Going green is worth the price

Re "Going green carries very heavy price" (Page A3, Nov. 16): Dan Walters' column reminds me of the Detroit auto industry. Over the last 20 years they have fought the very policies that could have saved them. If they hadn't defeated fuel economy standards in 1991, the Big Three would have the fuel-efficient cars and trucks they need today to survive and perhaps even thrive.

If California doesn't take the steps now to wean itself of fossil fuels whose declining supplies dictates ever increasing prices over the long term, we will end up just as bankrupt as Detroit.

Or we can tap the same creative powers that brought us the IT revolution and help drive the world into a low-carbon economy.

What will it be: Detroit, or Silicon Valley? Fortunately, most Californians know the right answer.

– Elliot Hoffman, San Francisco

California can lead the way

Dan Walters' article is reminiscent of the days when U.S. Steel ruled the Dow and when Detroit's Big Three dominated the auto industry. For three decades these companies have chosen a path of denial over the path of progress, by fighting fuel efficiency standards and thriving off sales of gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs.

Just as California has led the way on automobile fuel standards, it now has the opportunity to lead the nation in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, especially that which is imported from foreign countries who do not have our best interests at heart.

My colleagues in the venture industry are already working to tap the same innovative minds who brought us the IT revolution. These efforts can make California a global leader in embracing a low carbon world.

California can choose to become the Rust Belt, or Detroit, or it can revive its Silicon Valley model so admired around the globe. Far from a symbolic act, only one of these paths has been proven to produce prosperity.

– Sam Perry, Menlo Park

Let Big Oil bail out Big Three

Here's an idea: Perhaps the Big Three automakers should approach Big Oil for that $25 billion bridge loan. Exxon Mobil alone has $37 billion in cash looking for investment, and the other major oil companies are also flush with cash. Seems like the perfect business synergy to me – cars and gasoline. No taxpayer money involved, no congressional hearings, no grumbling taxpayers.

– Dan G. Tajbl, Auburn

Why aren't food prices lower?

Re "Gas decline fails to rev up economy" (Page A1, Nov. 18): At least consumers are catching a break with the price decline in energy related products such as gasoline and natural gas. Now if consumers could only catch a break from things like food and other consumer products.

All those companies that raised food and consumer prices due to energy and commodity costs have yet to lower prices, companies like Dow Chemical, the airlines, bread companies and cereal companies. Now that the commodity markets are in full meltdown and with gasoline at 2004 levels, why can't those companies that raised prices on consumer goods lower the prices instead of reducing package size and weight?

Another example of corporate greed!

– Steve Mawhinney, Roseville

Good news spoiled

Am I the only person in the area who loves lower gas prices? Once again the media try to create the proverbial "train wreck" when reporting what should be "good news" to everybody.

– Larry Fisher, Sacramento

Insulin ruling protects kids

Re "Judge rules only nurses can inject insulin in kids" (Page A1, Nov. 15): As a school nurse who has been working in schools for 24 years and in my 22nd year in Sac City Unified, I am overjoyed by this ruling. I think nurses are at least as important as sports, counseling, music, library, tutoring and other things schools do find the money for. It has been my experience that schools do have the money, they just don't choose to hire nurses. We are not too good at standing up for ourselves (but that may be changing).

Even in the hospital, it required two nurses to verify an insulin dose before injecting, as too much can kill. How can we expect our very busy clerks, office managers, or teachers to be doing this when they are not trained nurses? Nurses, especially school nurses, are well worth the money, and we are helping kids stay alive and well every day. We are trained observers and spot other conditions that the layperson might not. Please parents, don't sell us (and your children) out.