Large prison population is result of many convictions Re: “Judiciary system needs reform,” June 9
Just because the United States has a large prison population does not mean that our judicial system is faulty. It is true that the justice system isn’t perfect and changes should be made. But simply pointing out that the prisons are overcrowded does nothing but show that one has not considered all the facts.
The United States has one of the most complex legal systems in the world. There is a “disproportionate number of prisoners” because the United Staes has more crime than any other countries. As a result, we also convict more criminals.
Michael Soh
Alexandria
Recall does nothing for District residents
Re: “Recall Vince Gray movement launches,” June 9
Freeman Klopett should have explored the suspect motivation of Frederick Butler, who supported the Adrian Fenty write-in campaign — which was more closely aligned with the Tea Party than the Democratic Party. Now Butler is claiming to launch a recall in support of the people who elected Mayor Vince Gray, saying the mayor has turned his back on them. He should make up his mind who — and what — he actually stands for.
The issue of Sulaimon Brown needs to be resolved and the U.S. Attorney’s Office should make it priority No. 1. If Gray is guilty of something, I will be the first one to ask that he be called to account. But at this time he isn’t.
As to influencing the election, Fenty is the only one to blame for his loss, as the election was his to win. Brown, who received 209 votes, was a mild distraction in the campaign, and not much of one at that. Gray beat Fenty by about 12,000 votes and 10 percentage points.
I am as unhappy and disappointed as the next person on how the Gray administration started and at the apparent sleaziness of some of our council members. But starting a recall website only caters to Butler’s desire for more PR.
Peter D. Rosenstein
Washington
Compact fluorescent lights are good bulbs
Re: “Congress should see the light on bulbs,” June 3
Isn’t it time to stop reporting myths about the performance of compact fluorescent light bulbs? All the CFLs in my home have color rendition as good as incandescent bulbs, do not flicker or hum, and achieve full brightness virtually instantaneously.
Diana Furchtgott-Roth neglected to mention that a CFL can save more than $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime, uses about 75 percent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb, and can last up to 10 times longer.
I have not needed to deal with disposal issues because none of my CFLs have burned out. Because they save energy, using CFLs will actually reduce the amount of mercury released in the environment by coal-fired power plants, which are the largest man-made source of mercury emissions in the United States.
Jim Fremont
Silver Spring
