Renew U.S. moral authority

How soon we all forget -- and how soon we'd all like to forget about the debacle in Iraq. It has been four years since we learned of the torture at Abu Ghraib and our government still has not acted to restore America's honor by unequivocally banning torture and other forms of cruel treatment.

Indeed, Bush administration officials continue to approve "enhanced" interrogation techniques for the CIA from inside the White House. So the horror continues.

It's up to the next president to restore America's moral authority. the next president must swear off the use of torture by any and all U.S. agencies.

-- Margaret J. Welke, Madison

Paper carrier took pride in job well done

As I was reading Saturday's "A new era for Capital Times" in regard to the lost jobs in the newsroom, printing and distribution areas, I thought of the newspaper carriers as well.

About four years ago our daughter, Diana, became a carrier for the Cap Times. The job guru at West High endeavors to find employment in the "real" world (as opposed to sheltered work opportunities) for special needs students, and I thank him for his vision.

Kudos go to Diana's former supervisor, Ingmar, and present supervisor, Greg Egstad, who agreed to hire Diana in the first place. Di has some issues that can be challenging, but they were willing to give her a chance and support her efforts.

We're also thankful for the many job coaches who encouraged and challenged Diana -- in all kinds of weather -- to "do three more houses, and then take a break." Di is grateful to her dad and brother, Jacob, for doing the early morning deliveries on Saturdays and holidays.

The biggest thanks goes to the subscribers on Diana's route. When she passes through that neighborhood, she recalls which houses are "hers." They were understanding, appreciative and generous in their support of her as their carrier over the past few years.

Having this job gave Diana a sense of pride and self-worth. This was her job and she could do it. Isn't that what each of us should feel, the dignity that comes from a job well done?

-- Margaret Leary Walters, Madison

Justice defines 'adulthood' strangely

Our "justice" system never ceases to amaze me. I read in Sunday's State Journal that a man was charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor for allegedly buying a beer for a 20-year-old male in La Crosse.

Then on Monday I read that a 16-year-old female is being prosecuted as an adult in a fatal drunken driving accident in Walworth County.

I wonder how the courts would view things if this 20-year-old "minor" had sex with this 16-year-old "adult."

-- Joe Usher, Middleton

Farmers can provide both food and fuel

This food vs. fuel debate is ridiculous. American farmers can, and do, both feed the world and grow a renewable fuel source. Proof is the 1.4 billion bushel corn surplus we have in storage in the United States today.

When I fill my vehicle, I'd much rather be supporting Renew and other ethanol plants than Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez's regime or any other foreign entity that controls this world 's oil.

The American consumer must understand that biofuels are good for our nation's economy in many ways and we aren't taking food from the mouths of the hungry.

-- Charles W. Hammer, Beaver Dam

Use only non-food sources for ethanol

The making of ethanol using corn or any other grain in the food chain should be outlawed. A program on the History Channel showed that the making of ethanol with corn saves nothing and creates a burden on the food chain. All that 's accomplished is raising of grain prices.

Other experts say ethanol does not save on greenhouse gasses at all but produces just as much as gasoline.

But if we must produce ethanol, try switchgrass or other substances not a part of our food chain. Switchgrass produces many times more gallons of ethanol per acre than corn.

The real problem is the burning of fossil fuels. We need another way of producing energy. The other problem no one wants to address is overpopulation. With fewer people, we would use less of everything.

-- Ralph Kleeber, Reedsburg

U.S. must repeal restrictive policies

I don't want to hear bellyaching from liberals and environmentalists (mostly Democrats) about how much gas costs. They are the reason we are in this predicament, because they stymied time and again those who saw this coming for the last 20 or 30 years.

We have to become energy independent immediately. We can't conserve our way to growth. We should have been drilling for oil on our territory, mining for clean coal and developing alternate energies.

Food prices are soaring because transportation is costly, because gas is costly. That's costly because we are dependent on OPEC, Canada and Mexico for much of our oil. Our government is subsidizing corn growers diverting that crop for alternate fuel. And not only can we not drill for oil in our territory, but new oil refineries can't be built because of government regulations.

There is a place for good environmentalism, but what the United States is purposefully doing to itself is nonsense.

Governmental micro management of oil, coal and other energy sources is not the solution. We need a government that will allow the free market to climb out of the hole we have dug. Repeal the oppressive regulations.

-- J. Fall, New Glarus