Voice of the people

High-fructose corn syrup isn't all good

In response to Audrae Erickson of the Corn Refiners Association, I think that Katie Lee Joel may have exaggerated about high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) being "the root of all evil," but I think that more needs to be said about HFCS than was covered by Ms. Erickson's diatribe.

Although products containing HFCSs have been allowed by the FDA to be labeled "all natural," they contain genetically modified organisms or organisms modified by genetic engineering, as the title suggests. This is not necessarily bad, but I would not consider this "all natural." The problem with this labeling is that it misleads one to think that the materials in those products are minimally processed, and this is not the case.

Secondly, HFCSs are contained in so many products that the unwitting consumer has begun overconsuming this high-calorie sweetener. Many believe, including me, that this has a lot to do with the rising obesity rate in the United States. In one study I have read, mice that were given fructose were noticeably more obese than mice given other forms of sweetener.

To be fair to Ms. Erickson's cause, I would also encourage consumers to eat reduced-sugar products as well.

Jason Aylsworth

Huntington

Liquid coal is worst form of energy

The announcement of a liquid coal plant was a sad day for our state and our children. Liquid coal is the filthiest fuel on the planet. It doubles greenhouse gas emissions.

The promise of carbon storage is not a reality, and it may never be feasible. Coal is a finite resource and will soon be gone. Studies have shown that we don't have as much coal as the coal industry told us.

With solar-powered electric cars, we would never have to buy fuel again; it will be free. With filthy liquid coal, we would just be paying the coal company rather than the oil company. With electric cars, we could tell them both where to put their fuels.

News flash: It takes gas to dig the coal to make the gas and then electricity to convert the coal to gas and then gas to dig the coal again. Over and over again. My grandmother would call that chasing our own tails. We the consumers and taxpayers will be the victims and losers. The coal barons and oil companies will be the winners.

Water is our most abundant and important natural resource. We had better remember that.

Julia Bonds

Rock Creek, W.Va.

Don't judge based on our first names

I'm not sure why the individual from Madison, Ind., found it necessary to make it his mission to scrutinize West Virginia newspapers for six months for "strange monikers" and then scold parents for using those names. Perhaps he could have better used his time, visited us and judged our residents individually on character, personality traits and accomplishments to get a better idea of who we are besides our first names.

Curious as to the nondescript names that are common in his part of the country, I found Calista, Chester, Lourissie, Maliah, Mattie, Merced, Nettie, Tate and Zelda listed in just one day's online edition of his local newspaper. I'm sure they are fine people, as are most West Virginians if he had taken the time to get to know us instead of making a judgmental decision based on a name.

Cheryl Gergely

Ona