Forbes Staff

Forbes Staff, Contributor

11/20/2009 @ 6:00AM

Readers Say

Sins of Emission

Peter Huber is right on (“The Carbon Con Game”). As carbon dioxide (CO2) is readily absorbed by the oceans and trees, the most accurate measure of emissions is the unabsorbed emissions–that is the net CO2 still in the atmosphere after the natural absorbers have sequestrated the gross CO2 emitted. This criterion will address the real problem and equitably assess which nations are really at fault. America has two oceans and a lot of land with trees that absorb CO2. Australia is surrounded by ocean, with major development on all seaboards and 40 billion trees. Both countries are heavily disadvantaged by per capita emissions being used as the criterion. China, on the other hand, with its population over a billion, gets off lightly. We have been “sold a pup” on the whole issue.

Philip Stanley

Sydney, Australia

Hearts and Minds

Regarding “Looking for a True Conservative” by Paul Johnson. There is an unhealthy relationship and fundamental incompatibility between the cautious, federalist, limited government conservatives in the U.S. (within the Republican party) and the religious right who invite (insist on) the intervention of our huge central government into the personal, private, intimate, moral and spiritual lives of individuals. These cardinal differences in philosophical orientation undermine the potency of the Republican Party and its ability to win hearts and minds. The “conservative” message seems so muddled that Americans no longer know what Republican or conservative means.

Bill Bishop

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The Cost of War

If Steve Forbes wants a strong dollar, then he should be telling his government to stop fighting wars, particularly unwinnable ones (“Bair Market”). The weakness of the dollar commenced with Vietnam and will continue until the defense budget is drastically cut.

Louis Coutts

Melbourne, Australia

Big Hitters

Barack Obama edges out Hu Jintao to top our inaugural list of the World’s Most Powerful People. The package also includes breakdowns of who has the most clout in the fields of medicine, finance and technology. Henry Kissinger picks the most powerful historical figures (Gandhi and Mao make strong showings), while Interpol selects the world’s most infamous criminals. To see the full list, bios and methodology, go to

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