Climate change

The science of climate change is irrefutable. The U.S. military has consistently considered climate change a national security risk since 1998. We will suffer the effects of extreme weather events and sea level rise.

Despite that reality, President Donald Trump subsidized petroleum $80 billion and archaic coal power plants $625 million. Trump wasted $2 billion paying companies not to build wind power projects. Trump’s tariffs and temporary delay of Virginia’s nearly-completed offshore wind project caused costs to rise to $11.5 billion. The increase may trickle down to Dominion customers. Meanwhile, China is investing heavily in solar and wind power, battery storage and electric vehicles.

Renewable energy is surging worldwide — not due to the threat of climate change, but simply driven by economics. Renewable energy is already less expensive than fossil fuels and getter cheaper. Clean energy also reduces pollution and health-related costs. Even Texas generated 54% clean energy this year.

Other countries are realizing that they can achieve real energy independence with home-grown renewable power instead of being held hostage by OPEC or war. Global oil prices increased during former President Joe Biden’s term due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. U.S. gas prices are currently the highest they’ve been in four years (per AAA) because of Trump’s decision to wage war against Iran.

Ethiopia already gets more than 90% of its electricity from renewable sources, has banned imports of gas-powered vehicles and is importing electric vehicles from China. Canada approved Chinese EV imports. China will thrive by selling their technology globally while the U.S. lags further behind.

David Campbell, Virginia Beach

Toxic far left

Liberals, who embrace “coexist” and despise profiling and shaming, go against every one of their beliefs when they try to shame folks by referring to them as MAGA Republicans.

Fiscal conservatives support lower taxes, less government intervention, and more personal liberty and responsibility. These are all common sense, nonpartisan ideals that our Founding Fathers wrote into our Constitution.

Folks with the entitlement mindset have created a major divisiveness in this country. The misguided Democratic socialists and progressive liberals have caused this great nation to lose a lot of its luster.

America has been great many times in history: the Emancipation Proclamation, the Civil Rights Act, the space race and the patriotism immediately after the 9/11 terror attacks are just a few.

Perhaps this country was at its greatest 125 years ago when families legally emigrated to this country, arriving at Ellis Island to start their own businesses. No labor unions, no PTO and no benefits. This behavior created a strong work ethic in this country that has now almost disappeared, and we need to bring it back.

Folks need to get educated and purge themselves of toxic far-left ideologies such as entitlement and wealth inequality. We are all personally responsible for our own prosperity.

As former President John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

Lee Matthews, Hampton

Slush fund

I’m not sure I have the words to describe the utter disgust I feel regarding the slush fund established to reward the Jan. 6 rioters. Like many in America I watched with horror as hundreds of rioters attacked law enforcement officers and the U.S. Capitol.

Referring to the rioters as protesters is horribly misleading. As one who has participated in many protests, I’ve never witnessed an attack on law enforcement officers or the violent takeover of a government building.

The Jan. 6 riots were an assault on our country and the U.S. Constitution. To reward those who participated with our tax dollars is a second assault.

There appears to be no bottom to this administration and the midterm elections can’t happen soon enough.

Elizabeth Ray, Norfolk