Jordan serving this region well

James Perine blames Jim Jordan for what he says are our country's three biggest problems: housing foreclosures, health care and the price of gas ("Jordan out of touch with our problems," June 18).

First, look at health care. We have the best health care in the world. It costs a lot of money to pay professionals, to invent and buy new technologies. Maybe Perine is suggesting we lower our standards when it comes to health care.

The price of gas rests squarely on the short-sighted politicians, not on big oil or Jordan. Our country's decision to not drill for oil and to produce ethanol is going to cause much hardship for the poor of this country. We cannot compete with the Brazils of this world on ethanol. Ethanol has to be produced in tropical countries. We only have one growing season. By using our corn, we do nothing but drive up food costs. To see if I know what I'm talking about, check the price of meat right now, summer of 2008, to the price to come in 2009.

I am a farmer and I thank Jordan for voting against the farm bill, which gives a 45 cent per gallon subsidy to ethanol. How much sense does it make to give an industry a subsidy to drive up food prices? Those who tell you ethanol does not cause food prices to rise are wrong. Ethanol is projected to use 4 billion bushels of corn this year. What are farmers going to use to feed their livestock? DDGs, the by-product of corn, helps but cannot totally replace corn.

This area was wise to vote in Jordan as our representative. He is a common sense leader who has to battle every day the same misguided views that many on the left have.