No idea

President Bush said we are not in a recession. Oil prices are not high. They just look like they are.

In the dictionary there is a word, "moron." Next to it should be President Bush and Bill Dawson. Neither of you have any idea what is happening.

Stick a finger in your ear and twist. Maybe something will fall out.

PHILLIP JONES

In response to: 's'plain it to me, Lucy'

Wujek wanted to know what happened with the federal investigation into oil price manipulation. The Federal Trade Commission has conducted three investigations since 2000. While the FTC did not look in every nook and cranny, they did scrutinize those areas where price manipulation was most likely to have occurred.

The FTC concluded each time that neither the oil companies nor refineries attempted to manipulate the price of gasoline. The increases were due to market supply and demand. In short, when demand for gasoline increases faster than our supply, the price (like any other commodity) goes up.

There are also four factors affecting the price we pay at the pump. These are crude oil cost, refining capacity, government taxes and dealer costs. Taxes and dealer cost do not fluctuate enough to have any great affect on the pump prices. But, refining capacity does affect pump price because capacity affects supply.

Currently, our country's refining capacity is 40 years behind our demand. Even if we doubled the amount of crude oil flowing to existing plants, they could not refine the crude oil any faster. One OPEC oil minister made this same comment. This brings us back to the law of supply and demand. Our demand is high, but our supply of refined crude oil is low.

So what can we do to correct the situation? The same thing we did in the 80's, reduce our demand. We can start by motor pooling. Did you know there is a tax incentive that covers vanpools?

It is approximately $65 per month per person. We can also buy more fuel efficient vehicles. We can also push to increase our nations refining capacity. We can make the difference. We did in the 80's.

S. PATRICK CULSHAW

Lucky vets

After availing myself of the VA Clinic in Pahrump for many years, it really galls me to sit in the waiting room and hear all the whining about what the clinic doesn't do.

I don't know where I would be without this fine clinic.

I'm in and out faster than any doctor's office in the world. I'm treated with respect and given "damned good care."

Where are you going to find a better doctor than "Top Doc?"

How grateful I am for Doctor Liz Sumner. She discovered a not-easily-discovered-disease and probably saved my eyesight. Thank you, Liz.

It's time to stop the whining, folks, and be damned thankful we have these wonderful people caring for us. I know I sure am.

PHIL GARWOOD

Stop the banning talk

Thank you for writing this article about private exotic animal ownership in such a positive light.

Hopefully, more people will come to see things this way and lay off the banning issues.

CYNTHIA MARSH

In response to: Anger over state application fee

I don't understand why they (Chuck and Virginia Patterson) are so upset. If they are applying for a license or certification to conduct business in a particular industry, one would think that they would be familiar with all of the statutes that govern that particular industry, including the license application process.

They want to do debt collection. If they are unfamiliar with how to go about getting licensed to collect debts, what statutes aren't they familiar with in collecting those debts?

KATHLEEN L. BIENENSTEIN

Seniors and hospice, you are great

I wish to extend a heartfelt "thank you" to all the seniors, the Nathan Adelson Hospice and Tonya Brum for hosting the Senior Resource Fair on March 13.

About 150 residents stopped in to see what Pahrump has to offer and each and every one of them were terrific.

To our RV visitors, it was great to meet you and I look forward to your help with the special outreach program for our homebound seniors with the making and filling of Christmas stockings and the knitting of hats and scarves.

Starting March 28, the drop-off will be 10-4 p.m., Monday-Friday at H & R Locksmith, 610 West Ave, across from the Cancer Thrift Store.

We have no pick-up person for this project.

Patterns for the stockings and bags for our troops will also be available.

BARB JOHNSTON