Smith critics miss the point
The reader criticisms of Ron Smith's July 10 column ("Global warming alarmism enriches Gore, bankrupts the rest of us") miss the point. Mr. Smith is one of the few who has broken the politically correct silence on the shaky foundation of climate alarmism.
Climate alarmism involves a vast array of bureaucratic and political agendas and conflicts of interest. The debate isn't over; it's increasing throughout the world. Theoretical climate models continue to conflict with actual measurements. Historical records of the Medieval Warm Period (circa 900-1400 AD) - when global warming equalled or exceeded present warming; was beneficent, not catastrophic; and was not caused by industrial CO2 emissions - continue to be ignored.
Before the Senate blindly passes cap-and-trade legislation like the House did (without thorough reading of the actual bill), there needs to be more open and free public discussion of the logic behind climate alarmism, not less.
Charles A. Clough
Since when is empathy bad?
In opening confirmation hearings, Republicans accused Judge Sonia Sotomayor of espousing empathy.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican, said: "I will not vote for ... an individual who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their own personal background, gender, prejudices or sympathies to sway their decisions."
Is "empathy" - "intellectual or imaginative apprehension of another's condition or state of mind" - the latest entry into the Republican lexicon of evil monikers? Like "liberal," which the dictionary defines as "favoring progress ... broad minded, not intolerant or prejudiced" which has come to mean weak willed and fiscally irresponsible.
While Justice is often portrayed as blind, signifying impartiality, it is never portrayed as also deaf and mute.
Ingrid Krause, Baltimore
Bring back real punishment
I grew up in the southwest Baltimore neighborhood where the little girl was shot ("Relatives of girl, 5, voice hope she'll live," July 8). Back then, you could walk the streets day or night and feel safe. Now the streets have turned into a war zone.
What has caused this problem is our judicial system.
Back when I was growing up, the police carried sticks. If someone got out of hand, they got rapped with that stick. If you killed someone, you were put to death by hanging or the electric chair.
Does that sound uncivilized and inhumane? How does shooting a 5-year-old child sound when all she was doing was walking down the street? Does being afraid to walk down your street or sit on your front steps seem civilized and humane?
We need to get back to old-fashioned punishment.
Grace Lamana, Severna Park
