The editorial about Abraham Lincoln, slavery, the Keystone XL pipeline and the Democrats is an excellent way to justify the Keystone (“A Crude Comparison,” Editorial, May 15).
In a lot of ways, the Keystone pipeline is like the first transcontinental railroad. The railroad built by the Union Pacific and the Southern Pacific were supported by Lincoln, and the laws moving it forward were passed during his presidency amid the Civil War. Lincoln understood the rails, since he was one of the biggest railroad lawyers of his day. The transcontinental railroad opened east-west trade and changed the course of the country.
The Keystone pipeline will not be as dramatic, but it will open up the possibility of energy independence from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. It will change our future.
President Obama claims to admire Lincoln. Will he chicken out on approving Keystone?
Of course, the liberals will say the railroads led to the genocide of the Indians, and the Keystone will lead to everyone dying of an overheated earth.
James Barends, Wayne, Pa.
Subway sleaze
There are other concerns for subway riders (“Take the Schlubway,” May 12).
Riders have to deal with those who hog two seats, or patrons who cough and sneeze without covering up. Gropers periodically accost women, and perverts engage in other undesirable sexual activities.
Others litter subway stations and buses, leaving behind gum, candy wrappers, paper cups, bottles and newspapers. People openly eat pizza, chicken and other messy foods, all of which attract bugs, insects, mice and rats.
There are few options for those who would like to recycle newspapers, plastic and glass separate from regular garbage.
Larry Penner, Great Neck
No shame here
It’s ironic that the Tawana Brawley fund-raiser — which was moved to New Jersey to accommodate Brawley’s mother, who still has an outstanding warrant in New York — was held at the Integrity Masonic Temple (“Hoaxer Tawana Brawley Celebrated in New Jersey Fund-Raiser,” May 13).
Last I knew, integrity defined the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
Thanks for making my day. I’m guessing the Hoax Lodge couldn’t accommodate the event.
L.W. Kane, Binghamton
Paul vs. Paul
Paul Ryan talks a good game about free markets and smaller government, yet he’s still part of the problem, as he voted for the illegal GM bailout and the wasteful and ineffective stimulus (“Our Moral Market,” Editorial, May 13).
Ryan is no Rand Paul, whose constitutional libertarianism may initiate the process of reducing the bloated federal monster down to a manageable size, returning power to the states, getting our fiscal house in order and restoring many of the liberties that both parties have taken away from us over the last half-century.
Anyone who espouses true conservatism should back Paul if he runs for the presidency in 2016.
Herb Eichen, Bayside
Bikes to go
New York City: The only city in America where it’s easier to rent a bike than find a usable public toilet (“Cops and Bikers,” Editorial, May 13).
David Rabinovitz, Brooklyn