Advertisement And reporter Joe Orso’s story about the 20 or so protesters then stoked the debate at www.lacrossetribune.com:
Whose fault is it?
When will it end?
What can be done?
Here’s a sample of the comments left by our Web site visitors:
DailyReader wrote: “Can we all say ‘supply and demand?’ How about ‘declining dollar?’ How about ‘helpless legislator?’ Now can we say ‘get used to it?’”
CounterPoint wrote: “The ethanol myth is killing us, too. First of all, we are burning up our food source for a fuel that is far less efficient than gas, costs more to produce, and, due to current shipping requirements, costs more to ship. It is causing the price of wheat to go up tremendously, CRP land is down, hurting conservation efforts, and, most important, a car that runs on E85 will get 25 percent fewer miles per gallon than it will on regular unleaded gas. ... yet the entire government (Republicans AND Democrats) keep pushing for more of this crap.”
elocs wrote: “I am sure that other countries in the world that have been paying far, far higher gas prices for decades than we in the U.S. have are shedding huge crocodile tears for our plight. ... We are reaping what we have sowed.”
farmr4u wrote: “Consumers have been spoiled by a cheap food bubble for the last 30 years. I hate to bring you more bad news, but look out for meat prices next year. Oh, if corn was so important for a food source, why was it priced so cheap for so long?”
OutsideLookingIn wrote: “A family member of mine owns a pizza store locally ... in short time ... a bag of flour (wheat) has gone from around $12 to about $37.”
High Plains Drifter wrote: “I think the Amish do it right ... no sense getting mechanized to get done faster ’cause that just means a longer wait until bedtime.”
looking west wrote: “Make oil a PUBLIC UTILITY like water, natural gas and electricity. It’s obvious. Seeing that our military is used to keeping our oil flowing from hostile regions across the globe, it’s a justifiable move and would do well to eliminate the outlandish profits and corporate payouts current U.S. oil giants shamefully shower themselves in. ...”
Next on the list?
A story about a Business Roundtable discussion about redeveloping La Crosse’s North Side around the Interstate 90 Exit 3 area on the Great River Road corridor drew some heated comment at www.lacrossetribune.com.
Not everyone was as sanguine about the project’s prospects as the officials discussing their ideas at Tuesday’s forum.
Athenry wrote: “Let me guess: another TIF district that will cover from the interstate to City Hall? ...”
002 wrote: “I like the idea as long as the same company that designed the Bliss Road project doesn’t design this one. We don’t need a parking area sliding into the river.”
Senior Advocate wrote: “... The concern should be these federal grants of money — $247,000 here, $500,000 there and so on — all across the country. This all adds up to billions. This money does not come from heaven: It is the hard-earned wages taxed by our government. The more this goes on, the higher our federal taxes become. The attitude is that if we do not ask for this money others will and they will receive it. Novel idea: How about we make our legislators pass a law of no funding for these frivolous ideas? Instead, let us work toward the health and welfare of human beings.”
How do you do an adjustment on a ferret?
Visitors at www.lacrossetribune.com had a little fun with a story about proposed Minnesota legislation that would let chiropractors treat animals, provided they get additional training:
pbn wrote: “That’s interesting ... I’m not too keen on chiropractors treating people either.”
free_speech wrote: “How do you know if your German shepherd needs a back adjustment? People are crazy.”
nana3 wrote: “So animals are protected more than humans? I know a lot of people who go to chiropractors and get great results, but there is never a doctor in the room. Vets have started to charge like they are treating people, it is ridiculous when a vet charges thousands of dollars to operate on a pet. They play on the sympathy of the pet owners.”
Precious1 wrote: “In my case I’d be bedridden without a chiropractor. ... I hope they can help the pets ...”
Willie wrote: “That’s why the only pets I own are fish. I don’t have to worry about such nonsense. ...”
Tribune online editor Marc Wehrs can be reached at mwehrs@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8218.
