60 Minutes, that long running secular progressive program, so adored by secular progressives like yourself, comes to mind as a prime candidate for your wicked funny pen.
As I recall, Joanne Ostrow called Bill O’Reilly, a racist - that debate ending secular progressive epithet of which secular progressive are so fond - then refused an interview to defend her position, until providing her pathetic comments in the “ambush interview
Certainly, no one was responsible, just “mistakes were made
Ms. Ostrow and Ms. Jones dress up like a soccer balls, then they (and you) whine when they get kicked.
It is so much fun to hear the squeal of SP’s when they get a dose of their favorite tactics.
As usually, you are so far off base, it is hardly worth printing or commenting on, but I couldn’t resist.
The RMN might do well to emulate the Denver Post’s dismissal of Spencer and Carmen: a little subtraction to increase the RMN’s “balance
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‘Redneck’
I have a genuinely honest and open question for the, what,’ European American’ community. Is it alright to use the word Redneck? My gutbrain as Stephen Colbert would say tells me no, that it is in fact an insult. A serious insult. However after querying exactly ten White males I know I was told absolutely not. ‘I’m proud to be Redneck (sometimes)’ was a common refrain. And yet I still find this difficult to get my head wrapped around. Could this be true though? Maybe I’ve just heard one too many ‘Brothers’ I know use the word vehemently and prefacing it with the vicious mother ‘hubbard’ word to ever be comfortable addressing anyone with it.
Jeff Foxworthy aside I would invite anyone to tell me if the majority of people feel it is appropriate to use this word. Gracias por este.
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Concerts & the disabled
A symphony concert is an auditory experience primarily. Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the CSO is required to seat ADA patrons with the general population. As a result, my most recent auditory experiences at the symphony have been punctuated by the relentless mechanical breathing of oxygen machines. In an effort to solve the problem for myself, I have changed seats at intermission and learned that one oxygen machine is enough to pollute the sound in half of the auditorium. I threw in the towel after several concerts that were ruined for me by the mechanized accompaniment: walked out on Van Cliburn, did not renew the seasons tickets that I had held for at least 25 years, and refuse any invitations to attend the CSO.
In general, the Americans with Disabilities Act has been an improvement for the segment of the population to which it applies and no detriment to the able-bodied majority. It has been peripheral in my life. Waiting for a wheelchair to be loaded onto a bus is certainly no big deal. Ramps entering buildings seem common sensical. A section of seats behind glass at Boettcher Concert Hall with unimpaired sightlines and sound for people in need of oxygen would seem to be a workable compromise, except, I am told, to ADA proponents.
I have not consulted a sound engineer, but assume that improving the acoustics in Boettcher will make not only the music, but the oxygen machines, more clearly heard. The federal government mandated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Is the Denver City Council going to mandate $75 million to enhance the irritation of the approximately 175,000 annual attendees at the CSO’s performances? As a taxpayer, I sincerely hope not!
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Reporting on gangs
And, hey, how about putting a little depth into the article? “There’s so much tension right now,” Katie quotes the Reverend. He is “always concerned because of the violence that is taking place on a daily basis.” Yeah, just like the violence in Iraq, Israel, Afghanistan, etc. Why not do a follow-up interview with the “older, black” Leon Kelly and find out why he claims this level of tension is worse now than at another time, or if he knows of some new element for its cause and if he has any ideas for diffusing it?
And the quote, “Kelly keeps a list of gang-related deaths in Colorado and has added 17 victims this year,” would be much improved with some context.
As written, it doesn’t tell me if that’s more or less than last year at this time or the year before that or the year before the birth of the “older, print reporter” Katie Kerwin McCrimmon.
Look, I’m still young enough to buy green bananas but too old to have my time wasted. I look forward to my morning coffee and paper. I expect substantive, filler-free writing that challenges my intellect. So get on it. You’re burning my daylight.
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The media
I myself have made numerous submissions that differ with the road the papers seem to be traveling down. Yet on talk radio my opinion for or against is aired shortly after calling. I can also here the opinion of the listening audience which is not owing to an editor. I personally have great respect for someone that provides a outlet for free speech and for some reason is actually dealing with current events that haven’t been dropped from view because some subscribers may not like reading the truth of the issue. One last point America was structured on free speech, and government by the people, if the people don’t like slanted, twisted up, big business leaning reporting of the news, they have the right to protect their freedom in any manor they choose. Politicians must not like finding out that the majority of the peoples view is different from the views of the wealthy and big business that bought them into office.
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The Rocky
You might discern that I am a more-than-mildly-disillusioned subscriber.
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Fuel standards, ethanol, etc.
In closing, this is a reminder to our politicians that we do vote our pocket books and the consequences of poor legislation will most assuredly live to at least the next election, if not well beyond.
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Motorcycle noise
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President Bush
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Health care
Media amazes me. I have repeatedly heard Moore use the analogy that fire protection, provided as a socialized necessity, is an example of how medicine should also be socialized. No report about that analogy has brought attention to the fact that most homeowners carry private fire insurance. Although a “fire department” will try to save life and property, and prevent a fire from spreading to the next house, they do not provide compensation for losses.
Most homeowners pay fire insurance as part of their PITI house payment every month. PITI is an abbreviation for Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance. Fire insurance is priced according to the value of the property or the value of the mortgage on a property.
A fire department emergency response might be compared to how a government will respond to a “public health” crisis, but individual medical needs are more comparable to the choices we make for private fire and mortgage protection insurance. We have choices not a government edict.
If Michael Moore has a toothache, it is not my responsibility to pay for his dentistry. If it were, then I would have the right to tell him not to eat sweets. I don’t want that kind of government-paid medical policy. Do you?
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Larry Manzanares
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Iraq war
After all, it’s a superpower’s prerogative to make these determinations.
A large majority of Americans want our troops out sooner rather than later.
Others, most notably the President, have floated the sobering idea that we might keep significant forces there for more than fifty years.
Divergent views on the issue exist among congressional Democrats. Hillary Clinton, for instance, has allowed that a ten year duration in Iraq feels just about right to her. Meanwhile, our own Mark Udall has endorsed the Baker/Hamilton report’s quiet allusion to an enduring U.S. presence of some 70,000 troops, if only to defend Iraq’s presumedly then privatized petroleum assets.
But, while we dither over these matters, events in Iraq may soon compel what many a Cassandra has long predicted. The insurgents are systematically blowing up every bridge in Baghdad, gradually encircling the increasingly isolated & vulnerable Green Zone. Whatever fatuous timelines may be set in Washington, the insurgency seems to be inexorably moving ahead with its plan to overrun the Green Zone before the enormously secretive new U.S. embassy there is scheduled to open for official business in August.
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Climate change
Lynn Highland of Morrison writes: Now that that the Post and the News have crucified Larry Manzanares in the court of public opinion, it is hoped that you will turn your attention with equal zealousness to reporting the criminal activity going on right under our noses, in the current U.S. administration. This letter has not been edited. When I read Doyla Lundstrom’s letter to the editor in this morning’s Rocky Mountain News (“Still mourning a son lost to sniper’s bullet,” June 14) I felt like a knife went through me. Marilyn Mattson, Denver I’m tempted to respond to Mike Rosen’s ridiculous column on the Democratic National Convention (“Let’s not re-create ’68,” June 15) with a Jewish curse he may know: Er zol vaksen vi a tzibeleh, mit dem kop in drerd (You should grow like an onion, with your head in the ground). But to judge by Rosen’s ignorance of historical fact (a government commission called what happened in Chicago in 1968 a “police riot,” unprovoked by the demonstrators) and of the most basic constitutional rights (exercising the First Amendment right to “petition the government for redress of grievances” is hardly “harassing” delegates), not to mention his apparent failure even to read the proposed proclamation, which did no more than commit the city to accord demonstrators the same respect as delegates, apparently his head is already, like an ostrich, stuck in the ground. Mark Cohen, Denver In the June 23 Rocky Mountain News, there appeared a column by Sharon Begley about psychotherapy, “Words will never hurt?/Some psychotherapies make matters worse.” Michael E. Holtby, Denver Regarding Tuesday’s editorial on the Supreme Court rulings on free speech (“Free speech sanity”): Chief Justice John Roberts, recently appointed by President Bush, was quoted as saying in reference to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law, “Where the First Amendment is implicated, the tie goes to the speaker, not the censor.” Todd Runestad is a resident of Boulder. Kathie Reinhardt of Englewood writes: Nice job, Scott Storey and the Jeffco DA’s Office. It isn’t every day that we are allowed to see a character assination displayed before our very eyes. While it may be that Larry Manzanares did, in fact, have illegal possession of a laptop belonging to the City of Denver, the charges brought upon him by the Jeffco DA’s office are excessive to say the least. Furthermore, it is NONE of the public’s business what lays in the 80 page indictment, nor is it anyone’s business if Mr. Manzanares had downloaded ADULT porn. This letter has not been edited. R. Kiefer of Arvada writes: Jim Underhill of Greenwood Village writes: Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey, has shown that for a bit of press time and in order to appear on TV, he is willing to vilify and destroy a decent man. The pornography found on the computer Larry Manzanares was accused of stealing was not illegal. Even the trumped up and inflated charges that Storey brought against Mr. Manzanares did not charge any crime relating to pornography. Yet Storey, in his quest to have his 15 minutes in the spotlight, published an 80 page affidavit which contained virtually no information except a catalog of porn — solely to insure that the media would give Storey air time. After all, the alleged theft of a $600 computer where three other governmental decision makers declined to prosecute isn’t much of a case to catapult an ambitious and ruthless DA into the spotlight, is it? This letter has not been edited. Y Letter writer Kathy Hansen is right — we do need to “Keep the heat on Denver Public Schools” (June 12). Yes, DPS needs to make real revelations and reform, but not at the expense of the pension plan. Pat Lemster, Denver I applaud the Rocky Mountain News’ position against corporate welfare for corn farmers (“Congress should get off ethanol bandwagon,” June 19). The ethanol industry has provided an almost Kafkaesque assortment of moving targets to justify its extortion of subsidies from the American taxpayer and its solicitation of high tariffs from the American government. Dmitry Vilner, Centennial So George W. Bush vetoes the stem cell bill because he believes that it is wrong to destroy potential human life in an attempt to save human lives. Camille Accountius, Longmont I believe that Sen. Wayne Allard hasn’t made a decision on Piñon Canyon because President Bush hasn’t told him what to say yet (“Allard undecided on Piñon Canyon plan,” June 22). Brad Dale, Wheat Ridge I have never before been a supporter of “socialized medicine,” but we certainly need a major improvement in our health-care system. First of all, get the pharmaceutical companies and health-care providers out of the profit market — that’s totally insane to put profits above the health of American citizens. Additionally, stop providing free care to illegals. Barbara Green, Denver The Rocky Mountain News editorial on the Democrats’ utter failure to truly reform earmarks (“Waffling on an ‘earmark’ pledge,” June 15) reminds me of the story of the frog and the scorpion: Ross Kaminsky, Nederland Regarding the June 14 Rocky Mountain News article, “Gangs at City Park Jazz spur officials to action,” how many of us have had our heads buried in the sand, and for how long? This culture of savages has infiltrated the Front Range for a while now (try walking through LoDo some weekend night and see how safe you feel). The gang tags and graffiti scrawls that are appearing everywhere and scarring the appearance of one of the most beautiful cities in the country are appalling. K.J. Munro, Lakewood Many Americans claim we need government intervention to reform the unaffordable and inaccessible health care system because “health care is a right.” Gina M. Liggett, Denver Thank you for making my Sunday morning amusing when I read the Rocky editorial “Secrecy and judges.” The opinion that judges should be held to a higher standard is correct. What I found tragically omitted, however, is that other professions are shielded from disclosure as well. Jeanne Moore is a resident of Denver.. . . .
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Mapleton School District
Students become bored in class, are not challenged enough or are not given the time and attention they deserve, and need, in order to be successful.
When I was in school, I was merely a shadow on the wall. Sure, I got good grades, but did anyone notice I was bored? Many of my friends and family dropped out simply because the class was no fun and it seemed the teacher did not care. Although I am sure they did, the class sizes were simply too large for the teacher to really get to know the students.
If the teachers had been given the chance to teach in a way the students were interested in, instead of reading directly from a textbook, and in a smaller class size maybe my Freshman class of over 300 would not have only graduated 96? Now is the time for other school districts to take notice in what Mapleton is doing and realize there must be a change. Write your local School District Superintendent now and let them know you support the change Mapleton is making.
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‘Social responsibility’
In his letter Mr. Pirkey used a single mom with two kids working two minimum wage jobs as an example of someone who was being ill-treated by those who practice personal responsibility over social responsibility. He believes we all should chip in to pay for or provide the medical care such a single mom needs.
When those who believe in social over personal responsibility come to me for my contribution to this poor woman’s plight I will simply ask, “Why are you asking me to do anything for her? I thought you believed in social responsibility. Why don’t you have society take care of her? Go ask it.”
Indeed, anyone who agrees with Mr. Pirkey can’t honestly ask anyone to do anything, because asking depends on each person being asked to take personal responsibility for meeting the request.
Mr. Pirkey and his brethren don’t seem to grasp that there is no ‘society’ per se and therefore no such thing as ‘social’ responsibility. Certainly there are groups of people who work together, but any such group is ultimately dependent on the actions of each individual person in the group, i.e. each individual taking personal responsibility.
What Mr. Pirkey really wants is not for the single mom and me to work together for a common purpose, but for me to provide for the single mom. He wants those who have succeeded through personal effort to provide for those who have not, and he would not be bashful about pointing the government gun at us to force us to do it.
Please remember; this is the true meaning of ‘social responsibility’ the next time you hear it.
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The Rocky & the Post
Outing a CIA agent, extreme rendition, torture, bungled wars, lying to Congress, illegal spying on American citizens, bogus firing of attorneys, and the murder and death of over 600,000 innocent Iraqis certainly warrants the front-page treatment that you gave the Larry Manzanares case! It is no wonder newspapers are failing — they’re turning into tabloids, fiddling while Rome burns — aiding and abetting the REAL criminals in this world, by failing to garner the courage to report the truth — a duty that is incumbent on the 4th estate. Maybe you should all rethink your mission statement.
Ethanol
Additionally, we may be facing the imminent prospect of an ecological and environmental disaster of epic proportions. For the first time in the history of the modern environmental movement, there has never been to my knowledge, a substantive study of the potential for a massive toxic environmental impact following the combustion of ethanol in the millions of tiny combustion chambers in the engines of our millions of automobiles. The possibility of the wide-spread manifestation of toxic side-effects in our human population is enormous, given the absence of environmental impact data showing otherwise.
It is most dismaying to me that scientific benefit-to-risk discourse in such an important matter seems to have been sidetracked by the popular but illusory win/win situation that development of bio-fuels are supposed to be providing us.
I hope that it is not too late for more rational, scientific and economics based inquiry into the real consequences of this misguided effort. The economic damage to our agricultural sector particularly the livestock industry is already being felt, with a lot more in the offing.
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Illegal immigrants
Pretty soon you will be at your local Wal Mart store or any other store for that matter and you will hear, “May we please have an English speaking associate come to Customer Service".
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Farm Bill
What stands in the way is our current system of commodity payments, which benefit a few wealthy farmers at the expense of many people who really need the help.
In the world
This farm bill needs to strengthen the Food Stamp Program so that our country ensures low-income people an adequate, nutritious diet.
In addition, this new farm bill should provide more help for struggling rural communities, which have much higher poverty rates than in cities; help U.S. farmers of modest means earn a sufficient livelihood; and allow small-scale farmers in poor countries to earn their way out of poverty.
The House Agriculture Committee will mark up the farm bill after Independence Day. We are not just running out of time, but also out of excuses. Colorado’s congressional delegation
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Stem cell research
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Farm Bill
The largest 10 percent of U
In addition to neglecting America’s family farmers, the misguided commodity subsidies threaten the livelihoods of millions of poor farmers in developing countries. Twenty million African farmers depend on cotton farming for their income, compared to the 25,000 American cotton farmers who receive up to $4 billion a year in subsidies. This $4 billion
We have an amazing opportunity right now to urge our
By shifting money from commodity subsidies to these other programs, the 2007 Farm Bill can create a system that rewards more of America’s family farmers and gives poor farmers in developing countries a fighting chance to pull themselves out of poverty.
Children’s healt insurance
The faith community represented by Metro Organizations for People offers our encouragement to Senator Salazar to stand firm, accept no less than the $50 billion pledged to SCHIP in the recent budget resolution, ensuring that children will no longer have to use an emergency room as their primary care physician. Further, efforts should also be made to streamline the SCHIP enrollment process.
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Smoking
Smoking kills. Ban smoking at all working places. I have an area where people smoke and it is littered with cigarette butts. When will people learn to properly extinguish your cigarettes.
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A knife to the heart
I, too, have a son deployed in Iraq and I, too, dread the day the news may come that my son has been killed. I agree with Lundstrom that we need to end this terrible occupation in Iraq and bring our sons and daughters home.
My heart goes out to you, Doyla, for your terrible loss. You should not have had to lose your son because of such a poorly conceived invasion and occupation.
Mike Rosen the ostrich
Discarded therapies
Begley sites two examples of destructive psychotherapy: critical incident debriefing, and the process of “bringing out hidden identities, called alters, through hypnosis” for dissociative identity disorders.
The latter was common practice ... 20 years ago, and the former was popular about 10 years ago. I don’t know any therapists still using these strategies today.
Psychotherapy can be destructive, but it’s more likely destructive when the current standards of practice are not followed.
Licensed clinical social worker
A DIFFERING VIEW: Court’s defense of free speech selective
However, this sentiment clearly did not extend to another ruling issued the very same day. An Alaska high school student was punished by his school district — at an off-campus event, no less — for unfurling a banner that read “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” while the Olympic torch passed by. The high court (no pun intended) ruled that free speech does not extend to the student because the message on the banner conflicted with the school’s anti-drug messages. These clearly inconsistent rulings demonstrate the court’s true fealty, which is not to the freedom of speech but to big-monied interests and the authorities.
And THREE felonies? What were the other people who had illegal possession of missing laptops charged with? With the onslaught of these charges, the public humiliation of the excessive information and the medIa’s neverending quest for an extra dime, a fine man now lies dead.
Is everyone surprised at the outcome? You shouldn’t be.
Larry Manzanares was a man who did a lot of good work in this community. He will be remembered by his last few months headlines by those who didn’t know of his excellent reputation…. Thanks, Jeffco DA Storey and the media.
Congress
Over its 70 year history, The Gallup Poll has become one of the most recognized and respected polling sources. However, the recent release of their “confidence in congress” results leaves me with grave concern. How can it be that that the percentage of Americans with a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in Congress is at 14%? Evaluating poll results involves two necessary considerations - objectivity on the part of the pollster and relevance as to the source of the data. In this case, I do feel that Gallup was fair and impartial because the poor performance on the part of our Congress continues to earn well deserved public disapproval. While the 14% a new all time low, I really question the validity of this outcome.
How could there possibly be a legitimate poll where this HIGH a percentage of Americans would express ANY confidence in our inept legislature.
Without benefit of the polling results, my guess would have been “less than 5%” which would have been a really significant new low.
Who are these “14 per-centers?” What is their source for news? Where do they live? When did they last vote? Are they really American citizens? How in the world can they feel positive toward this “do nothing constructive” Congress?
Since most polls have a “percentage of error” consideration, I’ll speculate that many of these “14 per centers” simply didn’t understand the question.
God Bless America!
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Pollution
Super-scientist Sir Isaac Newton
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PrideFest
The emperor has no clothes, but the people still cheer him on.
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Andrews’ response
Because of the economy, we have rising sales tax, rising State Income Tax, rising Federal Income Taxes, rising Personal Property Taxes. In times when the economy is rising and people are benefiting from rising home prices (which may be moderating and therefore real estate taxes will moderate), all taxes are rising.
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Scooter Libby
As columnists Richard Cohen and Christopher Hitchens would have it, there are serious questions which have yet to be addressed. What, for example, constitutes lying? If journalist, Tim Russert and Libby have different recollections about a long-ago conversation, does that mean that Libby was lying and Russert was not? Or, to put in another way, does one’s inability to recall a particular event constitute lying? If that is not the case, then Libby could hardly be charged of a crime. It is one thing to be jailed for a crime. It is quite another thing to be jailed when no crime has been committed.
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Larry Manzanares
BEWARE when the DA does not care about justice, its time to be looking over your shoulder Jefferson County — you, your child, spouse, parents, or neighbor will be the next victim of a staged media witch hunt, after all, Storey needs the publicity. Come re-election time voters should remember this disgraceful act and vote for someone else.
Remember, “The dead cannot cry out for justice; it is a duty of the living to do so for them.” (Lois McMaster Bujold 2002). Its too late for justice for Larry Manzanares, but its not too late to get rid of a bad district attorney and save his future victims.
Renewable energy tax credit
The Windsor wind turbine plant and the Kremmling beetle-kill wood pellet plant prove that jobs are created for manufacturing and installation of renewable systems, reduce our need for imported oil, and reduce our increases in climate change.
Federal tax laws offer a tax credit of up to 30% of the investment in Solar, Wind, Biomass, etc. as a home improvement (capped at $2,000). At the present time, Colorado provides only a Sales Tax Waiver on an installation. Generally, that incentive is only a few hundred dollars. It’s now time to add a meaningful Tax Credit to encourage more of us to Go Renewable, as the U.S. and many other states already do.
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Motorcycle noise
As someone who is sick and tired of these thoughtless people disturbing the peace everywhere they go, I say, well don’t shop in Denver and do us a favor and never set your noisy wheels here ever again. You won’t be missed.
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Colorado Ballet
After a sixteen year career with Colorado Ballet, principal dancer Koichi Kubo made the difficult decision to leave the company when his wife, Mickey, was offered a position with the San Francisco Ballet School. While we will all miss Koichi, we respect and appreciate his sizable contribution to Colorado Ballet’s history and we hope he can return for a proper farewell performance in Dracula.
The reality of the ballet world is that it is very comparable to professional sports. This is a physical profession and a career in the field is relatively short. At the end of each season, every dancer is a free agent again and there will be times when circumstances dictate that a roster must be changed. Injury, family decisions and other opportunities are always possibilities in this field. The dancers may necessarily change, but the goal of the organization never wavers from giving our best and my role as artistic director obligates me to always be prepared to do that. I want to assure our audiences that we’ve acquired some very talented new dancers whose artistry will further the reputation of Colorado Ballet as a nationally recognized dance company.
Thanks to Marc and all the other critics for this past season’s great reviews! I’m confident that our continuing commitment to quality will be evident in our productions this coming season.
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Scooter Libby
Mr. Clow went on to tell us that it is Congressional interest in the good of the country that spares us being dragged through (yet another) impeachment process. Mr. Clow wonders “What happened to all the outrage about the rule of law?” among far right wingers in the face of this lawlessness.
It’s time for a reality check.
Secret Agent Plame was not “outed” by Dick Cheney. Plame was “outed” by former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage in interviews with Bob Woodward and Bob Novak. This fact has been widely reported. Mr. Armitage was not charged with any crime because, as it turns out, even before posing for photo spreads in “Vanity Fair", Plame was not all that secret after all.
The truth is that Mr. Libby faces a prison for obstructing an investigation into a crime that no one has ever been charged with. The facts of the case would make it a bit tricky for Congress to bring impeach charges against Vice-President Cheney.
Mr. Clow’s respect for the rule of law is instructed more by what he terms partisan hackery than interest in the plain truth.
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Climate change
In Mr. Schallert’s letter, he says, “as a proud denier of global warming, I will continue to enjoy producing all my carbon emissions and be reminded of Chicken Little every time one of these stupid stories hits the paper.” Mr. Volskis states that, “There is no scientific evidence that we are causing global warming.” The deniers of Climate Change seem to have a disregard for the mountain of evidence documenting that Climate Change is a real threat and that the major crisis we now face is of our own making. The evidence is well-documented in peer-reviewed scientific journals. No legitimate scientist questions Climate Change anymore. They only resistance comes from paid pundits in newspapers and, sadly, our own government.
The problem goes beyond this issue. We live in a time where the gut is trusted more than logic. We live in a time where the media makes it seem like, in every issue, both sides are equally valid. This is not always the case. How can one, being in his or her right mind, deny evidence when it is presented, without legitimate counter-evidence? Sometimes, we must swallow our pride and bow to the evidence, and to the correct conclusion that our capability for rational thought must lead us to.
Why would one knowingly continue wasteful, hurtful behavior? Aristotle reminds us that when the mind knows one action to be good, it will always incline to that action. How could it ever make sense to deny overwhelming evidence in order to continue destructive behavior?
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DPS pension plan not dependent on closures
Hansen has the facts wrong. Schools do not have to be closed to maintain the pension plan. The pension plan, which serves all employees, is separately managed by a professional, and it has professional investment counselors (read the annual report).
DPS makes contributions per employee just like other corporations. All employees can buy “years of service” if certain criteria are met and they pay into those years.
As for releasing personnel information, there are laws preventing this. For the rest, read the DPS annual report. Keep the heat on, but get the facts straight.
Ethanol industry’s ploys Kafkaesque
Be it energy independence, unfair competition, national security or whatever excuse happens to suit the industry at the time, the common denominator always lies in finding innovative ways to distort free market forces for the gain of a few (the industry) at the expense of many (American consumers and other businesses).
Bush two-faced on life
If his belief is genuine, why is he on record as one of the governors who executed the most people on death row?
If he values human life so much, why did we invade Iraq and cause thousands of American and Iraqi deaths for “freedom” and “democracy”? Why is he so intent on losing more American lives for a false premise? Why hasn’t he found Osama Bin Laden? I’m confused.
Waiting on the word
Health care wanting
Health care is one of the greatest concerns of most Americans today. I heard a story recently on Good Morning America about Blue Cross of California denying benefits for a young college student going blind.
Our whole country seems to be motivated only by profits at the expense of the average hard-working American. I would like to see the day when the opinions of voting Americans are actually listened to and acted upon.
The sting of Democratic betrayal
The scorpion asks for a ride across the river and the frog hesitatingly obliges. Halfway across, the scorpion stings the frog and, as they are both sinking to their watery deaths, the frog asks the scorpion, “Why did you sting me, knowing that it would kill us both?” The scorpion replies simply, “It’s my nature.”
Raising taxes, wasting money and buying votes is simply in the Democrats’ nature. They know no other way, and it is the height of folly to expect anything from them other than failing on pledges aimed at fiscal responsibility or simple good government.
Democrats are proving once again that the best argument on behalf of Republicans is Democrats.
Until the GOP gives an even better reason to vote for Republicans, however, we may be stuck swimming with political scorpions. Just don’t be surprised when you feel the sting.
Time to take back our cities from the gangs
It’s time to quit coddling these vermin, step up and take it back.
I have to laugh when I hear these pieces of filth talk about their “territory” or read about the stunt they pulled at City Park. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I work to pay my mortgage (or rent), that’s how we stake our territory (home). Not simply by claiming it with a can of spray paint or some cowardly display of numbers to some innocent concertgoers and families. I wish I would have known they would be all together that night at the park doing their little intimidation parade, I would have brought a big net.
Find out what you can do locally in your neighborhood, report gang activity and graffiti ASAP. As for the city governments of the area, please do not overlook this problem any longer, round ’em up, lock ’em up, throw away the keys.
Health care is not a ‘right’; it’s a need
The system certainly is a mess, but health care is not a “right” — it is a need, like food and shelter. A “right” is not simply possessing what we need for survival regardless of who provides it; it means the freedom to obtain what we need without force. For example, I should be free to buy soup from whoever offers the best quality for the price. But it would be a violation of my neighbor’s rights to get a law passed making him pay for my soup.
In the same way, a person should be free to purchase health care based on his or her health concerns, but it is not that person’s right to give the bill to taxpayers.
The 208 Commission on Health Care Reform will present a final plan to the Colorado legislature later this year. So far, the four runner-up proposals recommend greatly increased government control of health care access and funding. This means that Coloradans may get some kind of health care, they just won’t have the right to obtain it as they individually see fit. Only a free market can provide that right.
A DIFFERING VIEW: Doctors need to operate in the open, too
Have you ever tried to look up a physician in Colorado for past grievances? Have you ever tried to actually complain about a misguided (or unethical) physician? Let me tell you, it’s a farce.
Everything is super secret — including the physician’s reply or lack of reply to a complaint. You literally have to have a doctor stand up and say “Yep, I killed him all right” before the board of medical examiners will sanction a physician in this state (and maybe not even then).
Doctors can do whatever they want, whenever they want and there is absolutely no accountability. You think complaints against judges should be disclosed? I submit that a judge may take away your license, your freedom or even your money. But a doctor can kill you without any consequences to his license whatsoever — and live to kill another day.
How about some accountability (and less shielding from liability) for doctors?