Dear Editor:Bravo to The Downey Patriot for printing "Green Jobs Are Bad Jobs" (3/24/11). Mr. Robert Bradley points out very clearly that green jobs are government jobs (not private sector jobs) and are being paid for by government grants. The production of the solar panels are made in China - the equipment for wind energy is produced in China - no jobs here either, except for installation. It is so obvious that there is a double standard. We are trying to save on gasoline while President Obama uses his new toy, Air Force One, very freely. I could be a believer if the elites were serious and if he would, just one time, take up Air Force One on wind and solar energy. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's husband, Mr. Richard Blum, has his own private plane, as many in D.C. do. We are all aware of Nancy Pelosi's expensive use of our Defense Department's money to fly her and her family numerous times. It appears that those in government are the only ones who are not aware of the stupidity of thinking that because they want a renewable source of energy, it must be! The facts are that we don't yet have it, yet they are trying to force us off the energy we do have, with nothing to replace it. We are not only paying about $4 a gallon for gas, we are also paying $1.78 for every gallon of ethanol produced and subsidizing their foolish experiments, which are causing food prices to rise dramatically. Even the great scientist, Al Gore, says ethanol isn't the answer. Most notable is how a "deep drilling" permit has been issued to Petrobus Oil (a Brazilian oil company) to drill in the Gulf when Obama has put a moratorium on U.S. drilling there (overruling a court order), but now has given permits to three U.S. companies for shallow drilling. Recall the $2 billion given to the multibillionaire George Soros to drill 14,000-plus feet off the coast of Brazil. We, the U.S., benefit in no way from this. Are you aware that there were 57 oil spills larger than Valdez? We have heard nothing about them. It's only the U.S. that is held responsible. Are you aware that the U.S. and Canada are the only countries who drill "clean"? I'm not worried about polluting the world, though we all want a clean planet and should work toward that goal, within reason. I'm more concerned with the pollution of minds and souls. This nation is in trouble spiritually. Our morals and values are contaminated and each of us needs to give much attention to them. -- Elsa Van Leuven, Downey

********** Published: March 31, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 50