Twitching
and fidgeting
I am not exactly pleased with the way I appear
in your magazine (“Seeking Shelter,” Aug. 6).
It is assumed by your reporter that my “twitching
and fidgeting” is due to my drug abuse. Actually
I am diagnosed with severe anxiety disorder
and ADD with depression. At the time, I was
off medication. As far as not being able to
get a hold of me, all institutions have a client/patient
confidentiality agreement. Your story makes
it seem like I went back to the streets and
was using drugs again, when I was actually getting
help from the VA. I want people to know that
not all stories about drug abuse end in tragedy.
Mark A. Schuler
Des Moines
Editor’s note: Our story stated that Schuler
had been off drugs for six months, and we did
not state or infer that his “twitching and fidgeting”
was due to any recent drug abuse but rather
his past drug abuse, a fact he openly shared
with our reporter. Our story also did not imply
that Schuler was back on the streets using drugs
but stated the fact that his whereabouts were
currently unknown. We wish Mr. Schuler the best.
Windy responses
I can agree with the logic behind Sharon DeMers
comments (“YourView,” Aug. 9) about wind energy
tax credits that Mr. Romney wants to eliminate.
But, only if all tax credits and incentives
are eliminated for all companies doing business
in the USA. This would include all companies
involved in the production or sale of the following
forms of energy — crude oil products, natural
gas, coal, electricity, bio-fuels and nuclear.
That would level the playing field for everyone,
and then the private sector and entrepreneurs
would win the battle for the energy dollar.
That being said, Mr. Romney and his conservative
buddies could not stand to cut those companies
off because they would lose too much money for
all the benefits they have given those same
companies through government tax credits and
subsidies. Knowing this will never happen, I
will stay on the side of wind energy tax credits
and the jobs they bring to Iowa!
Leonard Gutshall
Des Moines
Sharon DeMers cannot understand why wind energy
should be subsidized (“YourView,” Aug. 9). She
is obviously unaware that the oil industry is
receiving a $4 billion subsidy from the government.
I think the country would be better served by
having the $4 billion shifted to wind and other
alternative energies research and continue the
current $1.6 billion for wind power. Clean energy
will reduce carbon dioxide levels and make the
earth safer for all of us. Once the atmosphere
is destroyed by short thinking people advocating
as Sharon has, we will all be dead and it will
be too late. Our future generations will not
inherit a debt when no future generation will
exist.
Mark Challis
West Des Moines |
Send your opinions to Cityview, 414 61st
Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50312. Fax us at 953-1394,
or e-mail us at letters@dmcityview.com.
Please limit letters to 200 words or less. Cityview
reserves the right to edit for length and clarity.
The writer’s address and daytime phone number
will not be printed, but must be given for verification.
|