July 2007 | Main | September 2007
RE: Haggard fund drive points to molester
It’s more disconcerting to me that he is asking for funds when he is setting on a 3/4 million dollar home in Colorado that he has NOT put up for sale. That is what the rest of us would be expected to do.
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Who will be fired by the Democrats?
Since the Democrats have such a problem with Firings and selections from the president I say lets hear their list from the candidates. Are they going to fire anyone and who do they want in cabinet posts now not when they have already been elected. Bush fired 7 lawyers who serve at his discretion and selected people and judges that Democrats are making such a big deal about lets hear from Hillary and they rest on who are they going to fire and select now and let the lies fly.
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Paul Campos and Paul Krugman
It is often amusing to compare the vitriol and bile of Campos with that of his compatriot and mentor , Krugman. I submit that Krugman outdoes Campos in invective because of Krugman’s psychotic hatred of Bush. However , Campos does an adequate job as an in house ranter. Must be bucking for a job at the N.Y. Times.
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Energy conservation
The editorial in Wednesday’s RMN by Nicholas Kristof (Conserving energy is the key) was interesting to me, as a scientist in the oil industry, but I found some of it very disappointing. I agree with him about our need to conserve energy, especially hydrocarbons, and that improving efficiency is a big part of it. However, he makes several commonly made mistakes. He touts electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell cars. He seems to forget that the electricity and hydrogen have to come from somewhere, and apparently doesn’t understand the conservation of energy laws that apply. If we had a pipeline to the sun or to Jupiter, both of which are more than 90% hydrogen, then our problems would be forever over. But the only sources of hydrogen are through electrolysis of water or similar treatment of methane. Getting hydrogen from water takes more energy than we get back by burning it. Getting it from methane uses the very hydrocarbon we are trying to conserve. Unless we get the necessary electrical energy from burning coal or using uranium, we are losing out.
And Kristof nowhere even mentions nuclear energy as an option! The fear of CO2 has also distorted our thinking about energy conservation. The recent smear job by Newsweek in their cover article (ridiculed by Newsweeks own Paul Samuelson, in Newsweek and the RMN) did one service. They named several scientists with very good reputations in climatology research who are among the naysayers, thus disproving the oft-repeated claim of scientific unanimity on anthropogenic global warming.
(Subject for another letter). The real problem facing us is to extend the life of our hydrocarbon fuel. We should do that by burning plentiful coal instead of natural gas to generate electricity, or better yet, use nuclear generator plants! Is someone from the oil business advocating coal and nuclear instead of oil or gas? YES!
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Alberto Gonzales
The Rocky Mountain News castigation of Attorney General, Alberto Gonzalez, is hardly surprising. The editorial is nothing less than a slapdash attempt to discredit the Bush administration at the expense of an honorable public servant. The Attorney General was, in essence, the victim of a rash of “scandals” created by the Democrats for their own political gain. Yet, he was a strong proponent of defending our national security and foreign surveillance program, in spite of the defeatist agenda of his Democrat opponents in Congress. In short, the editorial is a disgrace.
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Lawrence Trujillo
I had watched with interest the interviews Lawrence Trujillo and his attorney gave recently when Mr. Trujillo decided to plead guilty to all of the charges against him relating to the accident that killed Frank Bingham’s family on November 10, 2006 (Rocky Mountain News 07/31/2007). In my opinion, his attorney was simply trying to influence Mr. Trujillo’s sentencing by making comments such as, “He’s a good guy with a good heart,” and “He wants to take responsibility for his actions,”
Good luck to you, Mr. Trujillo, and Godspeed.
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Sen. Larry Craig
Apparently, many “concerned Americans,” are “deeply troubled” about the “latest” - or should I say - “most recent” misconduct “allegation” regarding one of our “esteemed elected officials” namely Senator Larry Craig. (My quotes are used for proper emphasis and, especially, for political correctness.) I am neither concerned nor deeply troubled. Frankly, I am totally baffled and bewildered! Where is our sense of fairness and good judgment?
If it is okay, for a Democratic President of the United States to engage in oral sex with a young female intern in the Oval Office of our nations revered White House, what is the big deal about a Republican Senator hitting on an adult male undercover cop in the stall of an airport men’s public toilet?
Have we lost all respect for “the right to privacy” for “our nations leaders” who are dedicated are to “properly represent their constituents” and to “serve with dignity and resolve?” Where IS the ACLU on this one? Do our legislators need a Fairness Doctrine?
God Bless America....and Let Freedom Ring!
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Housing hassles
The American Justice System is not just.
A few years back I chose to buy a new home, but to do that I had to sell the one that I lived in. My realtor found a couple that were interested but couldn’t get the proper financing. They asked to rent the property for a year until the man was in the reserves and could get help from being a veteran. We sat down and to enter in to a lease option agreement. All the necessary paperwork was there and they held $5000.00 in earnest money to insure they would fulfill the purchase of the home.
When the time came for them to purchase the home it had lost value. I came up with a plan to make up most of that difference. When my realtor and I went to the meeting that we were to make our proposal we didn’t even get a chance to discuss it. They made the claim the house was in to bad of shape to live in and the wanted to breach the contract. They also requested the money back to which I said no.
Now a year latter they are suing me.
All that is not the in just part. These people are on welfare and because of there indigence They have found free legal representation. It cost them nothing. I on the other hand I am looking at paying the same amount they are suing for to defend myself. I lose either way.
To make matters worse the home continues to loose value. I cannot sell it and because I owe more on the note now that the home is worth. On top of that it is on a flex interest rate even rent that I get for it does not pay enough to meet the what I owe in interest.
Look I have never gotten help from anyone. I work hard and pay my bills but because someone that doesn’t have to pay for their attorney is suing me I have lost even before I step into the courtroom
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legal and illegal immigrants
Yesterday’s Opinion/ Editorial needs some clarification: Ms. Salinas speaks about the “anti-immigrant rhetoric” of presidential candidates, but she does not cite a single example of their rhetoric. She cites examples of anti-illegal alien rhetoric, which reflects the views of over 80% of the American people. That Salinas does not make a distinction between legal and illegal immigrants is the root of her problem in failing to understand how American democracy works. No more criminal activity should be allowed by illegal alien invaders. People want laws enforced and the invaders status exposed. A perfect example is the execution of the three young college students with a promising future at the Newark massacre. Surely, she knows the meaning of the word ILLEGAL...she needs to use it!
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Bill Johnson and New Orleans
Dear Mr. Johnson: Interesting column on the devastation that greeted you in Nawlins. This doesn’t surprise anyone and is in stark contrast to the progress made so far in Mississippi. NOLA was a corrupt crime and poverty infested Third World hellhole run by tinpot Democrats before the hurricane. This is what they face down there. A few bullet points, since you completely missed what we term “root causes".
Mayor Ray “Chocolate City” Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blnco were given millions in federal dollars to fix the levees. The cash was “diverted” to other purposes (perhaps stolen outright) and the city was left vulnerable Five days of warnings of a direct hit by a Cat Five storm were ignored. Hundreds of city school busses could have been used to evacuate the most vulnerable residents, many of whom subsequently died. Offers of federal help prior to the storm’s landfall were rebuffed by the “leaders” down there.
It’s no wonder the government is blamed for the lack of progress; many in the Crescent City have sucked on the government teat their entire lives. Nola remains the murder capital of the U.S. and the illegitimacy rate is 80%. Our home offices and plant are down there and employees from Colorado there on business have been robbed at gunpoint.
Icing on the cake: We have the amazing Barney Frank stating that President Bush has engaged in “ethnic cleansing” by allowing the levees to break and flood the city. I wonder why I moved from Massachusetts, let me count the reasons.... The gall of these folks is incredible and I believe that if they were Republicans you might actually read some of this in the paper.
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Gasp! Jesus even had capitalists as friends
In answer to letter writer Pamela Blome (“CCU students misled,” Aug. 27), I think she knows very little of the history of Christianity.
I would like to know where these Christian communes she alludes to were located. It is true that they gathered, as did the Jews and those of other faiths, in conclaves of their own kind. But a “communist-style” way of life? Persecuted as they were for many years by the Romans and, later, Muslims and others, they tended to keep a low profile. Communes would have been, as they are today, rather high-profile and watched carefully by their neighbors.
And Christ certainly had a lot of rich, influential friends — like Zacchaeus and Joseph of Arimathea — and made use of their money and hospitality. Had he disapproved of wealth held from capitalism, he would not have made use of capitalists. Gasp!
Margaret Fox, Sedalia
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (339) | TrackBackCitizens, be vigilant!
Gov. Bill Ritter’s panel on transportation finance reportedly decided against using global-positioning system technology to track where and when Colorado drivers take to the road and tax accordingly (“Panel says no to idea for tax on miles driven,” Aug. 25).
Commission members referenced the fact that “it could take years for citizens to get used to the idea that the government could keep track of what streets they drive on and when they drive.” Apparently, such Orwellian policy ideas aren’t restricted to science fiction or conspiracy theories.
Citizens, be vigilant! We could find ourselves like the frog who, through desensitization in an ever-hotter pot of water, is no less dead at full boil.
Christine Burtt, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (16) | TrackBackCitizenship luck
I got a chuckle out of Mike Rosen’s Aug. 17 column in which he objects to “birthright citizenship” (“What makes a citizen?”).
I have a hunch that Rosen did not do anything out of the ordinary to earn his citizenship. I’ll bet he got it the exact same way that I and the vast majority of U.S. citizens did: by the blind, dumb luck of being born here.
U.S. citizenship is pretty nice, and I wouldn’t deny this opportunity to others, regardless of parentage. I might not have it if Rosen set the criteria.
Mike Heiny, Colorado Springs
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (13) | TrackBackA DIFFERING VIEW: RTD nickel-and-dimed projections from the start
Contrary to the Rocky’s Aug. 27 editorial (“Taking the heat/RTD needs to resist requests for upgrades”), the Regional Transportation District’s budget problems are of its own making, not that of the communities that will “enjoy new rail service.”
RTD used overly optimistic projections, and poor — even invalid — assumptions as to the true cost of building new rail lines, including FasTracks. As early as 2000, when the West Corridor Environmental Impact Study was just getting under way, RTD received public comments identifying shortcomings in their proposed design — not simple amenities or a “wish list” as you say — but fundamental errors in judgment as to just what the true impacts will be of putting a light-rail line right through the middle of a mature residential community.
The final EIS document (2003) contains many warnings of insufficient detail of cost items, missing design elements and the lack of a sufficient contingency fund; warnings that RTD chose to ignore.
RTD has touted the rising cost of commodities as the main reason for cutting back on the design. The fact is, the design was inadequate from the start.
It is unfair and irresponsible for RTD to now want to hold local communities accountable for budget problems that RTD itself failed to anticipate, especially when given ample warning.
RTD sold this region a bill of goods with the FasTracks program — it has never acknowledged the true cost of building light rail in a sensitive and responsible manner, and apparently has not learned the lessons from the Alaska pipeline and Boston tunnel projects regarding the end cost of building a system on the cheap.
Paul Ditson is a resident of Lakewood.
Posted by denver-admin at 12:00 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBackTed Haggard is asking for monies to last two years. He earned 150K for ten months while in the church. I wonder how much heed needs. Why is it that Pastors, Ministers, any clergymen always need money. Why is it that nun’s live in poverty and their male counterparts live in luxury. Why do preachers have three piece suits and nuns have worn the same outfit for centuries. It is time that people stop giving to their leaders of the church money and give the church money that will help poor people.
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Michael Vick
As if betting on animals to maul each other, and then drowning or strangulating the “loser” underperformers were something children would naturally do, and outgrow with age? My eye!
Thank you for you euphemistic apology, Mr. Vick, but you got it exactly backwards: you an your ilk were not “immature” but simply depraved, ethically unhinged. The only children who would engage in such bloody circus, would be those who learned it from “mature” adults as inhumane and lacking in conscience as yourself. Don’t try to “childwash” your guilt.
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Organic food
Betsy Hart’s article, “The truth about organic food,” failed to tell the whole truth. We do, indeed, enjoy our favorite foods year round due to the liberal use of chemicals, fertilizers, expensive packaging and modern transportation, but we are not necessarily healthier as a result. Eating the same foods year round, rather than varying foods by season, wrecks havoc on our digestive system leading to well-documented increses in allergies and asthma and contributes to other digestive disorders.
Numerous studies have shown that organically grown fruits and vegetables have 10-100% more of a wide range of vitamins and minerals.
These studies are so well-documented that the most highly regarded companies in the field of nutritional supplements (Juice Plus, Vibe & Nutrilite, to name a few) derive their products from organically grown whole foods.
During a recent visit to Costa Rica, I learned that the major cause of disease-related death in the country is from stomach cancer, which is directly related to drinking water polluted by run-off from the large banana and coffee plantations. Local growers are switching to organic, but the larger, American owned plantations are resisting.
Closer to home, TIME magazine featured a story about the doubling in size of the “red tide” in the Gulf of Mexico caused by fertilizers and pesticides carried down the Mississippi River. This deadly pollution is killing off our local supply of seafood and destroying the ecosystem of the gulf for miles around the mouth of the Mississippi.
Betsy says she is thinking about what is best for her family. Too bad she doesn’t realize how inter-connected we all are.
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Paul Krugman
Had the Newark officials reported the former crimes of the two illegal aliens to ICE their second horrific crime would have been avoided. In his need to be minimally credible Krugman acknowledges that “Tom Tancredo flew into Newark to accuse the city’s leaders of inviting the crime by failing to enforce immigration laws.” The only reason why Tancredo flew to Newark was to protest the failure to enforce our immigration laws. Nothing whatever “anti-Hispanic” or “racist” in his intentions or actions. In no sense is Tancredo “anti-Hispanic” or in any way an advocate of “racial fear and animosity"—as it appears Krugman would like us to believe. How dumb or illiterate does he think we readers are?
Later in his column, Krugman’s intention is confirmed when he openly accuses the GOP as having a “race-based electoral strategy.”
His final paragraph ends his partisan rant: “For decades it (the GOP base) has exploited racial animosity to win over white voters — and now, when Republican politicians need to reach out to an increasingly diverse country, the base won’t let them.” Hogwash! And, of all things!, by a columnist of none the less than The New York Times!
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President Bush
P
President Bush has done some outrageous things in his two terms, far too many for me to list here, so, for me, the top three most egregous are: 1): The phony and misleading way he took us to war in Iraq and the incompetent manner in which he managed it and the so called peace. It would take more than a letter to relate the untruths and ineptness.
Two): Sending his White House Consul (at that time), Alberto Gonzales and a top presidential advisor to the hospital room of Attorney General Ashcroft where he lay sedated and seriously ill, then shoving a document in his face demanding he approve of questionably legal, surveillance actions.
3): Telling football star, Pat Tillman’s mother, that her son had been killed by the enemy in Afghanstan and awarded a Silver Star, when, in fact he had been killed by friendly fire, some say, murdered. This lie continued for five weeks and only after a national, televised funeral did our military tell his mother the truth. Worse yet, the president will not release the paperwork documenting the awful event.
All three of these acts were unconscionable and any man of honor would have apologized and resigned. Pity, that honor isn’t included in this president’s moral assets!
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Michael Vick and abortions
Michael Vick will lose tens of millions of dollars and go to prison for a significant period of time for killing dogs. Planned Parenthood will be subsidized with taxpayer dollars and glorified for aborting (murdering) millions of human babies.
Isaiiah 5:20 condemns the calling of evil good and good evil. That’s right about where we are right now, and the leftist media is complicit in supporting that mentality. And, something to muse over is the fact that people in other parts of the world eat dogs and in a few instances people!
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Yellow/red stoplights
Mr. Carter pulls out the physics excuse for not stopping at a yellow/red light. Here is a lesson in physics for him. My drivers manual states that you should have a 2 second interval between you and the vehicle in front of you. Using physics calculations: 30 MPH X 5,280 ft. (1 mile)=158,400 ft, divide by 60=2,640 ft./per minute, divide by 60 again =44 ft./per second. 2 seconds =88 ft. of space between you and the vehicle in front of you! Now could you not stop if you were not following too closely. It seems you could by his calculations, as he says he could stop in 75 ft. The Driver’s manual clearly states that on a steady yellow light you should stop unless you are in the intersection. When you approach a traffic light you should anticipate that it might change and be prepared. It should not take that much reaction time.
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Front page stickies stink
Stop putting those ad stickers on the front of the newspaper! Please!
Previous letter-writers have correctly pointed out the inappropriateness and turn-off factor of having ads anywhere on the front cover. Additionally, when you peel the sticker off in order to actually see (imagine that!) what headline or picture the editor has chosen to put on the front page, it leaves an annoyingly sticky residue.
Bad choice to have started with these sticky ads in the first place; please now make the good choice to respect your readers and stop.
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RMN shortcomings
The inconsistent delivery was the tip of the iceberg. It occurred to me in the dead of the night what it is that’s been bothering me and why I don’t miss taking the News. Not to insult another newspaper, but the News, has evolved slowly from an objective, informative gem of around 90 pages into the Colorado Daily, at roughly the same length but for a hundred bucks a year for the same number of Woodstock columnists. Who reads them? When I do it’s because I’m asked. The result is akin to a scene from the Exorcist I can’t get out out of my head. Gone are the news holes, replaced with groovy personal reflection. Reporters chase down sixties issues. How much racism-sexism-anti-war-nitrogen-in-the-water-and-the-evil-right can one take before the numbing. If I wanted all that, I’d play the same old Bob Dylan “tunes” every morning, but I’m 40 years over “Evabody muss git stoned.” There are a few good writers who don’t make me ill, April Washington plays it straight. I’m always drawn to Jean Torkelson’s work. Kevin Vaughan could be good, but he’s writing an esoteric history not a daily newspaper. His considerable talents would be better applied following up the disaster House Bill 1355 is creating for Colorado employers and employees, the people who supposedly read this newspaper. I wonder who dropped that ball? And if I want to read about global warming, I can find that on Al Gore.com, or Al Gore TV or Al Gore Satellite Radio or I can be reminded by looking at his face on the Al Gore silver dollar. This practice of so-and-so wouldn’t return calls, or was unavailable by press time reflects distrust of reporters who never follow up the story when the source is indeed available, maybe even fuming at the reporter’s desk.
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Dialysis funding cuts
Our elected officials in Washington, D.C. are debating about cutting Medicare payments for dialysis patients. Dialysis is the only method of keeping patients alive whose kidneys have failed, apart from transplants. I have worked in dialysis for over 9 years and have seen firsthand the critical need there is to provide these lifesaving treatments, and the funding required to continue providing them. This is not optional!
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Single-payer solution is a fool’s bargain
“Single payer cost-effective, viable,” Fran Ricker and Kristen Hannum’s Speakout in the Aug. 18 Rocky Mountain News, came across more like a huckster’s pitch than a serious policy proposal to cover the uninsured.
They offer to save the state $1.6 billion by turning every last Coloradan’s health-care coverage over to a government monopoly run by bureaucrats. And what do we have to do to take advantage of this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime offer? More than double our income tax! They want to raise our state’s 4.63 percent income tax rate to 10.63 percent — a 130 percent increase. That’s $7.74 billion in new taxes, more than the operating budget for Colorado’s entire state government!
They also tell us, “Every other industrialized nation on Earth has guaranteed universal health care.” What they and other advocates of so-called “single payer” coverage fail to mention is that those other nations typically also have a parallel, private system of health care. That way, at least some of their citizens don’t have to subject their families to rationing by government functionaries.
Our own system is far from perfect. We must see to it that those who want and need coverage can get it, and we must curb health-care costs for everyone else. Still, I cannot imagine that very many of my fellow lawmakers at the Capitol are keen on spending $7.74 billion in order to save $1.6 billion. That is a fool’s bargain.
Sen. Andy McElhany, Colorado Springs
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (41) | TrackBackCancer victim penny wise, pound foolish
While it is certainly tragic and frightening to have a disease like cancer at a young age, I strongly disagree with Rocky Mountain News columnist Bill Johnson’s assertion that it is somehow the fault of others that Kama Winter does not have the health insurance needed to help with the cost of her treatment (“Personal finance decision now haunts cancer victim,” Aug. 22). “We can and should do way better than this,” he writes.
I’m sorry — did I miss something here? Did Johnson not tell us in the beginning of this sob story that Winter made a conscious decision not to pony up for her employer’s health insurance plan?
I remember being fresh out of college, barely making ends meet with my first not-too-well-paying job, but even then I would have been hard pressed to find a reason to opt out of buying health insurance, which my employer did offer. Even at my young age, younger than Winter is now I might add, I never even considered not paying for the insurance, knowing that youth is no guarantee for perfect health.
I cannot think of a worse example of being penny wise and pound foolish.
Winter rolled the dice all right. And lost mightily.
Theresa Lane, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (36) | TrackBackFailing to invest in our future
Thank you, Rocky Mountain News columnist Bill Johnson, for bringing the plight of the young woman with operable cancer, but no health insurance, to our attention (“Personal finance decision now haunts cancer victim,” Aug. 22).
What compounds the tragedy of her situation is that if she were 66, 76 or even 86 instead of 26, a government program would pay for most of her surgery and follow-up care.
A little acknowledged fact is that we do have universal health care in this country for anyone who is 65 years old or older or who is disabled. It is called Medicare and has been in existence for 40 years. Unfortunately, for young adults, who have the potential for years of happiness ahead of them, years during which they could be productive, taxpaying citizens, we offer little or nothing in the way of health care should debilitating illness strike.
It seems that we have chosen to invest in our past but not in our future!
I will keep this young woman and others like her in my thoughts and prayers.
Diane Burridge, Aurora
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBackLiability protection needed in terror war
The recent legislation to authorize wiretapping of foreign calls is essential to track possible terrorist plots, but it does not go far enough.
According to The Washington Times, retroactive liability protection is still needed to protect cooperating companies from possible lawsuits.
Since most foreign calls are often routed through U.S. switches, the ability to intercept such calls is imperative. If the interception of a single call passing through U.S. networks would prevent a potential terrorist attack, that in itself is sufficient reason to update current FISA laws to maximize our surveillance capability.
I hope the president will square off with the Democrats when the Congress returns next month. Defending our national security is not an option, especially in time of war.
Brian Stuckey, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (32) | TrackBackOthers of note
I appreciate the attention paid to those making the Denver metro area a place where arts and entertainment thrive (“Denver’s Top 25 Movers and Shakers” and “Hats off to CEOs and volunteers,” Spotlight, both Aug. 18).
Yes, the Rocky Mountain News featured movers and shakers but, for my taste, not enough about innovative artists who bring very favorable attention to the Denver area through their terrific work. Here are two examples: Lonnie Hanzon of Lonnie’s World and Andy Dufford of Chevo Studios.
Take a look at what these brilliant people are doing, please.
Judith Blair, Boulder
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBackJones’ odd behavior
Personally, I have nothing against Mike Jones, the male prostitute who last year revealed he had plied the Rev. Ted Haggard with sex and drugs. However, I was under the impression that in the state of Colorado prostitution and drug dealing were against the law. It seems odd that Jones is running around writing books, acting in plays and taking advantage of his celebrity status. What’s up with that?
Barbara Winslow, Lakewood
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBackWise guy, eh?
In Gary Markstein’s political cartoon of Aug. 23 (“We’ve got some work to do”), the cartoonist equates the competency of the Iraqi army to The Three Stooges. This is highly insulting to the professionalism and reputation of Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard!
Richard Abels, Centennial
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBackThe Russian bare
Throughout the centuries, the Russian people have had to endure tyrannical leaders, from Ivan the Terrible to Vladimir the Voluptuous (“Shirtless Putin sets tongues wagging,” Aug. 24).
Larry Goldhirsch, Aurora
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBackHumpty Dumpty sat on the wall
Impeachment proceedings seems to be the only way we can get through to Mr. Bush.
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Organic food
In response to Betsy Harts column on deflating organics.
About three quarters of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables contain small amounts of pesticides, usually more than one. The opposite was found by a study that looked at 94,000 samples of organically grown produce tested by the USDA.
Although it is very difficult to find a connection to cancer in humans caused by pesticides, mainly because we are exposed to tiny doses of hundreds of pesticides and other chemicals on a daily basis, a recent Agricultural Health study found that people who work with pesticides, such as farmers have higher rates of Parkinson disease, leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cancers of the lip, stomach, skin, brain and prostate. In addition of the approximately 900 active ingredients found in the pesticides that can be legally used in the United States about 20 cause cancer in animals and are classified as human carcinogens.
Ms Hart goes on to elude that people who buy organic are touchy feely types on some sort of moral crusade to save the world, is she referring to the every day people who are buying organics in record amounts at WalMart and Safeway, who now have their own organic brands making organics more affordable. This is called supply and demand. America is paying attention.
Ms Hart can evoke the very photogenic Dr Sanjay Gupta to sheer up her weak claims that there is hardly any difference between organically grown produce and conventionally grown. And I will concede that the benifits of eating conventionally grown produce outweigh the negatives of consuming the pesticides you consume with them. However in May of this year a group of environmental scientists warned that babies exposed to pesticides could be more susceptible to ADD asthma and cancer.
Take away all the studies and cable news medical correspondents, and do your own research. The next time a large fly is buzzing around your kitchen Ms Hart, spray it with some raid and see what happens next, then tell me with a straight face that pesticides are safe. or you could kill it the organic way, by swatting it with a copy of your book. “It takes a parent”
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Invasive technology
“...It could take years for citizens to get used to the idea that the government could keep track of what streets they drive on and when they drive.” (RMN, 8/25/07) Is this the appropriate governmental response to utilizing authoritarian technology? Waiting for public opinion to catch up to and embrace an infringement on its privacy?
If the past seven years has taught us anything, technology can be used to enhance freedom or facilitate authoritarianism. Sure, global positioning technology would certainly help the Colorado Department of Transportation levy taxes on drivers in proportion to their use of the roads, but is the trade-off in privacy and personal liberty worth it? Governor Ritter’s panel on transportation seems to think so.
They put off implementing the GPS tracking program not because of its invasive nature or for privacy reasons, but because they want to “wait until the system is more fully tested.”
The great debate for American democracy in the 21st century is not how much “the terrorists hate our freedom", but whether or not our government LOVES our freedom and is willing to safeguard it against all threats — both foreign and domestic — including implementing invasive, authoritarian-prone technology here at home.
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Protesters at DNC
In your DNC: Countdown to Denver feature, under Security, you list “Find a suitable spot that can be set aside for protesters.” There’s no need to find a spot, or to set anything aside. A very suitable spot already exists. It’s called Auraria Parkway. Outside what should be a very small security zone around the Pepsi Center, protesters have a right to exercise their First Amendment rights to petition their elected officials within sight and sound of the DNC delegates.
Anything less—any “protest pens,” any fencing in or caging of protesters, or keeping protesters at a significant distance from the Pepsi Center—is a violation of the most basic of Constitutional principles, the right of the people to participate fully in the political process.
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Ad stickies must go
I fed up with the advertising stickers covering the headline of the front page of my newspaper. Don’t you have enough space inside the paper to sell advertising? I am making it a point to NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM ANY FRONT PAGE STICKER ADVERTISER, and if you keep this up, I will cancel my subscription. I can get most of what I need off the internet anyway.
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Dave Kopel
Re: “Surveillance tactic…”—On the Media, 8/25/07 This much is clear: Dave Kopel is all for promoting debauchery in publicly licensed nightclubs. Too bad he has so little acquaintance with moral principles. What is not clear, is why (other than wanting to get even) he badmouths talk-show host Dan Caplis, who suggested ways a neighborhood can legally go about protecting itself from what it believes to be an invasion of moral blight, when the authorities cannot or will not act.
Advantage this round: Caplis.
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Lack of coverage on 8-16
Wait just a darn minute! Last August 16 (2006) we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. All Elvis did was die August 16, thirty years ago. I checked and we didn’t even get a single line in the Rocky last year. I request, no, demand, a double “oops” because I know that the exclusion of our event was deliberate.
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Student’s homework
At a recent parent teacher night for Sheridan Middle School, a language arts teacher was asked why she doesn’t assign homework to students. Her response was simply that first of all, it put too much stress on students and also that she couldn’t afford the extra time grading any homework that would be assigned. There was a time when Sheridan schools had a reputation for grades and education but that has long passed. The students in middle school are doing homework from printed out worksheets, there are no actual research or studies being assigned and now a teacher says because too much stress for students and she has no time for it. I understand that there are good teachers that actually care and strive to get a student to learn. Part of that means doing homework, and in a society where video games, skate boarding, and other such free time is so readily available, how can homework be too stressful? Another teacher referred homework as an unnecessary “self study” activity. Middle and high schools are supposed to be a preparatory time for students before, hopefully college. If they can not handle it now, there is no hope for them for when college looms and careers are so interdependent on college education. With these comments, it is no wonder why American schools are failing in the world scope and with the unions, these teachers will get raises when they most assuredly do not deserve them.
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Police union votes for pay raise
The police union voted 796 in favor and 28 opposed to an increase in pay. Tell me exactly, who were these 28 morons that voted against a pay raise.
Anybody I know would almost never turn down a pay raise. Seem that the police might need more money to hire a lawyer to defend them against many charges held against them when they do wrong and brake the law. Just look at the Rocky Mountain news front page on Aug. 19, 2007 and you will know what I am talking about.
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Prisoners doing farm work
If there is a shortage of farm workers an ideal solution is to use prisoners. They would get paid the same as farm workers.
Also model prisoners who work steady in the fields can earn time off of their sentences for showing the inititive to work hard.
This helps everyone around. The farmers get their workers,
The state gets money to help the prison system.
The prisoner gets to earn money upon his or her release. The prisoner also learns what hard work really is and may figure out when they get out that getting an education is the way to make a living.They will also have money to get a place to live and find a job to learn to support themselves.The ones that stick with the program can earn time off their sentences for working hard and showing the prison system they are willing to work hard to get out and start a new life.
This is the way to fix the labor shortage without the State spending millions of dollars. Without the farms spending millions of dollars to house and to get visa’s etc...This is another solution to the problem of bringing more people from Mexico on work visa’s , only to have them disappear when the visa is up. Who is going to make sure they return?It also helps the State pay for prisoners and the prisoner’s to earn money to live when they get out.
I think this is a Win, Win, Win, situation that could solve a lot of problems with one solution.
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Choir ban offensive
Banning the gospel choir at the Columbine Memorial dedication is not only offensive but insensitive and displays gross intolerance. Letter writer Milo Ramirez’s only thought is for his own feelings (“Choir at dedication would be offensive,” Aug. 22).
Why are atheists so intolerant? He claims offense. What about his offending those who don’t hold his views? He wants to force his “religion” or lack thereof on the rest of us.
It was not his child or relative who was killed at Columbine. If the choir singing a message of hope is offensive, God help us. Ramirez can put his fingers in his ears, close his eyes and concentrate on his navel if he chooses. Let the choir bring comfort and a message of hope.
Roger A. Faber, Westminster
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (50) | TrackBackSewer politics
So Dick Wadhams thinks Michael Huttner, director of ProgressNowAction, is a “sleazeball” (“Schaffer chided for school vote,” Aug. 9).
Yawn.
Maybe Wadhams should come clean with the people of Colorado and tell us why he’s not working on George Allen Jr.’s presidential campaign. Wadhams’ pathetic spin on Allen’s macaca moment (“It was a mashup of Mohawk!” etc.) would have been laughable had it not been so contemptuous and dishonest. We in Colorado can now brag of our skiing, mountain vistas and sewer politics.
Don Donahue, Loveland
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (24) | TrackBackLet market purge itself
I concur with professor Mohammed Akacem’s sentiment that — as his Aug. 20 Speakout column is headlined — “Fed’s markets rescue a slippery slope.” Going one step further, I would say that the Federal Reserve should not rescue the mortgage industry and banks for their financial indiscretions.
We should let this market fall and purge itself of the “bad actors” in the business whether large or small. The British purchased $125 billion worth of T-bills to prop up our markets. This is more debt. Those in our society who believe in “free markets” should have no problem accepting the fall of our markets because of “self-inflicted” financial wounds and not look for a government bailout.
We have replaced our manufacturing base with a housing-consumer base and as one can see, it is not self-sustaining.
Jimmy Johnson, Colorado Springs
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (43) | TrackBackA DIFFERING VIEW: Saddam is gone, so our troops should leave Iraq
I take strong exception to the editorial of Saturday stating that Iraq could become a killing field if U.S. troops are withdrawn too quickly (“The value of the Vietnam analogy”). Surely everyone has seen or read that Iraq is already a killing field for its occupants, foreign or native.
I would like to see how many Iraqis have been killed by IEDs, insurgents and U.S. soldiers since the beginning of this war.
Saddam Hussein was a horrible ruler who, with the help of his family and loyal army, killed untold numbers of his countrymen, women and children. He is gone and unable to resume the position he once held. If the Iraqis truly want a democracy, let them fight for it as was done in the U.S. during our war for independence.
More of our troops have already been killed and maimed in this war than the total killed on Sept. 11, 2001. How many more must die or be maimed while President Bush maintains his transparent efforts to pass this entire mess off to his successor?
Let us get our troops and equipment out of Iraq at the earliest possible date and turn our eyes and efforts to other areas, such as Sudan and Darfur where genocide occurs every day. Perhaps I’ve been wrong that the war was more about the oil fields in Iraq than it is about genocide and despotism, but I seriously doubt it.
If the war really is about human rights abuses, far worse is going on in other countries than what is going on in Iraq, or what is likely to happen if we leave.
Cheryl K. Glenn is a resident of Longmont.
Posted by denver-admin at 12:00 AM | Comments (67) | TrackBackIn case you were wondering what the Democrats had in mind for the state now that they are in control and looking to the next election read the rocky article of 8/24 on the insurance plans for the state. Every one of them looks to take more money out of your pocket to give to someone else. They have plans to mandate health insurance for every Coloradoan as if that’s their job. Any one making a decent living will is required to pay more taxes much more taxes. Of course it will be for the children, which has been their catch phrase for years now or maybe the line will be the rich must pay their fair share. Well if the rich were to pay their fair share their taxes would have to be lowered as by the Governments own statistics show the top 50% of taxpayers pay 96.70% of ALL taxes. Who are the top 50% of taxpayers? They are any individual or couple filing jointly making $29014 or more a year.
These numbers come from the Internal Revenue Service for 2004 the latest year they have number for. Now don’t you feel much better knowing your part of THE RICH the Dems keep talking about? Remember that the next election
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Sticky note ads stink
Stickie Ads
Frankly it feels to me like you are invading MY space. How long before you have a dozen companies who are willing to give you a bucket of money to get their message on your front page? Will the front page then appear on page 2? The ads now are fairly small. What happens when a good customer, say like Jake Jabs of American Furniture wants a 6 inch ad stuck on the front page and is willing to pay for it?
And how do you put the genie back in the bottle.
You have read several letters to the editor noting that the news content of the Rocky is shrinking, but certainly not the advertisng content.
I think I can predict where this is going. Each week I receive neighborhood “all advertising” papers in my yard or my mailbox. I soon expect one with a headline reading “The Rocky Mountain Ads".
Please reconsider this folly before it really gets out of hand!
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CO labor-friendly not business-friendly
So Gov. Ritter and the Democrats have put the world on notice that a new labor-friendly day has dawned in Colorado, which means that Colorado has become considerably less business-friendly. Rest assured that the business world has received this notice and will pass on Colorado when looking for locations for new operations. As far as I have been able to figure, businesses create jobs, not organized labor. The adverse impact on the Colorado economy will be noticeable.
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Immigration
Mike Rosen, Finally, some real math on the idea of Mexico acquisition.
Mexicans Remember the Alamo differently than the American John Wayne version. Texicans lost the first go at the Alamo, if my public education was honest. Eventually Southern Manifest Destiny was accomplished by the American Army.
I am not sure why our army invasion stopped at the Rio Grande back then. Possibly for the same reason Bush I stopped short of Baghdad in Gulf War I.
At what point does slogging become a quagmire? I know the Alamo is in America now because I attended Air Force basic training in San Antonio in 1969.
As a veteran, it bothers me that the United States provides security for illegal immigrants. As for California, their electoral numbers and congressional clout equal Pelosi for VP. Gottcha.
Anyway, thanks for your thoughtful analysis. Can you find your counterpart in Mexico to tell us what benefits Mexico might derive from “reconquista” of California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado? Some say these territories belonged to Spain before an unjustified war.
If we returned Mexico their water ("color-red-o” River flow) then perhaps harvest crops could be grown where harvesters are. Your political realities are frightening to think about, but the political reality of any path to citizenship (amnesty) for illegals is much the same if only the Democrats seem to know it.
Conservatives should champion “citizenship at time of conception” rather than time of birth. That way Mexicans violating our borders to take advantage of birth rights (anchor babies) would have Mexican-citizenship babies to take back home with them, and Americans who conceived during Cancun honeymoons would deliver Mexican babies, to then do the work Americans won’t.
Why do I have to do all the complicated math? Thanks for your report which should have been titled: Remembering Congressman David Crockett.
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Sticky notes must go
If you don’t stop putting stickers on my newspaper, I will boycott each business involved and cancel my 30-year subscription.
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RICO laws and gangs