To the editor:
Mr. Krietemeyer's letter to the editor (published in the July 9 Quill) started out sounding like it was written by a thoughtful and reasonable person, but his comments regarding the January 6th committee and Democrats “…working feverishly to destroy [democracy]” showed he was “thought full,” but woefully ill-informed regarding the January 6th Committee and how Democrats view democracy.
It wasn't Democrats who stormed the Capitol to subvert a democratic institution and process. Democrats impeached President Trump twice using a democratic process, but in spite of the Republican Senate leadership saying Trump should be held accountable in a court, he voted against President Trump being held accountable for his un-democratic behavior.
If anyone with a willingness to accept true facts viewed the Republican witnesses describe the undemocratic behavior of some of White House staff while President Trump refused to stop the attack on the Capitol, knowing the rioters were armed, they would conclude that was a serious attempt to subvert democracy.
Krietemeyer's statements regarding oil exports are misleading.
A little research shows they were caused by structure of the oil market and the refining process. As outlined in MarketWatch: “Exports are profitable and they allow some refiners to send products that don’t meet U.S. specifications overseas where the formulae are less stringent,” Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), told MarketWatch. OPIS is a unit of Dow Jones & Co., publisher of MarketWatch. “The refiners also export ‘other oils’…that have no home in the U.S.,” he said.
I'm glad Mr. Krietemeyer expressed his views, maybe my reply will allow him to become better informed.
James Vokac
Willow Springs
