Congress recessed for its summer vacation without taking action on a comprehensive energy bill and did not even address the issue of drilling to access our own energy resources.

Such inaction is shameful. While countries such as Iran, Russia, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, all of which have agendas that do not put the interests of the United States anywhere close to the top of the list, are sucking the financial lifeblood from this great country through unrealistic and unjustifiable increases in oil prices, what does Congress do? It ignores action on the issue and leaves the status quo.

Whether Congress knows it or not, this is a time of national emergency. This crisis will bleed this country dry financially. Certainly demand for oil has dropped in this country as people do less driving and take other conservation steps. But what about the winter that looms ahead — a season that requires homes and workplaces to be heated, but at what cost? What about the millions who will not be able to afford heat? What about the small businesses that are struggling to stay profitable and keep employment numbers where they are? What about the airlines that are in a fight for their survival and the hotels that rely on the airlines for much of their customer base?

What is clearly needed is a comprehensive solution. Yes, ethanol, wind power, conservation, riding bicycles and even a slower speed limit on the highways will help. But for Congress to ignore a vote on drilling our own energy on our soil is a disaster.

Congress needs to wake up. The American public is hopping mad. Congress has its lowest approval rating ever. But does that seem to worry them? Not enough to swing into action for the good of the nation, apparently. Well, every member of Congress should take notice. The American public has the ultimate weapon in the polling booth.

Al Meder, Lincoln

Driving in circles

I think people are missing the point of the person who wrote to say he thinks we should eliminate NASCAR racing (letter, July 16). It’s not about the fuel wasted going to those activities — it’s the fuel wasted having cars driving around in circles for 500-plus miles, going nowhere, wasting the fuel!

Long before that opinion came out, I had said the very same thing. We all need to be responsible for the fuel we use. And if it means eliminating a sport (for a while anyway) that blatantly wastes fuel, it would be nice if people could quit being selfish and do what is responsible.

However, we all know that people won’t give up their luxuries or entertainment, and we know nobody will eliminate race car driving. A point was just trying to be made that driving around in circles is a waste of gas.

Stacey Helget, Lincoln

Losers in bus cuts

Mayor Chris Beutler wants to cut much of StarTran’s bus service daily between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Lincoln residents who will be adversely affected by the cuts:

1. College students

2. Senior citizens

3. Volunteers

4. Workers without transportation or driver’s licenses

5. Low-income families

6. Working poor

7. Single parents

8. The homeless

9. Department of Corrections inmates

10. The blind

11. The mentally and physically disabled

12. LPS students

13. Welfare families

At a time when mass transit is needed the most, Lincoln’s mayor, instead of leading the effort to cut the use of fossil fuels and promote cleaner air, wants to cut services.

Why is the mayor not offering incentives to workers to use mass transit instead of cuts in services?

The budget meeting is Aug. 11. Be there!

Robert Mulder, Lincoln