We have got to ask ourselves: Why doesn’t our federal government do something?

It all comes down to greed, and you and I are paying and getting poorer. I can remember the days when our folks in D.C. really cared about the people. What happened?

Is there one senator or congress member who will answer the above questions?

I don’t think so, because after they get elected, they really don’t care.

Gary Hoffman

Johnstown



Children deserve love of both parents

Regarding the letter on parental alienation (“Parental alienation is child abuse”) in the April 21 edition by Joyce Pepple: I say, amen.

This type of behavior hurts the child the most, and as Pepple noted, the child deserves the love of both parents.

Kathy Smay

St. Michael



In unsettling times, let’s return to Christ

The church is not a building or a minister. It is a congregation of believers who do not always agree with one another.

The measure of one’s faith should not be determined by whether we walk out when we disagree with what is spoken in a sermon.

Most of us have heard from ministers in churches and on television that only those who believe in Jesus Christ can be saved.

Does this mean that most of God’s people are lost souls? Should we turn off the television or walk out of church when we hear these words?

We can be inspired or dismayed by sermons. And there will be some who may even walk out in protest. But that does not make them godlier than those who choose to stay. Faith leads us in different directions to find our God.

It is hypocritical for those who condemn one minister for saying God does not always bless America, when other ministers get amens when they preach that God punishes us with tornadoes and hurricanes because of homosexual behavior.

In this political season of mistrust and distortions, let’s turn our thoughts to Christ’s gospel message of tolerance, love and forgiveness.

Doris Todorich

Johnstown



Thieves in cemetery must lack consciences

To the people who stole two plaques from my father’s grave in Section L, Lot 6 of Richland Cemetery:

We filed a police report. We have pictures of these items.

I hope the people who took them enjoy them.

Apparently, they don’t have consciences.

On another issue, I would like to thank Greater Johnstown High School students enrolled in the auto mechanics morning and afternoon classes, and their teacher, Tom Mattis, for the excellent job they did on our car. Everything is working fine.

Mattis taught his students well.

Walter Gorden

Richland Township



Climate information is being ignored

This country is becoming engulfed in the “go-green conspiracy.” It’s another scare tactic of the Democratic Party and its comrades in the environmental and scientific communities who are rewarded with government “pork.”

Not only are they succeeding in scaring adults, but now they are working on our children and grandchildren through the liberal National Education Association and our public school teachers.

Shame on them.

Mankind has very little to do with the global climate change, and no matter how much you think you are doing, think again; it is only a small drop in a very large bucket.

The Democratic Party and its scientific community are not telling us about other, more-pressing matters that have changed our global climate, such as changes in the earth’s rovolution around the sun.

Important also are the large number of volcanic eruptions that have greatly affected our climate.

Under Yellowstone National Park is a lava caldera large enough to fill Lake Michigan three time over.

Wake up, people. We cannot stop what God and nature do.

Ronald J. Esposito

Moxham



Democrats focusing on the wrong issue

Today, Americans are concerned about the price of oil to heat their homes and gasoline to fuel their cars. It is the No. 1 issue.

We have plenty of oil in Alaska and off our shores, but the Democrats have shut down this industry.

This is going to be the No. 1 issue as the election campaign moves toward the fall.

The Republican candidate will win.

Sen. Hillary Clinton says the No. 1 issue is providing health care for all. This would bankrupt America unless we go to socialism.

Sen. Barack Obama says his No. 1 issue is the Iraq war. Yet this war is winding down with success in all areas. He says the war is too expensive.

Meanwhile, Social Security is going broke and many of the baby boomers are worried they will never collect their share. The Democrats are doing nothing about this.

The Democrats have a civil war going on in their party. They have always stirred up class warfare, and now it is coming back to hurt them.

Their party will never be the same after this bitter and hateful primary election is over.

Sen. John McCain is the only candidate who can help America.

Stephen R. Sakmar

Lower Yoder Township