Letter: We need worthy contributions to discourse

To the Editor:

Writing letters of reply to the editor ranks lower on the enjoyment scale than does a good game of tennis or badminton. Nevertheless, Steve Murphy's letter (R-E, April 21-22), like John Litsenberger's (R-E, April 4), calls for a reply because it misstates some of what my letter said (R-E, April 17). At the same time, it offers good information.

I never mentioned fracking, only frac sand mining. My source for the 80 percent figure of speculators dominating the oil market was an economist testifying before a congressional hearing telecast on C-SPAN, who also noted that during the recent spike in gas prices that led to the hearing, supplies were up and demand was down — exactly the opposite of how a free market is supposed to work.

Mr. Murphy's source, Forbes Magazine, has about as much credibility as that economist, all of which shows that when assessing facts one has to consider the source.

Our city and county governments are going to have ample opportunity soon to learn that lesson, if they will do so.

Despite some debatable assumptions, Mr. Murphy's letter made a worthy contribution to public discourse, something we could all stand to have more of in place of the histrionics that too often pass for that.

Winston Kaehler

Red Wing

Tags: letters, opinion