I am really confused how we get all those government officials, from the top down, who have no common sense. It must be the money that gets them in.

I can’t believe all those congressmen and senators cannot realize that this nation needs oil now, not in 20 years.

Give the oil companies rights to drill offshore, in Alaska, anywhere they can get oil. What’s so hard about that?

Billions of dollars have been spent in Iraq. Now it has lots of oil. Why isn’t this country taking oil in trade for what Iraq owes?

There are several ways to reduce oil prices and get more oil. Apparently no one in Washington has enough brains to figure it out. It could be that pockets aren’t full enough yet.

People won’t take much more. Crime is way up, suicides are up. Something is going to happen.

I also agree with Larry Hawley in his letter June 26.

We work, and then state government takes taxes from our checks, then tax returns, taxes on cars, houses, utilities … taxes even on things bought from magazines. And if you can’t pay those taxes (because you need food), you get charged penalties and interest, more interest than any credit card ever thought of charging.

This country is hurting.

Hillary Clinton could provide an answer. Barack Obama says one thing, then changes his mind. I believe he’s just too young.

Freeman Lewis, Lewiston