Opinion: Dog's death strikes chord with area reader

If comments are positive, repeating them sounds like boasting. In the case of negative comments, almost any response sounds defensive. Besides, I assume readers wanting their comments published would send them via letters to the editor.

There must be a reason for the admonition that one should never say never. I am breaking my rule and responding to a letter prompted by the recent column about the death of my dog, Jackson.

A note from local reader Roddy Rogers supports my observation that some might not understand grieving over the loss of what they might call “just a dog.” I found that I was not alone in my sorrow.

Rogers recently lost his dog, Ollie. Included with his note was a heart-wrenching poem he titled, “Just a Dog.” The poem is too lengthy to repeat here, and he didn’t necessarily intend for it to be published. He wanted to share it with a fellow dog lover. Besides, if it were reprinted here, tears of dog-fancying readers would pour out all over the page. Trust me, there would be tears; I know how most of my readers feel about dogs – they have told me many times.

The poetic voice of Roddy Rogers has clearly and beautifully expressed that his Ollie and my Jackson were a lot more than just dogs. Thanks, Roddy.

Herky-jerky gas prices

The Rusty Saber has commented in the past on the up-and-down nature of gasoline prices. Many factors, including increased worldwide demand and the destructive effects of Hurricane Katrina, account for prices zooming to $3 per gallon and above. My name for the process: an “upward herky-jerky cycle,” where the prices would go up a lot, down a little, and back up a lot until they settled in at record highs.

In September, gas prices suddenly began a downward spiral that didn’t stop until they bottomed out below $2 a gallon. As I write this, prices have nudged up a few cents. Who knows where they may be by the time this is being read?

Something was missing amidst the recent downward spiral. Not once did I hear credit for reductions given to government officials. This is as it should be. No politician had anything to do with it. Likewise, none were to blame for the earlier spike in prices. America no longer produces enough oil domestically to control its supply. In case you haven’t noticed, some of the folks we buy oi1 from aren’t exactly fond of us. Unless we produce more ourselves, or come up with a workable alternative source of fuel, we will have to learn to live with the upward herky-jerky cycle. No government official is going to issue an order to lower prices.

Rooting for GM, Ford

It just doesn’t seem fair.

The media continue to report the financial catastrophes facing American automobile companies General Motors and Ford.

Within the last 30 years, the quality of their products declined and couldn’t meet the standards of imports from Japan and Germany. It was like these great old-line companies forgot how to make quality cars.

Both companies have been accused of – and are probably guilty of – letting financial engineering override product engineering.

Both GM and Ford seem to have finally caught on and have begun turning out cars that are of better quality and more appealing. Both are working hard to restructure and get on the right track.

It is important to the overall American economy that both companies regain their prominence in the industry. Many foreign cars are now built in this country, but we need Ford and GM to continue to be viable employers. Millions of workers and their families depend on a healthy GM and Ford for salaries and to fund their promised retirement benefits.

Americans need to root for them.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.[[In-content Ad]]