Monied interests

Although Rep. Daryl Metcalfe's prior comments regarding homophobia and his ethnocentrism toward non-Christians gives a sharp indication about the type of person and, by extension, the type of politician he is, his comments regarding climate change could not be more telling ("Metcalfe Defends Harsh Talk About Vets on Climate," Oct. 21).

He comments that climate-change activists are trying "to control more of the wealth." Is he really trying to make the leap to socialism? Well, sir, you couldn't be further off, but considering that in 2007, 475 people possessed more wealth than the poorest half of the planet combined, that doesn't sound like too bad of an idea.

Mr. Metcalfe also refers to a portion of the plan as "cap and tax." That's a convenient way of stating that companies and CEOs will pass on any cost they incur to customers. The CEO of Occidental Petroleum was the highest paid CEO of an energy company last year, $222.6 million. I make $25,000; the median U.S. household income is $52,000. Guess which is one of the states that falls below the national median? Pennsylvania.

Whom are you protecting, Mr. Metcalfe?

JOSH ZORICH
Forest Hills