Humans are people, too
I'd like to thank the Texan for printing the Aug. 6 overpopulation column ("Overpopulation: the real crisis"). It gave readers an opportunity to take a look into the padded room that houses UT's resident lunatic, Eric Pianka.
For those readers who are unaware, Pianka was investigated by Homeland Security back in 2006 after publicly salivating at the prospect of ebola wiping out 90 percent of the world's population.
His literally anti-people agenda is a rare glimpse into the true views of the radical environmental movement. Rather than wanting to protect the environment and preserve it as a human resource - a noble cause - they view themselves as arboreal crusaders battling that worst of enemies - human beings.
Pianka's beliefs are not revolutionary - they're the same ones that drove the Eugenicists a century ago. The real problem with men like Pianka is not the questions they raise, but the answers they imply. So, Professor Pianka, who's first on the list? The mentally or physically handicapped? Africans? How do you feel about Jews?
These people are so wrapped up in their doomsayer ideology that they fail to realize that our most valuable natural resource is human life, and it's a precious thing. Life is not a burden, it's a gift. If things really are as gloomy as Pianka would like us to believe - and I certainly do not believe that they are - then I'm confident that it will be a person who will find our way to deal with it. And trust me, it won't be Eric Pianka blowing the bugle of genocide.
Tony McDonald Economics and government senior Former chairman, Young Conservatives of Texas
Greenpeace scuffle
In Heath Cleveland's op-ed piece "Greenfleeced" (Aug. 5), I found the article's overt promotion of cynicism more disturbing and offensive than the sexist attempts at humor it was laced with. To begin with, the young lady described in Cleveland's writing as "the blue-shirted boobies" whom he "cross examined" was, while no doubt ideologically committed to her work, a paid fundraiser and not a policy analyst, a press agent or a materials engineering specialist. While it is endemic of Cleveland's generation to in all things be as apathetic as is humanly possible, I would admonish him to "lead, follow or get out of the way." The article laid out the author's failed attempts to find credible information discrediting Greenpeace yet declined to mention any of the positive accomplishments of an organization that has been at the very forefront of the environmental movement for over 30 years. If it is beneath or beyond his sensibilities to undertake positive actions to actualize any beliefs other than nihilistic skepticism, I would ask that at the very least he refrain from denigrating those who do.
Billy D. Stallings Government junior
Working for class
In response to the Aug. 6 viewpoint "In memoriam: our money" - I respect your ability to earn your way through college. If tuition is $4,000 for 15 hours and the university discounted 12 hours to $3,200. Twelve hours would give you nine extra hours a week to work. In a 16 week semester, $10/hour would earn an extra $1,440 plus your $800 tuition savings. After 10 semesters you will have saved/earned an extra $22,400 and completed 120 hours.
Is $22,400 enough to pay for the tuition and living expenses for two additional semesters? How much less will you make in your fifth year of college than you would make if you had graduated? Are you really going to work nine extra hours a week? Have you considered the fixed cost to the "public" (tax supplemented) university of your fifth year?
Maybe answering these questions and proposing a solution to the University would be a good addition to your Aug. 13 "loud celebratory parade." A solution might be a "working class tuition rebate" for students who document an average 30 hours work a week, during a 16 week semester, and sign up and compete only 12 hours a semester could get an $800 rebate toward the next semester's tuition.
It is unfortunate that everyone who enters college doesn't have a clear choice of major and a four-year financial path to get there. Students make hard choices, as does the University. As I said, I respect your ability to earn your way through college.
Martin Yeager Online reader
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