Dear Editor, This letter is a response to Daniele Hauptman’s Global Warming article that appeared in the February 5th issue of the Generation. I do not intend to debate the existence or degree of Global Warming taking place. However, I will take issue with the economic factors Ms. Hauptman discusses. The idea that a government-mandated industry will stimulate the economy is absolutely foolish. As Roy Cordato noted in the National Review, “Energy would be taxed through the back door by placing a cap on the amount of carbon dioxide that energy-producing companies can emit.” It is hard to imagine how the increased cost of business inputs will create jobs and raise wages in a slowing economy. Ms. Hauptman’s attempted blending of the interest of the environment with the interest of the impoverished is empty elitist rhetoric. Regulating carbonemission will increase energy costs on all Americans and further the loss of low-skilled and medium-skilled American manufacturing jobs. This will hardly be outweighed by new “Green Jobs.” While heavy environmental restrictions may become necessary, they will not be without serious costs. The fantasy of the environmental industry driving economic growth masks the unfortunate reality. James Blenk Class of ‘08 Ms. Sullivan , I recently visited SUNY Buffalo to see a friend. When I was there I picked up a copy of Generation (January 29 ed.). I must say, I thought your short ‘edit note’ and Darci Smith’s article were absolutely excellent - two of the better non-fiction pieces I’ve read lately. Both of you approached the serious topic of anorexia with such honesty and poignance. My hats off to you for your thoughtful, reflective writing and the quality magazine you lead. I’m somewhat of a niche publication junkie, so it was fun for me to come upon Generation. With best wishes, Jacob Rooksby Richmond, Va. Dear Editor, Jeff Froustet’s article “Losing My Religion” unintentionally divulged either ignorance or misunderstanding. Concerning his Catholic education, he derisively said, “Go fuck yourself; it’s called evolution. Get with the times.” Besides revealing a hackneyed and boring contempt for religion, he also revealed that he had not read his Catechism very closely at all. Paragraphs 282-289 should have gave Jeff pause for thought before he resorted to obscenity. Perhaps if he had actually done some research on the issues that were apparently important to him, he would have come across passages like this: “While the story of human origins is complex and subject to revision, physical anthropology and molecular biology combine to make a convincing case for the origin of the human species in Africa about 150,000 years ago in a humanoid population of common genetic lineage.” The current pope said that. No one begrudges Mr Froustet his ability to say “I disagree.” However, it seems sad that he evidently had an incomplete understanding of the thing with which he was disagreeing. Josh Dill
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