Regarding Jordan Stump’s remarks, “McCain’s bellowing odd” (letter, Aug. 8): That word can be used to describe any number of things going on in this country these days.

Example: I find it odd how the news reports that decreased demand is the cause for dropping oil prices of late (a factor to be sure), yet failing to also credit the immediate market response on President Bush’s lifting of the presidential ban on offshore drilling a short while ago.

Also odd is the ever-growing list of influences and associations of Sen. Barack Obama who have direct communistic affiliations. How odd is that, and how long do you think John McCain would have lasted on the scene with that kind of baggage?

Then there’s the recent scandal involving Sen. John Edwards locking himself in a Beverly Hills motel men’s room when confronted by reporters while leaving from a rendezvous with a former campaign worker, while his wife is dying from terminal cancer, by the way.

In other news, as Americans, we’re expected to bow in deference to the wishes of the International Court of Justice wanting to stop the execution of an illegal immigrant who was one of several responsible for the rape, torture and murder of two teenage girls in Texas. No thanks to Bush, Texas demonstrated to the world court that America will not have its judiciary system dictated to by foreign and liberal American politics. A lingering echo of the America we used to be.

All of this is nothing, though, compared to the daily torrent of “odd” in the news. We have no leadership in our nation’s capital!

Chad Miller, DuBois

Turn off the lights

After reading the article about Lincoln Electric System and the proposed rate increase (LJS, Aug. 6), and the cost of power generation, we looked around our home and saw four lights burning as we were enjoying breakfast in one room.

A suggestion we can make is when people are finished and leave a room, turn off the lights in that room. We tried it this morning and were amazed at the amount of energy we waste!

We all need to form a habit. People should always flick off those switches when they leave a room.

Jane and Tom Allman, Lincoln

More courteous driving

In response to Misha Coleman (letter, Aug. 11, “Share the road”), I agree 100 percent. I am an over-the-road trucker, and I have wanted the traveling public to share the road for years.

Now I am sorry to report that these days, sharing the road means all four-wheelers in the left lane, all the time, never allowing us fellas with 75-foot rigs to enter the left lane. Oh, that would mean you would have to kick off cruise control. Or better yet, when I try not to cut off any car and throw my blinker on (yes, I use a turn signal to switch lanes; sorry for that distraction, too), I guess that means if you’re in the left lane, ya better push the accelerator down, right?

Look, I am not trying to be sarcastic here, but I love the idea of sharing the road. We all have our reasons to be there, and in 38 years of driving over the road, I have seen a lack of courtesy increase at troubling percentages. Whether you are riding a bike or pushing a big rig, or in between, we need to just take a few seconds off our busy schedule to use some common courtesy a bit more often.

Let’s pull together with that in mind, like we pull for the Huskers. Let’s remember, we are identified by the license plate we bear and show the rest of the country; we here in Nebraska not only are the best fans in college football but the most courteous drivers on the highway. Does a few seconds really mean that much?

We certainly know of someone who died as a result of an accident. Wouldn’t that person or family love to just have a few more seconds? We are all human and do make mistakes. Let’s try to eliminate the silly or uncalled-for mistakes. Common courtesy goes a long way, and drivers will be happy for using it. Thanks to those who do.

Charles Endorf, Fairbury