Letters August 13, 2008

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

By Planet User

Gas scam
Over the past year or so, as the future cost of a barrel of unrefined crude oil repeatedly rose, the gasoline service stations in Jackson were very quick to follow any upward bump with sometimes daily hikes in pump prices of their own,  from three to five cents a gallon.

However, for the past straight 25 days (as of Monday), the nationwide average price of gasoline has fallen each and every day, as the future cost of a barrel of unrefined oil has tumbled. What has happened in Jackson during the past three weeks? Our gasoline prices have fallen not a single penny.

Is that what federal regulators call profiteering, or does it just show a complete lack of concern by the local monopolists for their long-suffering loyal customers? Not a single penny reduction in the price of gasoline.

Also, over that same 25-day period of falling national gasoline prices, just about every station in Jackson – the always inexplicably high Shervin’s Independent Oil excepted – each day proclaimed the pump price of a gallon of regular octane at $4.099. Is that called collusion, or just price fixing?

I wonder what Wyoming’s senators and representatives in Congress have to say about those gas facts. Probably nothing at all, since they have been part of the problem, not part of the solution.  Is it difficult to see why the public’s rating of Congress is at an all-time low and still falling?
 
- Fred Whissel
Rafter J

Priceless speech
We live in a country with a Constitution and a Bill of Rights. Our First Amendment gives us The Right to Free Speech. I value this greatly. I am first generation American on my mother’s side. My family helped newly arrived refugees, people who fled a totalitarian regime in the middle of the night, often dodging gunfire, often with small children in tow. They risked everything for freedom. I grew up hearing their stories as well as the news of the part of my family that remained behind. I remind myself often not to take the freedoms I enjoy for granted.

Here in Jackson Hole, it appears, the worst thing that can happen to you for questioning the establishment is banishment from important fundraising. That’s nothing compared to what those who live in authoritarian regimes face. Still, it is deeply disturbing. It is censorship. It is punishing an organization for making statements that some in power do not want to hear. That’s not exactly in keeping with community spirit. Moreover, it is wrong.

The Housing Trust, a nonprofit organization, planned in writing to create a for-profit entity and entered into a partnership with a large private developer. Millions of dollars were involved. This should have been brought to the attention of the public. What was the Housing Trust expecting? Since when is questioning bad play or evil? Critical thinking and a well-educated citizenry are a good thing. That’s what democracy is all about. Blind acceptance of the status quo leads to complacency and sloppy intellectualism.

The Community Foundation, headed by the same President as The Housing Trust, did not like the “tone” of information published by Save Historic Jackson Hole. So what? Often a quest for the truth is edgy or uncomfortable.  Counter it. Debate. That’s everyone’s right.  Please don’t promote censorship by punishing an organization because you don’t like their viewpoint or “tone.”

Come on, Community Foundation: show us what you think Free Speech is worth.

- Kristine O’Brien
Jackson

Forget not
<This letter was addressed to Jackson Hole Citizens. - Ed>
Your Town Council wants you to know that we consider Old Bill’s Fun Run and the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole to be unparalleled in their commitment to our community. Mr. and Mrs. Old Bill quietly and generously continue to anonymously anchor this valley’s (and our country’s) most successful community fundraiser and celebration. Friends and neighbors come together, from little kids, teens and families to some of our elite athletes, for a moment’s celebration in and from the heart of Teton County. 

The vision and mission of Mr. and Mrs. Old Bill and the Community Foundation remains solid and committed to creating profound support for the efforts of our nonprofit organizations and volunteers that serve so many in our community. Your Town Council supports this Saturday morning event in September that now gathers on your Town Square where we valley citizens proudly stand shoulder to shoulder sharing in the commitment that we make to our community through joining in Old Bill’s Fun Run for charity. Valley visitors who come upon this special morning on our Town Square are profoundly touched by this very public celebration of community that the good people of Jackson Hole share together. Let’s remember this.

- Mark Barron, Mayor
Mark Obringer, Town Council
Abe Tabatabai, Town Council
Melissa Turley, Town Council
Bob Lenz, Town Council
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Letters August 13, 2008 | Planet JH News Article: Letters To Editor

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