Don’t criticize Kay

After reading several letters supporting Sam Graves for 6th District Congressman, I wonder why every writer seems to think all they have to do is continue to bash Kay Barnes and their candidate will win. I feel bad that our democratic process has come to this point.

I, for one, don’t want to hear what is wrong with Kay Barnes. I want to know what is right with Sam Graves. I have listened to Ms. Barnes on numerous occasions and find her to be very astute about the issues and how to fix them. Mr. Graves has given me no reason to vote for him again.

We need the support of our leaders to help with the energy crisis. We have a great opportunity here in Northwest Missouri for more wind farms, and we need to look at the ethanol and biodiesel problems. I do not feel we can drill our way out of these problems. Why has the government allowed the oil companies to let the refineries become so outdated that they can no longer keep up with the needs of the country? No wonder the oil companies are reporting such great profits.

We need to support a candidate who will listen and then support what we want, not what a lobbyist or special-interest group wants.

Therefore, I will support Kay Barnes any way I can as she makes a bid for the 6th District Congressional seat.

Maggie Elder

St. Joseph

Sam makes more sense

With the election drawing near, we have been hearing radio ads from both Sam Graves and Kay Barnes.

In the Barnes ad, she says she will lower gas prices by going after speculators in the futures market. The whole premise of this is absurd. Sure, some speculators make money when the price of commodities goes up, but some also lose money. The reason many of these speculators are bidding the price up is because they think restrictions on the oil companies’ production of crude are going to remain — hence keeping the supply lower than the demand, which will drive prices in the future higher.

Sam Graves’ ad advocates a more common-sense solution — to lift the ban on the use of our own oil and reduce prices by means of allowing more production. Ask yourself which is more likely to help: more regulations or more oil.

Marcus McIntire

Kansas City, Mo.