January 2007 | Main | March 2007
This letter has not been edited. John Chamberlain of Longmont writes: Kathy Beach of Parker writes: Shelly Barnard of Lafayette writes: On its Web site and in its pages recently, the Rocky Mountain News was slanted and biased in referring to the U.S. Senate’s refusal to break a filibuster on the Iraq war resolution as a “refusal to debate the war.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Dan Green, Wheat Ridge In his Feb. 5 commentary, “Blame America first and last,” Charles Krauthammer makes the frequent complaint so often heard on Rush Limbaugh’s radio talk show: The left always blames America for anything and everything that goes wrong in Iraq. Joy Privette, Elizabeth I may be a Republican, but I totally agree with Democratic Sen. Chris Romer calling for students to be proficient in the English language before they graduate from high school (“English-proficiency bill ripped by Dems,” Feb. 1). Robert J. Burger, Fort Collins Ron Vander Kooi of Arvada writes: The other clear problem is the “dumbing down” of content, for example, I have long been and remain a defender of newspapers because they are This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. I recently overheard a conversation where some people were discussing weather forecasts from the Farmers Almanac. They noted that the almanac predicted more snow for our area and another bitter storm in March. Glenn Morris has a lot of nerve when he speaks of setting an example for our children. The example he and Sen. Suzanne Williams wish to set is that if you break the law and threaten violence you can get your way. For every historian and theologian he finds to condemn Columbus, I can find one that attested to his honor and courage. I can also find historians who reported that the so-called atrocities that Columbus is blamed for,pale in comparison to the atrocities that the native people-inflicted upon each other. They should join in honoring Columbus if for no other reason than he helped end the slaughter that native peoples routinely imposed upon each other. I caught Todd Hartman’s article in the Friday, January 12, 2007 issue on page 26A, listing five questions regarding the convention (who asked them it doesn’t say) and what peoples’ concerns are when Denver hosts the democratic convention. This letter has not been edited. T Help me get this straight, the U.S. Government has lost twelve billion dollars in cash currency, shipped by air from the U.S. to Iraq. Filmed and documented by T.V. news cameras. Sounds like Clint Eastwood's movie "Kelly's Hero's." Twelve billion dollars, Whooosh! Now that the people of Colorado have had a chance to observe the consequences of the smoking ban passed last year, the issue needs to be seriously reviewed. Stan Broyles, Idaho Springs On Feb. 2, I read Glenn Morris’ Speakout column, “Time has come to repeal Columbus Day.” Mickie Lava Clayton, Denver I was glad to hear that Sen. Betty Boyd’s bill requiring that hospitals tell sexual assault survivors about emergency contraception (EC) is likely to become law. I find the opposition quoted in your article to be puzzling. Dr. Andrew Ross, Denver I ask the Rocky Mountain News to please increase its coverage of the court-martial of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada (“Officer refuses orders to Iraq,” Feb. 6). Every U.S. soldier is instructed that they must refuse to obey an illegal order. Watada refused to obey what he considered an illegal order, yet is being prevented from using that defense in his court-martial. Bruce Baker, Thornton Global warming has finally been confirmed for us by Al “The Gullible” Gore and his friend Jacques Chirac who blame it all on George Bush. Jim Parker, Aurora Seems kind of ridiculous to be arguing over whether global warming is happening or not. I’m persuaded, but, like going into Iraq, I sincerely hope I’m wrong. In any case, isn’t it better to err on the side of safety instead of waiting until it is too late? Besides, you can’t tell me that all of this pollution can be good for you anyway. Jerry Minerich, Westminster I don’t know about the rest of the country, but I am over the fake controversy ginned up by certain right-wing media elements over Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s alleged aircraft request. The fact of the matter is that the House sergeant at arms (who is responsible for the speaker’s security) — and not the speaker herself — requested a plane that could fly nonstop from Washington, D.C., to California for security purposes, which necessitates a larger plane. Mitch Woolhiser, Denver It was recently reported that Prince Harry, third in line to the British crown, is being deployed to Iraq. According to the Daily Mirror: “Prince Harry is being sent to Iraq after making it clear he was not willing to sit out the war in safety while his comrades risked their lives.” Peter Liggett, Denver Re: Jim Coleman of Aurora writes: Charles Buchanan of Denver writes: The Rocky’s Editorial & Opinion section of Feb. 10 illustrated the division that exists in today’s society about global warming: scientists try to raise the alarm, naysayers insist that their opinions are being ignored. What should we do? Janet Brazill, Colorado Springs Over the last several months, the Rocky Mountain News has “pushed” global warming. In addition, it has implied, if not outright said, that it is caused by man’s pollution. Only a deep degree of historical and scientific ignorance could allow this to happen. David Cook, Loveland I’ve been waiting, apparently in vain, for someone to point out the irony of presidential aspirant John Edwards appearing to be the point man on health care. Rich Jarboe, Arvada Ernest M. Duckworth Jr.’s letter of Feb. 15, “They got a funny way of pushing peace,” makes an unsupported claim that an Iraq war veteran was spit on at a recent peace rally in Washington, D.C. I’d like to see some evidence for this hateful claim. When defending the war gets tough, only partisan hacks raise the spit-upon-veteran myth, which was started by hawks defending the Vietnam War. Kenneth C. Rose II, Arvada Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald leads the charge with the bold battle cry: “We fought for it. We have it. And we will not compromise it. We will fight for it with every fiber of our being” (“Senator urges ban on most abortions, citing civil rights,” Feb. 13). Susan Sutherland, Thornton Why were some lawmakers wasting time, money and resources again? (“Senator urges ban on most abortions, citing civil rights,” Feb. 13.) Senate Bill 143 — co-sponsored by Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, and Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs — was unconstitutional under Roe v. Wade, which says that state regulations of abortion must include exceptions to preserve the life or health of the mother. Robbie Hobein, Denver I want to offer my support for the historical designation of the DeBoer neighborhood. Kim Griffin, Denver So, King Douglas Bruce doesn’t think the massive snowstorms Denver has recently endured constitutes a “dire emergency” and that the city’s TABOR reserve should be “virtually untouchable”? (“Icy Denver needs the money, but TABOR reserve is frozen,” Feb. 15.) Marguerite King, Paonia The Rocky article of Feb. 8, “Bill tackles ethics law woes,” concerned the introduction of a legislative bill to fix the obvious problems of Amendment 41 — namely, the unintended consequences of limiting prizes and scholarships and other awards given to public employees. Bob Payne, Parker If there was discernible progress to be made in Iraq, it would have been made by now. All we see is chaos and civil war. Initially, I believed that we broke it and had to buy it, but, really, the president broke it and servicemen are being asked to buy it ... with their lives. Not fair and not just. Michael Neil, Denver I can’t decide whether the new Rocky is trying to be a supermarket tabloid, a Sunday news magazine or a comic book. Bits of all three probably. Whatever it is, it is a lot less. J. Bagan, Loveland I have just returned to London, having spent an enjoyable week with my brother, sister-in-law and young nephew in Colorado Springs. Mark F. Dillon, London In the Jan. 20 Rocky Mountain News, we saw the usual negative news on the front page. Yes, gangs are a serious problem, and one that must be addressed. However, buried in the paper is some truly good news: 13-year-old Emma Vickland gave the winnings from the sale of her champion hog to the two boys in Berthoud who lost their legs! Gary Landrum, Littleton Our thanks go out to the Rocky Mountain News and writer Myung Oak Kim for the sensitive and true article the Rocky published on Jan. 23 about the Holocaust survivors living in Denver (“Holocaust survivors hope their stories outlive them”). Miriam and Fred Hoffman, Denver Rocky Mountain News writer Kevin Vaughan was a skilled writer and storyteller when he was a journalist several years ago in Fort Collins, and it’s clear he’s only gotten better. What a spellbinding, descriptive, remarkable work is “The Crossing.” Thanks to everyone involved, including those directly affected by the accident, for sharing it with us. Mike Vogl, Fort Collins Good grief! Enough already about “The Crossing.” The Rocky is supposed to be a newspaper — and the operative word is “news.” To go on endlessly, day after day, about something that happened decades ago is absurd. Jerome Oakley, Littleton It would be interesting to know how many hundreds of cumulative hours of televised Anna Nicole Smith coverage has occurred since her death. Steve Flaniken, Littleton At last we get to hear a dissenting view in the global warming debate! (“A political climate,” Ross McKitrick’s piece of Feb. 10.) Jim Mulholland, Denver Ross McKitrick, in the lead commentary in the Feb. 10 Rocky Mountain News, suggested that “many” experts disagree with the summary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report that global warming is very likely due to a human- caused increase in greenhouse gases. Stephen Midson, Denver After all these weeks of Denver’s bickering and finger-pointing about snow removal, I’m now watching with interest the aftermath of the dramatic snowfall in upstate New York. I wonder if any of Denver’s administrative staff are paying attention to gain some experience with massive snowfall and the resulting removal. M.E. Smith, Denver Allen Campbell of Colorado Springs writes: I don’t know if Regional Transportation District Director Dave Ruchman made up a story about someone who was made “uncomfortable” by a reference to God in the RTD oath or not (“RTD director asks that ‘God’ be cut from oath of office,” Feb. 14). It doesn’t matter if someone was “uncomfortable” with a reference to God. The fact is, God is part of our heritage as Americans. Lance Gillis, Westminster John Conlin missed some key points in his Feb. 12 Speakout advocating an end to employer-based health insurance (“Get employers out of health-care picture”). Dennis Bronstein, Denver Regarding your article of Feb. 12 about Acen Phillips — Phillips pretends to be concerned with helping the underdog and the only person he really helps is Acen. Vivian Taylor, Aurora We’ve trusted his leadership and promises for six years and are reaping the benefits today: an Iraq on its way to stability, outsourcing of labor giving us more leisure time, insourcing guest workers for jobs Americans won’t do, a border policy that showcases the North American Union, and, at long last, la oportunidad de ser verdaderamente un pais bilingue y multicultural (the opportunity for a truly bilingual and multicultural country). That mandate we gave him is almost accomplished! Let’s not give up! Georgie, you’re doing a heck of a job! Rich McLean, Aurora So the city of Denver might have to raid the general fund reserve for street repairs, shortly after City Council voted to hold an unnecessary special election last month to “fix” the Election Commission, at a cost of nearly $700,000. Aimee Rathburn, Denver For many years I was proud of 12 years served on the school board of Cherry Creek . Now that racists — or at least those who sound like racists — have been put in charge of a diversity program I wonder how the district can expect to be the example of tolerance it was (“Diversity drivel,” On Point, Feb. 7). Robert Lipton, Lakewood In the Feb. 14 Rocky Mountain News, there was a long story on the supposed excesses of Jefferson County Commissioner Jim Congrove (“Jeffco commissioner takes colleague’s actions to task”). Russell W. Haas, Golden I see where Al Gore may be up for a Nobel Peace Prize. He would be joining such erstwhile stalwarts as Yasser Arafat, Kofi Annan and Jimmy Carter. Wow! Way to go, Al! Ed Dean, Windsor With apartment or Condo rents in the Denver metro area listed as averaging $850.00 per month (kick it to $1,000 furnished); and our out of town legislators receiving $1,000 a month more than local political electorates, why should they be given another $6,000 a year tax free? To pretend that such bright persons are residing in $100 a night hotels is an insult to those who elected you. Given that a family of four could eat well on the other thousand a month all State legislators receive ($49 to $99 per diem a day while legislature is in session), and that the $30,000 a year they receive for their six (6) months of legislative service is probably average full year wages for their rural constituents (and should support their house at home without working the other six months of the year) a further grab for public funding is just laziness to fund a six month party without working. Government wage, benefit and retirement packages need to more rationally reflect those of the constituents they proport to serve. $42,000 for six months of meetings, much of it tax free, is almost triple the median wage of the State. If you wish to remain on the public dole, and you’d rather be out performing public works for less money; such as shoveling snow, picking up trash, policing the population, putting out fires, teaching our young or filling pot holes; let us know. This letter has not been edited. Tim Vronay of Clifton writes: Hank Riehl of Lone Tree writes: Jason Leroy M. Martinez of Denver writes: George Martin of Arvada writes: Linda Lunbeck of Longmont writes: George Lilly of Denver writes: Pete Klammer of Wheat Ridge writes: This letter has not been edited. Chris Kennedy of Lakewood writes: This letter has not been edited. Robert Johnson of Thornton writes: Greg Horak of Aurora writes: This letter has not been edited. David Hakala of Denver writes: Greg Frost of Boulder writes: This letter has not been edited. Robert E. Forman of Lakewood writes: Kay Cox of Northglenn writes: This letter has not been edited. David Cook of Loveland writes: Richard Colwell of Parker writes: Steve Clayton (retired USMC captain) of Colorado Springs writes: Carolyn Bninski of Boulder writes: Rena Bloom, N.D., president of the Colorado Association of Naturopathic Physicians, writes: Rich Bird of Fort Collins writes: Mike Archer of Golden writes: This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. The Feb. 8 Rocky editorial, “Taking aim at RTD,” represents a one-sided view of labor policy. Gov. Bill Ritter will probably sign a bill limiting the percentage of bus routes under private contract. This will cancel the Republican mandate that 50 percent of those routes be under contract. Ritter’s signing will show fairness to working people. David E. Wilson, Denver The banner headline, articles and editorials in the Feb. 10 Rocky Mountain News make it appear to be a big surprise that Gov. Bill Ritter would do the right thing concerning the veto of HB 1072. Mark C. Pautler, Lakewood I read with interest Tina Griego’s recent Border Street piece about those here illegally who are dodging deportation from the United States (“Dreams percolate while they dodge deportation,” Feb. 15). I thought the column was quite informative until I read the part where Maria questions her husband about what “gringos” do after they come home and do not come back outside. His answer was “watch TV.” The racial dig toward those of Anglo descent is hard to miss. I did not find the printing of these comments appropriate nor were they appreciated. Janet Jenkins, Greeley Has anybody else noticed that the potholes in wintertime are mostly on asphalt roads? When you take into account the total long-term costs (including automobile damage, repair of potholes, etc.) involved with this material, I think it would be a better to use concrete for the majority of our public highways. Even if it costs a little more, I would pay higher taxes to cover the difference to save me the aggravation of potholes. Gerry Grodecki, Aurora When I saw the snowplow and the grader circle my block in December, I knew it was inevitable that the snow would be piled up in front of my driveway. People who do not know how to drive in the snow at some point end up in a ditch, or, as Speakout author Denny Dressman put it This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. 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Agriculture can withstand many challenges — weather (cold, freezes, hail, wind, drought), insects, diseases, low prices — but not the challenges of government: The change of water policies and new regulations requiring agriculture to replace water used up to 30 years ago and proof of a six-year future water reserve is an insurmountable requirement for farmers to begin pumping their wells again. John Martindale, Platteville It appears that the sun will finally do what most metro area public works departments could not for the past seven weeks. Remove the snow and ice from the streets. Many words have been exchanged between frustrated citizens whose family sedans have been scraping bottom on rutted-ice streets and public servants charged with said removal. Mark S. Griffith, Parker As a parent of twin high school seniors applying for scholarships, I was dismayed by Vincent Carroll’s On Point column item on Amendment 41 (“No wiggle room,” Feb. 15). Bill Hurd, Grand Junction Letter writer David Gill couldn’t be more wrong. Gill, vice president of the Colorado State Shooting Association, publicly accused State Rep. Al White of “asking for a totally unrestricted, unprotected statewide database of law-abiding citizens for no practical purpose other than to compile a list of gun-owners” (“Law-abiding gun owners targeted,” Feb. 13). Sheriff Joe Pelle, Sheriff Doug Darr Sheriff Grayson Robinson County Sheriffs of Colorado After reading the Feb. 1 Rocky article “English-proficiency bill ripped by Dems,” I must say I am about to become a registered independent. These Dems are driving me crazy coddling Hispanic immigrants. Now they don’t want them to be required to be proficient in English in order to graduate. Why do my grandchildren have to be proficient in order to get the very same diploma? Tudy Taylor, Aurora The study of the Columbus Day holiday suggested by Sen. Suzanne Williams is long overdue (“Columbus Day name may change,” Jan. 23). Many people of color feel disenfranchised because the state of Colorado pays its employees (with our tax dollars) for a day off that honors an individual whose actions resulted in great havoc and massive loss to their peoples. Lori Windle, Lafayette The dilemma: A group of law-abiding people want to participate in a parade to honor Christopher Columbus, considered to be a national hero, but are confronted by a group of lawbreaking, violent, vulgar thugs who have vowed to stop the parade by whatever means. Elizabeth Morgan, Arvada Imagine a Democratic convention in a city of graffiti. Leroy M. Martinez, Denver This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. The Molkerie (milk barn) in Denver’s Montclair Park was designed c. 1898 as a health facility for citizens suffering from lung disease. It was there in 1899 and 1903 when my great-grandfathers, Will O’Shea and James McCarthy, died from consumption (lung disease). It was there in 1921 when my grandfather built his house in the 1500 block Ulster. It was there when I was a child who played in the park surrounding the edifice. And, it was there in 1987 when I was a Denver police sergeant who, at the request of the Montclair neighborhood organization, came to speak about the gang problem in Denver. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. S This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. Congratulations to Gov. Bill Ritter on his veto of HB 1072. He has displayed his true colors — yellow, surrounded by red, and I thank him for helping to decide who I won’t be voting for in the next governor’s election. Doug Barker, Fort Morgan In the recent article, “Police chief’s pick stuns black leaders” (Feb. 8), I see that black police officers are shocked and Latino police officers are happy yet want more. But I have not heard from the White Police Officers Association on what they think. Oh, that’s right, this type of group would be considered racist. Stephanie Park, Denver Charles Krauthammer’s Feb. 5 column, “Blame America first and last,” is an attempt to distract us from the catastrophe that Bush and the neo-cons have created. They took us into an illegal war against a country that was not a threat to the U.S. Ron Forthofer, Longmont The Rocky’s Linda Seebach (“Reaching out to Christians on evolution,” Feb. 10) thinks that the Discovery Institute’s announcement of 700 scientists who now dispute Darwin’s theory of evolution on scientific grounds is trumped by 10,555 signatures on a letter by clergy who think evolution is just fine. Bruce Chapman, Seattle Like the Rocky Mountain News (“Green light for cabbies,” Jan. 29), I’m glad Rep. Jerry Frangas has introduced House Bill 1114, which would partially free up the taxi industry. But why did it take a legislator’s personal hardship (he and his wife not being able to find a cab on New Year’s Eve) to make this happen? It often seems as if our liberties are utterly disposable unless our ruling-class mandarins are directly affected. That’s just not right. Will Devanter, Wheat Ridge In a recent broadcast interview (Feb. 5 on CBS 4), Sen. Ken Salazar discussed his proposal to redeploy U.S. forces to Iraq’s borders. Their mission would be to prevent foreign infiltration and ensure the sovereignty of Iraq. Perhaps the senator would consider the same option for this country. If it’s good enough for Iraq, isn’t it good enough for the United States? Alan Hale, Brighton In the election of 2000, the city of Littleton asked its voters to forgo their TABOR refunds in order to purchase the Central Construction property as “open space ... that will serve to protect South Platte Park (Littleton Report, August, 2003).” Cassandra Medrano, Littleton Let Amendment 41 be a lesson to Colorado voters. Do not vote for the sound bite! Chad Otto, Littleton In general, I feel rather neutral about the changes I see in the Rocky Mountain News; most are fine. There is one change, however, that I find extremely negative: the overall look and readability of the Spotlight section. Pam Faro, Broomfield In regard to your new paper layout: I think it is grand. I can sit in my chair and hold it without it coming apart. I like the new type. If people cannot read it, they need new glasses. The new paper is such a pleasure to read. I like the way it is so informative. Disregard all the fogies who cannot like any item that is new. Charles Smith, Denver I am reaching out to those whose powerful and positive influence can make a difference and hope that they can put an end to the prejudice, badgering and racial injustice KHOW radio talk-show host Peter Boyles encourages toward the Latin community. Norah Fisher, Grand Junction A few months ago, Rocky writer Gary Massaro wrote an article about the life of my late mother, Mary Rita Marcinko. Mary Michele Kane, Aurora I almost married a chick from Texas twice (in different decades) and swore I’d never fall in love with one again. Grant D. Cyrus, Boulder I am completely disappointed in the manner which the Rocky Mountain News handled its coverage of the death of Patricia Wilkins-Wells (“Hypothermia was caused by acute alcohol intoxication,” Feb. 6). The article lacks consideration and respect and completely misinterprets the quotes from Katie Wilkins-Wells, her 16-year-old daughter. Sarah McWhirt, Fort Collins In regard to the diversity program and the language used at the Cherry Creek schools (“Diversity drivel,” On Point, Feb. 7): Why should we put up with the hateful nonsense set forth in this flawed attempt at diversity? MaryGrace Barrick, Arvada Jared Polis is a hypocrite. He’s against the notion of money being used to influence political decisions in Colorado — that is, unless it’s his (or maybe Pat Stryker’s) money (“GOP’s May says Polis ‘threatening’ in Amendment 41 talk,” Feb. 9). He’s all about improving the quality and accessibility of education in Colorado, but somehow missed the language in Amendment 41 that would prohibit some students from accepting merit scholarships. Vicky Green, Boulder In his column of Feb. 2, “Is the boss overpaid?” Mike Rosen falsely implied that Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., wants CEO pay regulated by the government — a blatant distortion. In fact, it’s been Frank’s longstanding position that executive pay should be left to a corporation’s shareholders, not the government, to regulate. Mike Freed, Parker This letter has not been edited This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. I This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. As a former high school industrial education teacher trained as a driver’s education instructor, I could not agree more with Denny Dressman’s Speakout commentary of Jan. 28, “Upside down in a ditch? Here’s how it happens.” Richard Becker, Broomfield With almost 15,000 head of cattle dead and dying from the horrible snowstorms in southern Colorado, the government (with hearty approval of Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter) is rolling out money for farmers. The morality of it all is appalling. Farmers are offered money from the taxpayers because the government gets interest on their loans and holds farmers under its financial wing for years thereafter, taking their farms if they can’t pay. Linda Nelson, Boulder Recently, in Washington, D.C., the anti-war protesters were yelling that the Iraq war was another Vietnam War. In a least one way they were right. Ernest M. Duckworth Jr., Sedalia President Bush continues to state that for our military to leave Iraq “would be devastating to the United States.” This is just another untruthful and misleading statement. Robert W. Steller, Larkspur Sen. Wayne Allard’s vote with the GOP recently to bar a vote on the Iraq war resolution was disgraceful. The American people are demanding an end to the war, but Allard and the rest won’t even allow the Senate to vote on the matter. William Hambric, Broomfield Mike Rosen thinks that due to inflation, Colorado casinos should increase the $5 betting limit (“Time to up the ante,” Jan. 25). Jay Lillien, Denver In its editorial of Feb. 1, “End cable monopolies,” the Rocky says that the fact that Qwest gets hundreds of millions of dollars in government subsidies “has nothing to do with” the issue of whether Qwest should be allowed preferential treatment if it offers cable TV. Dara Collins, Denver San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom should have listened to Solomon, who wrote years ago, “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished” (Proverbs 6:27-29). Jay Moyers, Centennial So now we have a mother, whose son died after being Tasered by the police, intending to sue the city of Lafayette for $22 million (“Mother plans to sue,” Briefing, Feb. 5). The son was breaking the law, so what grounds are there for the lawsuit? Joseph G. Martinez, Brighton I just had to respond to all the letters from people trying to blame someone, anyone, for the back-to-back blizzards that brought our state to a standstill. You can’t blame anyone — it’s an act of nature! Get over it! Sue Mercer, Denver In its recent editorial “Let the young serve” (Jan. 31), the Rocky said, “Yes, some 18-year-olds are uninformed and immature, but others have taken on adult responsibilities and carry them out faithfully and well. The antics of the first group aren’t grounds for limiting the opportunities of those in the second group.” W.T. Cathey is a resident of Boulder. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. I am the only one? Dan Pula This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. The subject is nursing crisis. As an OR.NO. I have left the profession since moving here from California due to the intolerable attitude of the hospitals and their management in this state. Nurses are not respected, overworked and underpaid. No labor law in this state only compounds this problem. The attitude is literally, if you don't like it, there is the door! I did not spend 10 years in school to be treated like this. How dare they! I offered sound and compassionate nursing care to my patients, but always fought the battle of who needed me less. There are only so many things one can do in a shift, and if the load is 125% this means someone is going to get left. Hospitals need to wake up! I'm afraid greed, power, and corruption of thought is at the core of the thinking. If I saw the law being broken over things that should not occur, or if it was a hostile work environment, who can I go to. It's discussing. Colorado ought to be ashamed! Sound labor law protecting the employees from capricious managers, and in the field of healthcare, nurse/patient ratios needs to occur. Truthfully, I'm sorry I moved here. Colorado needs to come into the 21st century. Anonymous This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. Jared Polis and Common Cause just don’t get it. People voted for Amendment 41 because of loose interpretations of laws. It is terrible and unfortunate some of the results of the way this constitutional amendment was worded, but it is now law. This law is part of our constitution, and not subject to easy amendment. So when Common Cause’s Jenny Flanagan says the amendment is being too strictly interpreted, well, sorry. Scott Strohmeier, Arvada Ironic, isn’t it. On the one hand, you have state legislators refusing to fix Amendment 41, because they are afraid to “go against the will of the voters.” On the other hand, you have state legislators pushing through Senate Bill 46, designed to circumvent the Electoral College, after “the will of the voters” was clearly expressed by the rejection of a similar bill in 2004. The irony does not escape me, anyway. John N. Hansen, Denver President Bush’s proposal to tax health insurance should be identified for what it is: a tax on small- and medium-size businesses and their employees. The health plans with the richest “gold” are usually large employers (such as the federal government) which can command steep discounts in the insurance market based on their total premium dollars. Dan Fishbein, Arvada This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. That our current system of health care is less than perfect is beyond question. However, Rocky columnist Paul Campos’ assertion that it is “as clear an example of market failure as one could hope to find” is patently false (“Our sickly health care,” Jan. 30). Katherine Konopka, Englewood In his Jan. 23 column, “Soul-crippling wealth,” Paul Campos quotes the Gospel of Mark: “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” Ben Tucker, Lone Tree Shame on Rep. Al White for introducing a bill (House Bill 1174) that would treat honest, law-abiding holders of concealed handgun permits the same as criminals by placing their names and personal information in a statewide law enforcement database (“New bills,” Jan. 25). David Gill, I am so tired of hearing Americans whine! C. Trujillo, Lakewood I would like to comment on President Bush’s approach toward America’s “confrontation of the challenges of global climate change” during his recent State of the Union address. Kristian Cowden, Aurora In his State of the Union address, the “decider-in-chief” asked for American citizens to give his escalation of war a chance. Leon Rodriguez, Denver Regarding Vincent Carroll’s On Point item of Jan. 31, “Suffer the children,” I’m confused: Exactly how many children fathered by other men is Carroll currently paying child support for? If the answer is none, I am sure we can find some who could use his help. Step up to the plate, Mr. Carroll, or stop advocating a financial death sentence for men who can prove their nonpaternity. James Hoople, Westminster I’m not a constituent of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, but I do have some suggestions for him regarding snow removal. Jim Bernath, Englewood This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. As a historian who has always considered Abraham Lincoln our greatest president, This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. Is letter writer Liz Wolfson An article in the Jan. 31 issue of the Rocky reports on the alleged muzzling by the administration of scientists wanting to speak their mind on the subject of climate change (“U.S. climate scientists can’t speak freely, Congress told”). A congressional oversight committee is investigating these allegations and, true to the script of how these committees appear to function, progress to date has produced mostly claims, counterclaims and statements of outright obfuscation for the public’s consumption. Lou Bindner, Denver I need to respond to the Rocky article of Feb. 3, “Western droughts could become norm.” It takes sixth-grade science and an ounce of common sense to put it in perspective. We know that climate change over centuries is about the equivalent of weather change from day to day. To think that we can predict climate change when we can’t predict the weather for tomorrow is ridiculous. One sunspot that we will not even know about until the light reaches us will change our climate more than man has since he learned to build a fire. Keith Sharpe, Commerce City Some have recently suggested the very bad idea of moving the caucus date up to February in 2008. There is a very simple solution to the current controversy over George W. Bush’s desire to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq. Tommy Holeman, Boulder Unless you wish to feel viciously insulted as an American Jew, don’t go to see the Denver Center Theatre Company’s production of 1001. In this contrived effort, there is neither meaningful plot nor development of character. Instead of authentic drama we are presented with the stereotypes of Jews and Muslims, and the violent rendering of a religious Jew. Marilyn Kopelman, Greenwood Village So, it turns out that the 2-year-old computer system for administering welfare benefits in Colorado doesn’t work, and Democratic state lawmakers can’t wait to assign the blame to the already-exited Owens administration (“Hearing eyes benefits woes,” Jan. 18). The Rocky Mountain News story of Feb. 6, “Rachel Noel: ‘If you're right, you don't give up,’” was very selective in its placement of praise on Noel as the person most responsible for the implementation of forced desegregation of Denver’s public schools. John Ebel, Littleton There can be no better illustration of the religious right’s sense of entitlement than the bill recently introduced by state Sen. Dave Schultheis (“Religion rights bill proposed for schools,” Jan. 27). Ken Kloppenborg, Lakewood It is great sadness that we note the passing of Molly Ivins. Andrew and Deborah Ross, Denver Why does Rocky media critic Jason Salzman constantly try to find scandal where none exists? Marilyn Swan, Denver In the Jan. 29 Rocky story, “Skier, 56, killed at Keystone,” the skier died from injuries not related to his head. To quote from the article: “He was conscious when he was found but was bleeding internally from blunt force injuries, Richardson said. The bleeding led to his death.” Steve Smith, Littleton The new format of the Rocky Mountain News is really sharp. The print font is easier on the eyes, and the smaller-size paper is easier to hold, if you are reading while traveling or in a waiting room. A. Hudson, Lochbuie I subscribe to the Rocky to get the news, not to be told to go online to get a complete listing (I refer to the full list of Screen Actors Guild award winners the Rocky decided not to publish on Jan. 29). Paull Kupler, Denver The morning of Jan. 23 was a joy! Everything that was promised about the new format of the Rocky was right on. It is the perfect size and the quality of print is stunning. (In the past there has always been print bleed-over from the facing page, often making concluding remarks on an article unreadable.) Howard Ewy, Denver The new format of the Rocky Mountain News at first seemed neat — and it is easier to handle — but it has distinct problems. Ron and Betty Vander Kooi, Arvada The Rocky editorial of Jan. 22, “Don’t neuter Electoral College,” says that if presidential candidates were elected by the popular vote, a candidate might campaign in a handful of metropolitan areas on the coasts, and would treat inland areas like a nuisance. Andrew Steinberg is a resident of Aurora. “Living with 41,” the Rocky Mountain News editorial of Feb. 7, blames the voters for the Amendment 41 fiasco. And it is a fiasco. However, the Rocky blames the wrong people. Allan Berger is a resident of Lakewood. Regarding a replacement for Hank Brown as CU president. Bill Harrison This letter has not been edited. Nonsense and piffle, Charles ( Krauthammer! ) The failure of this administration’s Iraq policy, contary to your Bushian logic ( “Blame America first and last,” February 5, ) is not the fault of the Iraqi people or its politicians for not taking advantage of the opportunity that our military provided for them. Rather, that failure can clearly be traced back to the failure of George W. Bush’s ( and Donald Rumsfeld’s ) failure to provide security for the Iraqi people, their homes, infrastructure, institutions and resources ( like arms caches ) during the initial invasion phase of the Saddam Hussein Assassination ( pardon me ... Iraqi War. ) Had our deciders not decided to run their caper on the cheap - in order to impress American taxpayers with their frugality - they would would have provided for a couple of hundred thousand more troops on the ground to provide control and security for the subjugated people and for our troops. R. Kiefer This letter has not been edited. Regarding Amendment 41 nullification by Romanoff (D). Bill Harrison This letter has not been edited. As Channel 4’s CBS “Reality Check” took place last night with Senator Ken Salazar, the Senator came up with his own third way of dealing with the Iraq war. He wants to put our troops out of harms way, “a secure area", along the Iraqi borders with Iran and Syria. The reason he says is to secure Iraq’s borders with them and prevent infiltration by their neighbors. George Lilly This letter has not been edited. I would like to express my concern about SB 80, HPV Vaccine Mandate. I applaud our state legislators for taking a stand for the health and welfare of our citizens. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, I am dismayed that a country that treasures freedom would use the government to force unnecessary medical treatment on our children. Lolita Hanks, RN, BSN, MS, FNP-C This letter has not been edited. ‘HOW DID WE CAUSE IRAQ CIVIL WAR ? BY NOT PREVENTING IT?’ sarcastically asks hawk Krauthammer (5Feb). Dan Lyons This letter has not been edited. On Point: “Museum Oversteps,” Feb. 6, 2007 David Hakala This letter has not been edited. Concerning Amendment 41 and the smoking debate in public places. I say that the Colorado legislators go back to school and learn how to pass a decent law. I tired of them passing laws and then amending them because of all the loopholes. Next time you push a bill through their proper channels, learn the language of the law. That is why you are there. You spend more time and monies going back and fixing your mistakes. Leroy M. Martinez This letter has not been edited. Whether or not the PUC acted within its legal authority when allowing Xcel Energy to collect now from its customers to finance the construction of the Comanche III old technology coal fired plant, it is a mistake to let the construction and operation of this plant go forward. David Down This letter has not been edited. Over the last two years I have seen several negative articles, comments in the National & local press about Senator Wayne Allard. It seems a national article will be repeated in the local press, with added offhand negative comments by local writers such as Mike Litwin. They pass along negativity probably coming from their need to put out a certain number of words on a regular basis or based on personal bias. Ernie Powell This letter has not been edited. I hope The Rocky is printing plenty of extra copies of today’s (2/6/07) paper. Steve Baur This letter has not been edited.
During the past political season, there were voices crying in the wilderness warning us to consider carefully what we were asking for in Amendment 41. We now have what we asked for. Oh, woe! Does Amendment 41 really mean what it says?
Everyone is dithering about because the chickens are coming home to roost. Legions of lawyers are assembling to corkscrew the amendment’s words into definitions that Webster’s Dictionary never knew existed. Judge
. .
Were they unable to read and comprehend their own words?
I offer this thought to
Classified ads
my problem is my income from rentals has not gone up these past few years and I have to list it for longer periods of time in some cases up to 3 months of advertising per property.
Plse reconsider your consumer needs.
Airline passengers
I once sat all night on a jet that had to land in Colorado Springs due to fog in Denver. After three very low passes over Stapleton’s runway 27 left, diverting to the low fuel alternate was fine. But we were then held hostage by the start up airline because they didn’t have credit to pay for use of a gate. Pride Air stopped flying a week later. Had they let us into the terminal we could have arranged our own ground transportation home or waited for the bus that finally arrived at 6 a.m.
A three hour time limit on the tarmac is quite reasonable. If the airline can’t observe that they can send a bus to the stranded plane and compensate every passenger with a refund of the full ticket price and a free pass, taken from the managers’ annual bonuses. That rule will keep those managers on their toes! Why should “all airlines have to have the same policies” the News asks? They don’t. Three hours is just an outside limit that airlines could then improve upon.
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Two governments
Despite this “Democratic” Congress, despite massive protests, there’s a hidden government still going full-steam with its own private agenda - corporate empire, military dominion, flouting the Constitution, fleecing America, a boom in next year’s Pentagon arms trades ($560 billion), stock gains of 30-40% for Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and General Dynamics, record sales of “discounted” weapons to small unstable countries, the suppression of information, etc. If one simply looks past the (corporate-owned) networks he sees the frightening truth.
Bush has also just signed the “Insurrection Act” allowing him to order the National Guard or military into any state in case of government revolt (“opposed” by all 50 governors) proving just how much he fears the first amendment.
The NSA is also conducting massive data-mining programs - fitting everyone into files called “biometric identifiers” and “identity cards”
Phone companies, airlines, universities, and employers are now selling (or handing over) information to the NSA on everyone.
Informed critics say we have “two years left” to save this country. It’s time for the impeachment movement to rally. It’s time to get mad and sign on. It’s time to fire, indict, convict, and save America. That’s being patriotic!
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The Rocky
Fred Hammer of Parker writes:
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Littleton Wal-Mart
We deserve so much better than this.
Dixie Chicks
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Anna Nicole Smith
2) Watching this judge with the bright studio lighting bouncing off of his bald head conduct this hearing explains why the U.S. Supreme Court had to step in and stop the Florida recount in 2000.
3) If they don’t hurry up and bury the decomposing body of poor Anna Nicole, there will be little left for the funeral service except for some bones and a couple of sacks of silicone.
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Electoral College
Blomberg forgets that we live under a ‘Representative Democracy’ not an actual democracy. Congress is made up of 535 elected representatives not 300,000,000 voting individuals. In fact, those Congressional seats (and consequently the number of Electoral votes) are now and have always been, awarded based on relative population. The key word there being ‘relative’ as would be related to ‘representative’.
Under Blomberg’s ‘pay to play’ tax system, people would be financially motivated to move to the tax-subsidized states of: New York, Florida, Illinois and California, thereby further exacerbating the population disparity between the big and small states, which would in turn, further increase the tax incentives for folks to abandon the small states.
On the other hand, if states with the greatest populations were proportionately assessed for tax expenditures such as: national defense, low income assistance programs, education and administration, much of Blomberg’s tax disparity would be equalized. Perhaps those living in the big population states should be charged proportionately higher fees for: energy, food and telecommunications & programming services, since they produce so little yet consume so much.
Maybe the founders, who created the Electoral College, understood the value of ‘representative government’ as opposed to ‘a government of individuals’ and perhaps we should have the wisdom to avoid the temptation to tinker with it.
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DeBoer neighborhood
We, S.R. De Boer’s Family, feel that for the last year, we have been basically ignored by members of the community and the city.
We, S.R. De Boer’s Family were never asked about this designation by ANYONE.
We, S.R. De Boer’s Family have been treated with disrespect and disdain.
We, S.R. De Boer’s Family, know that this property DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA for designation, as determined by the LPC and the PLANNING BOARD.
We, S.R. De Boer’s Family, would like you to visit our property and see for yourselves what all the fuss is about.
Please do this, and then make your decision based on the facts.
We hope you will see this for what it is, and reject the entire district.
Thank you, and please register this e-mail as an AGAINST vote for this HOSTILE DESIGNATION.
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Wells Fargo
John Crowley of Denver writes:
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9/11
School vouchers
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Free market?
Rosen is correct to say, “[T]he remedy certainly isn’t more government meddling,” but does he really think we live in a free
Many more people will come to understand the justice and fairness of the free market if only we admit that we currently don’t have one.
Smog
For those of us dealing with respiratory problems, Denver’s smog problem is all-too-familiar. Every day, we look for the daily ozone alert to tell if it’s safe to be active, or even to go outside. For many, smog is literally a matter of life and death.
For our children with asthma, it may be a matter of going to a soccer game or going to the emergency room. My son and both of my grandsons have asthma. In all cases, smog is something no Denver citizen should be forced to endure.
If scientifically recommended smog standards were adopted, federal regulations would classify the Denver area as severely polluted. Instead, Denver’s air is classified as clean. The standards have not changed, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore our pollution problem, and the
DeBoer neighborhood
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Lafayette vote
There are already six Lowe’s stores within a 14-mile radius of Lafayette, and all of them are next to highways or within major commercial centers. Placing this behemoth in a greenbelt between two residential areas
Constitution Act of 2007
Leroy Quet of Denver writes:
PLEASE support the much-needed (and truthfully named) legislation put forth by Senator Dodd, the “Restoring The Constitution Act Of 2007".
And at the very least, please help publicize this very important legislation. Hopefully then the opponents of Dodd’s bill will be embarrassed when Americans realize just how unAmerican and, yes, UNpatriotic they truly are!
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Bush administration
John Kelly of Lafayette writes:
of late, rather than using the more conventional term “shot down.”
So what will the venerable fourth estate do about a Republican administration that lies through its teeth daily?
Look for embarassing articles about Democrats and print them without verification, of course.
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The Rocky
George Hills of Lakewood writes:
I liked having the Movie Review in the Friday “Spotlight.” Please start up the Movie Review Section in the Friday Spotlite.
How much longer will the “Crossing” history lesson go on? Enough already. Ten “Chapters” was plenty.
To “trade some space” so to speak, and eliminate something so as to be in line with the effort to be more “Cost Effective,” you could cut out all the columnists - they are all pretty much irrelevant in their writing on the topics with which they have chosen to bore us all. Along the same line, you could cut the Colorado Rockies coverage by two thirds, given that they are currently are, at best, a AA Ballclub for which the locals have been conned into paying Major League Ticket Prices.
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The universe
Wells F. Harvey of Denver writes:
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The Rocky
Howard Doerr of Greenwood Village writes:
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Rocky plays into cynical Dems’ hands
In fact, it is Majority Leader Harry Reid and his troops who are refusing to debate. They will not allow the alternative resolution by New Hampshire Republican Sen. Judd Gregg to be voted on, which calls for a cutoff in funding for the war.
This resolution eliminates the hypocrisy. Instead of a meaningless and nonbinding resolution opposing the troop buildup, it would bring the troops home and surrender the fight.
The Democrats don’t want to have to go on record as being in favor of cutting off funding. They just want to harvest the political capital from a compliant press, without having to take an actual, meaningful stand.
The idiot wing
Not so. We all live in America, whether we are politically right or left. You can lay the blame for the civil war, if you will, on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who has been dead for more than eight months. But al-Qaida never would have gotten into Iraq if Bush hadn’t gone to war.
Lay the blame not on America, but the idiot wing of the Republican Party which nominated our two-headed President, George Walker Cheney.
English is our tongue
The Democrats say it would cost too much and the money would have to be shifted from scarce resources. I disagree.
What is wrong here? Are we not in America? English is our language.
John Wren of Denver writes:
What an outrageous way to spend city funds! What is the justification for this? Government should do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, public safety, health, education, transportation needs. What’s next, a circus?
The Mayor needs to be replaced in the May elections, and we need fresh faces to serve on the City Council.
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Illegal immigration
Don Wrege of Boulder writes:
For Mr. Hernandez’s information, Reagan was quoted as saying that he regretted signing the bill, and that it was the worst mistake of his political career. Illegal immigration actually increased as a result, but that’s exactly what Hernandez promotes, so I can see how he thinks The Great Communicator “got it right” by getting it wrong. Another amnesty (or “comprehensive solution,” as they refer to it) would have the same disastrous effects - only multiplied exponentially.
I, on the other hand, have a one-pronged approach to solving the illegal immigration problem: enforce the laws currently on the books.
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The Rocky
simplistically told readers to get new glasses, the smaller print will
continue to be a problem as will the smudged pictures, etc. If the
Rocky’s goal is to lose its faithful readers with a smaller paper, also
with less content, I predict it will win and will, eventually, go out of
business.
with sometimes ignorant, irresponsible AND unsigned (except for
nicknames) blogs being printed. To print them seems an ill informed
attempt to gain opinionated readers.
easily accountable -since they must commit their stories to print. This
makes them inherently more responsible than bloggers and radio talk jocks
as well as radio and TV newscasters. But, as a sociologist, I see most
of the media, including tabloid newspapers, trying to please an
increasingly politically divided population. They reach for a lowest
common denominator. This is a sad reflection both on the media and on
American society.
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Handicap parking
Joseph G. Martinez of Brighton writes:
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Snow removal
Leroy M. Martinez of Denver writes:
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Molly Bloom
Leroy M. Martinez of Denver writes:
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Paul Campos
Keith Maranville of Aurora writes:
It is this very head in the sand mentality that will someday will have Hitler the 2nd sitting in some third world country with the capability to destroy us all. So please check your history before spewing the Democratic line of no WMD’s Mr. Campos.
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Campos, Reynolds & Churchill
Robert Lipton of Lakewood writes:
Certainly both are entitled to say what they wish however hateful. Is Campos questioning their right to speak out. It was not Churchills speech that was sanctioned but his scholastic pretentions , when one draws enemies he must expect to have his vita and work examined.
Dog attack
Bob Johnson of Denver/Thornton writes:
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Iraq war
Tommy Holeman of Boulder writes:
If the Bush twins and Mary Cheney follow his example, we’ll see our troops home sooner than later.
If they follow their respective Daddys’ examples, they’ll chicken out and invest in Haliburton.
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Musgrave & DeGette
Ed Dean of Windsor writes:
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Campaign ’08
Jim Bernath of Englewood writes:
Iraq war
Wayne Wathen of Highlands Ranch writes:
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Livestock losses
Susan Ueblacker of Lakewood writes:
I was wondering if farmers and ranchers read the Farmers Almanac?
If they did, then they would be better prepared for the next winter storm and lessen the loss of their livestock. I would like to think that they would anticipate such disasters happening.
It was so sad to hear just how many livestock were lost in the last blizzard.
Hopefully, they will be in a better position to take care of them when the next storm hits in March.
Maybe we should have all farmers and ranchers subscribe to the Farmers Almanac, so they will be more knowledgeable about our weather changes.
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Iraq war
Brian Stuckey of Denver writes:
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Troops vs. terrorists
Brian Stuckey of Denver writes:
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The Rocky
Robert Ryan of Estes Park writes:
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Paul Campos
Joanne Ross of Sacramento, Calif., writes:
The RMN editors deserve the praise to balance the many uncivil, even vicious comments and letters from right-wing ideologues objecting to Mr. Campos’ column of 02/20/07, “The right’s Ward Churchill.”
Odd that so many of these uncivil commentors have reading comprehension problems, and a feeble grasp of English grammar and spelling. They don’t appear capable of reading a well written newspaper like the RMN.
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Columbus Day
Elizabeth Morgan of Arvada writes:
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Global warming
Bill Horton of Fort Collins writes:
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New dollar coin
Larry Hoffenberg of Evergreen writes:
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Democratic convention coverage
Pam Gency of Denver writes:
An obvious concern is the traffic, and another reasonable concern is airport accessibility. I can even understand why someone would question what impact the event would have, if any, on taxpayers and TV schedules.
What threw me was the question about a “favorite strip club being overrun.” You mean to tell me that there were no additional questions — more appropriate ones that would answer the wider population’s concerns about the impact the event would have on residents’ every day lives?! As if, first of all, there is an “entitlement” by the question-poser in particular and to men in general to all thing “sex related.” Second, everyone knows what escort services are for. I thought prostitution was illegal in Colorado! The response is so matter-of-fact in its reply involving the exploitation of the female gender. What about the wives and girlfriends back home who’s significant others will be in Denver for the convention, frequenting strip clubs and arranging for sex through an escort service? Is there no shame? No fidelity?
So it sounds like Denver’s sex business will see a boon thanks to the married, engaged or involved men who will most likely lie or lie about cheating and participating in this seedy, illegal activity while here in August 2008.
And guys wonder why women don’t trust them and think they’re pigs.
Iraq war
Tom Cooley of Parker writes:
To those who say they “support the troops” but oppose the war: If you believe the troops are carrying out an immoral purpose, why would you support them? You would want the troops to stop what they are doing and leave the place where they are doing it. You’d hardly want to keep their morale high. If the pro-war crowd must demand illogic on the part of their opponents, something is wrong with their case. The debate should be over the nature and purpose of the war. Leave the troops out of it. The only support they are due is a trip home.
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Iraq
Marvin Collier of Denver writes:
After Saddam’s overturn, truck van trailers were displayed lined up for over a block, stacked from floor to ceiling, forward and aft with pallets tightly wrapped $100.00 bills. Palace base - stacked with gold bars, gold water fixtures, gilden gold everywhere. Whooosh!
Now Bush wants a trillion dollars to bail out Iraq, excuse me, am I missing something here? To aptly coin a phrase from a rock albumn, "we gotta get out of this place." No more money, no more soldiers. Whooosh!
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Ban an outrageous violation of liberty
Proponents of the smoking ban use the premise that they are acting on behalf of nonsmoking patrons and employees of mom-and-pop bars and private clubs such as the VFW, Elks, Moose and others. The logic behind this government nannyism doesn’t wash.
Even though I’m a potential patron, I choose to not frequent many establishments for personal reasons, safety and health concerns among them. As a potential employee, I choose not to seek certain employment for the same reasons.
Likewise, owners and proprietors of legally operating establishments should not have a basic part of their businesses abolished due to rules made up by some mother hens in the government.
I am a fully grown adult and I should be allowed to choose what legal activities I allow in my establishment, who I want to patronize and who I choose to work for, without government interference.
The smoking ban is an outrageous violation of our personal freedom of choice!
Questions for foe of Columbus Day
This is the same Glenn Morris who in 1993 stated “We will never allow another Columbus Day parade in Denver.” I and many others were appalled with the use of the word “allow.” This is America.
This is the same Glenn Morris who sat in a meeting hall with Italian-Americans and a very well respected Indian named Richard Tallbull, and never responded when Tallbull pointed his finger at him and stated, “You do not represent my people.”
This is the same Glenn Morris who, when asked to meet with the Italian-American community and give us indisputable proof supporting his allegations about Columbus, never responded to our request.
It is well known this dispute is an undeclared war against the European white man for coming to these shores.
My questions for Morris — who professes he is a spokesperson for the Native Americans: Are those people on the reservations better off today because you are protesting our parade? Why don’t you spend quality time with the children on the reservations? Then you will be doing something constructive and not spewing hate in these troubled times.
Lauding emergency contraception bill
Since EC is 90 percent effective at preventing pregnancy and more than half of pregnancies resulting from rape end in abortion, I would hope that an ardent abortion opponents would support telling women about this medication. Religiously affiliated hospitals would neither have to prescribe nor dispense EC since Plan B is now available from pharmacies without a prescription. The Catholic Church did not voice any opposition at the Senate hearing.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ bulletin “Acute Care of Sexual Assault Victims” states “Emergency contraception should be offered to all victims of sexual assault.” All Coloradans should support this compassionate measure.
Court-martial crucial
By preventing the true reason for Watada’s conduct from being the heard, Army officials are being sophisticated and clever but they are betraying our country, our soldiers and themselves.
We will find out if our military has been transformed from defenders of the United States into mindless, order-following mercenaries that from time to time get out of control.
We’re all better off from ‘old warming’
I somehow had the impression that it began about 10,000 years B.B. (Before Bush) when the great glaciers covered most of North America north of the 40th parallel. (For those of you in The Peoples Republic of Boulder, that is Baseline Road.)
This “old warming” has been a great boon to the 150 million Americans and 25 million Canadians who live on land exposed by the melting ice. Left behind are five wonderful Great Lakes and millions of acres of beautifully sculptured land dotted with freshwater lakes, lovely forests and fields full of grain.
We are not sure what the rise in “mean sea-level” was that resulted from all this melting, but we are certain that people somehow learned to thrive in a world forever changed for the better.
Err on side of safety
Dustup over Pelosi’s plane is history
While it is true that former Speaker Dennis Hastert used a smaller jet for his travel, it is also true that the plane used was capable of reaching his district in Illinois without refueling. Isn’t Pelosi entitled to the same level of security?
Why is this controversial? It’s not unless you are looking for a convenient way to smear a Democratic speaker of the House. Even Tony Snow, White House press secretary, has gone on record as saying that this brouhaha is “unfair to the speaker.”
Now can we get back to talking about important things like, oh, I don’t know — Iraq?
Bush kids avoid duty
The article goes further — the prince is not doing desk duty, but will be deployed in the combat zone as leader of a troop of 12 soldiers spending days or weeks on desert missions along the Iran-Iraq border.
Among nieces, nephews and daughters, there are 10 Bush kids — where are they?
They are not only not in Iraq, they aren’t even in the military — what does this say about the Bush commitment to this war?
“Every child deserves an excellent education, not just those who can get admitted to a private school. A vote in favor of this legislation is a vote against public education.”
House flatly contradicts herself. First, she states that “private schools are not held to the same level of accountability for their performance.” (She leads us to believe that because they are not held accountable, they are worse and “the students will suffer.") But then in the next sentence, she states, “Every child deserves an excellent education, not just those who can get admitted to a private school.” (Thus, conceeding with this statement that private schools tend to provide excellent education).
The one true sentence in her statement is that, “Vouchers have always been about ideology and not education.” How true! In her own words, she is fighting to prevent all students from having the option of attending a private school, which tend to provide “an excellent education.” It is a sad day when “people for the american way,” beholden to a powerful lobby, are working against an “excellent education” for ALL American children.
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DeBoer neighborhood
One cannot utilize the falsehood of composition when supporting an induced argument. By this I mean that Ms MacKenzie cannot take two things of different nature, in this case two families that favor historical designation and views the process as non-hostile, and one family that opposes historical designation and views the process as hostile, combine them together and state that the combined group now reflects the values of the majority, and that it is valid and truthful to do so FOR ALL PARTIES CONCERNED. This is a fundamental flaw in reasoning, using the fallacy of composition.
The simple act of combining entities of dissimilar nature does not guarantee that those entities will alter and change their nature based on the combining of them What Ms. Mackenzie has accomplished in making this statement is to create a falsehood of the most fundamental nature, I must assume to make the HOSTILE nature of the Historical Designation of Wright Family Trust property more palpable when cloaked in the false implication that the application process now can be viewed in a non-hostile role.
It is a shameful act when an elected official uses fallacies and falsehoods coupled with double talk to forward a position and/or idea. My fear is that this faulty logic will be used in support of his application process, so that supporters may brand the historical designation of the Wright Family Trust property a non- hostile designation. There is value in doing so, in that the Denver City Council has NEVER voted to support a hostile historical landmark designation when the property owners in question did not support the designation. Ms MacKenzie evidently sees value in manipulating a non-hostile appearance to the attempts of stripping the Wright Family Trust of their rights to due process and private property rights, in their opposition to the hostile historical designation of their property. She does so though it violates the most basic rules of reasoning and truth.
I ask that all city council members vote down the application for historical district for the DeBoer property on East Iliff Avenue, and end this travesty.
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Campos, Reynolds & Churchill
Ward Churchill essentially supported the fire-bombing a business building (after the fact), using passenger jets as fire-bombs. The people who perpetrated this event had no control over who would be on the jets or in the building the targeted. Indeed, because the very purpose of this sort of terrorism is best served when the casualties are more sympathetic figures, it is reasonable to presume the 9/11 attackers would have preferred to kill as many more women and children as possible, in addition to the adult, male businessmen that died in that conflagration. The more victims, the better, and the more sympathetic, better yet. Glen Reynolds suggested killing specific targets, individuals who, he and many other people believe, are political or technological threats to this country. Specifically, political leaders (because in militant Islamic societies, religion IS politics) and scientists working on the development of nuclear bombs.
Churchill celebrated what was, for all intents and purposes, a “surprise attack,” though carried out by a group of people who identified themselves by their religion rather than by their national citizenship. Reynolds suggested that this country should be responding to the hostile acts against our military personal which he believes Iran is perpetrating.
Churchill said those who were killed on 9/11 deserved it, simply because they were participating in businesses which support the military by paying taxes. Reynolds makes no effort to say the targets of his recommendation “deserve” to die; only that it would serve American interests if they were killed.
Religious leaders because it would soon be clear that speaking out in favor of jihad and terrorism against America is decidedly less healthy than, for example, smoking. Nuclear scientists because that would obviously delay the development of nuclear weapons.
Churchill supported the attack by 9/11 terrorists on his own country.
Reynolds supports defending his own country (note that he has not said that the US military should be assassinating Muslim leaders in, for example, India. While Campos appears to believe that Iran is not attacking America or Americans either directly or by proxy, our military in Iraq seems quite sure they are).
Glen Reynolds is a right-wing Ward Churchill? Hardly. Reynolds appears to me to be a man who decries the wholesale slaughter of civilians whose primary offense is being born into and then remaining a citizen and resident of the wrong country. That’s why he spoke to the idea of targeting specifically people who move Iran towards direct conflict with America, rather than saying something like “Hey, we’ve GOT the nukes. Incinerate Tehran and see how much trouble Iran gives us after that!”
And by the way, Ward Churchill called the people killed in the Twin Towers “little Eichmans,” equating them with Nazis. In regard to Reynolds’ comments, Paul Campos is the one comparing someone to Nazis.
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Funerals coverage
Love & compassion
Ludikrus makes this 64 year old babygranny laugh at what we are doing - ho, ho - to our young women. The kulture is what it is, and we are here to fix it together, and we are. Dancing and singing to our collective misery and gratitude is as ancient as fire. When we are pursuing happiness, we are dong our job and filtering misery that results in the better society that we have today. What JW did for the Old West, musical genius’ (yes, they are!) are doing for those of us who are dealing with our own myths/mess’.
Same with violent TVl... could it be that Everyman is VERY involved in the nature of conflict, that we have a built in beacon that seeks peace and contentment for the entire worldwide herd. We process archetypes through the art of acting, and we change them when they illuminate us. Kids cartoons are full of situations that need solving (PBS), and extreme conflict (Toon Disney!). That is what we are mired within now in Iraq, and it is all ment to get the the Heart of our Matter.
The Iraqi War, and any wars, anywhere, exist so we can eventually learn to access our powers of Love and Compassion for each other, inclluding the President and the people we disagree with, because it is just a fact of Life, not only Theology, that we will eventually use those aspects to get where we are going, and Now is a great time to start. Send help and hope to everyone in conflict now, and don’t denigrate GW anymore; watch what happens.
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RTD oath
Mr. Gillis complains about an RTD employee who was disturbed that the oath of office for the RTD makes a reference to God. Mr. Gillis asserts that the American Revolution was fought by “believers in God,” whom he obviously equates solely with Christians.
The constitution, the governing documentof our nation, was purposely written to establish a secular government. God is nowhere mentioned in the constitution, nor is Christianity. The framers were clear that government was to neither favor nor disapprove of any partticular religion. John Adams, in fact, signed a treaty that stated the the U.S. was “not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.” Nor is it true that the founders of the nation were all Christians. Franklin, Jefferson and Washington were Deists, not Christians. Ethan Allen was an atheist. The “Christian prayer” Mr. Gillis attributes to George Washington was long ago exposed as a fraud. In fact, Washington never mentioned Christ in any of his writings.
The constitution forbids the use of religious oaths for public office. The RTD employee not only had every right to complain about the use of God in the oath of office. He was right. God does not belong in any governmental oath.
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Concealed weapons permits
I posess a Colorado permit and a Florida permit. The reason for this is that I formerly resided in Florida, go there a few times a year to visit friends and family, and want to be legal in all the states between here and there. More states recognize Florida’s permit than recognize Colorado’s.
I am skeptical that people are getting out of state permits to circumvent Colorado law. They are getting them because they are cheaper to get and to renew, and because of the firearms training requirement. Especially veterans. In Colorado, a veteran’s military firearms training counts only if they have been out less that 3 years. Do you really think veterans (especially those of us with combat experience) have forgotten our training? In Florida, they accept an Honorable Discharge or a DD-214 as proof of firearms knowledge. Florida respects military veterans Colorado appears not to. And in Colorado, you have to recertify every time you renew, and that class costs a minimum of $100.00 when you initially apply for a permit and each time you renew, in addition to the permitting costs. The need to retake that hundred-dollar class over and over again is a hassle, and It is expensive.
What about all the people who already have an out of state permit that they paid hard-earned money for? Are you, with the stroke of a pen, going to invalidate all of those licenses, and in effect, throw their money down the drain? That is not going to set well with a lot of voters the next time elections come around. People tend to remember political actions that cost them money The solution is so simple that with all of the emotional posturing going on, it has been missed by all. Colorado and Florida have a reciprocity agreement whereby each recognizes the other’s permits. ( look on the Colorado Bureau of Investigation website. It is there for all to view.) Colorado need only to amend the agreements with other states, requiring that all information pertaining to an applicant be forwarded by the state in which the application is being made, to the appropriate Colorado law enforcement agencies. Additional information requirements could also be added to insure that every tidbit of information that an applicant provides to get a Colorado permit would have to be provided to Colorado by the state issuing the out-of-state permit.
The state of Colorado needs to make the existing reciprocity agreements with other states function in a manner that satisfies the needs of law enforcement without punishing law-abiding citizens. After all, if we were really trying to circumvent Colorado law, would we even bother to get a permit to begin with? It doesn’t make much sense that someone would skirt the law to comply with it. Please. Drop this unfair and unneeded bill.
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Mean people
The ignorance of people astounds me. We were at a local restaurant on Sunday February 18th; we go to lunch here almost every Sunday after church with 20 or so of our friends from Church. My Son Nolan was just being Nolan, talking to everyone, walking around the table. He was just returning from the bathroom with a friend from church, there was a lady and a little girl walking in front of him and he was talking to the little girl and he grab the edge of the ladies coat the lady turned and shoved Nolan off her to the floor, several people witnessed this, Nolan was sitting with the Pastor and his wife at the opposite end of the table from my husband and I, the lady than proceeded to tell our Pastor that he should watch the Miracle Worker and gave he and his wife a nasty look. Our Pastor got up f rom the table and followed her back to her table and asked her what she meant by that comment. She told him that handicapped children need to know how to behave. Some other comments were m ade. He told her Nolan was only four and he was only trying to play. She said everyone with us saw him attacking her. He said he thought that she was rude and she stood up and shoved our Pastor. I did not know what was going on until he came back to the table. The only thing I knew was a grown woman had shoved my child to the floor. It was probably a God thing that I did not go over, because after I found out what had happened I was fit to be tied, than as the day wore on my anger became hurt and disbelief. I still can not believe a woman with children would say such hateful things about an obviously special child. What kind of person could live with themselves and what is she teaching her children Earlier that morning while in Sunday school a young man at our church spilled his coffee all over me. This young man is a grown up Nolan, he is a nine year old in a 25 year old body, but he is the sweetest man you would ever meet and he would do anything for you. He was so apologetic for spilling his coffee, not once but twice, after the second spill he said of himself that he was “so stupid”; I turned and said no, no everyone spills. I had on brown pants and the coffee just blended in so I laughed and told him I was fine that you couldn’t even tell, I just smelled nice, like a good cup of coffee. My point being after the incident at lunch I reviewed my actions toward this young man and I hope that I was genuine while accepting his apology and hope that I made myself clear that everyone has accidents an d that he was not stupid. My heart went out to him, because for him to think himself stupid indicates to me that he has heard someone say that to him. I hope Nolan never thinks himself stupid for any reason and woe to the person that tells him he is. I hope to always be an example to my children of how Christ would react in these situations. Weather you are a Christian person or not, human compassion and decency are vital for our society. No one chooses to be different. What if life had dealt the woman at lunch the same hand? How would she react then? Always try to remember it could be you with a child with special needs o r a terminal illness. God sees us all the same, no one is better because he can talk plain or walk straight or see without glasses. We are all in this world together why can we not try to get along? With each incident of someone making fun, or saying mean things or even the stares from strangers my skin becomes a little tougher, and maybe someday the comments won’t even phase me.
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DeBoer neighborhood
I am S.R. DeBoer’s youngest Great Granddaughter and AGAINST the blatantly hostile act of designating my respected family’s entire property. In reading the letters submitted to the City Council from members of the community that support the hostile designation, I find several things curious about what is stated in their letters.
A lot of people are saying that they moved to the area because of my Great Grandfather. I find it very hard to believe that they really even knew who my Great Grandfather was before the Lafons began their selfish crusade to essentially steal our family’s property rights.
These people cannot all say that they moved here or to Denver SOLEY because of what my Great Grandfather did. Sure, I’m positive it played a role (without them knowing), but rarely is the case that a regular citizen knows who it was that designed things over a half-century before.
I also find it offensive that it’s OK for the rest of the community to send letters in to support of such a hostile district (without knowing the whole story) just because they “like walking by and seeing the trees.” How is that OK? I guess I’ll go ahead and chime in on what I think other people should do with their property just because I like walking by. I’m not trying sound sarcastic, but you’ve got to see through the ridiculous reasoning and that all the letters are following a similar “company line” in order to provide continuity and belonging so you’ll designate our property. I also find questionable their claim that their property values and quality of life will suffer. So I guess it’s their quality of life over ours? So we have to be financially destroyed because they like walking by?
All the letters you receive that are for designating our property really are painting our property to be something spectacular. It’s really just a smidge over an acre and not the Garden of Eden it’s being made out to be. Sure, “The Office” at 515 East Iliff is unique. But is it a significant example (as required by the Landmark ordinance)? I invite you, again, to please visit our property. Take a walk around. See that it is in dire need of attention. We’ve done a lot over the years to keep it up, but it’s simply too much. If this property is to be designated, what value will it be if we can’t take care of it? Who will carry that financial burden? We are running out of money and nobody seems to care. Remember the Field House? It was designated historical and just sat there for YEARS in Harvard Gulch Park before burning down finally. I remember growing up, wondering what was going to become of it. Nothing ever did because the City didn’t put the money in it. So you can see that a small family that can’t even afford the upkeep now, won’t be able to if it’s designated. It seems that the members of the community don’t really care about that part of it, but for us it’s very real. It’s a burden the community is willing to place on us I guess. It’s unfortunate the that affect on us isn’t really a consideration.
Aside from the one building at 515 East Iliff, nothing else is really appopriate for designation. The neighborhood wants our entire piece of land because they don’t want anything built. Plain and simple. It’s been stated by them as I’ve mentioned in previous letters. It’s better for them that the entire application can be entertained in City Council because then they have more of a chance that the entire district will be approved. Nevermind that it was totally rejected by Planning because it’s thoroughly hostile and that the Landmark Commission only sent the modified application of “The Office” at 515 East Iliff.
I hope you notice, as we have, that when the results aren’t what the applicants want they just write it off and somehow the entire application gets forwarded on by their connections in the Landmark office. They minimize the role of the Landmark Commission on their website, deboeroasis.com, and say they are a citizen board, while the staff is professional. Such is the case when they are giving the Landmark STAFF more credit for a decision as opposed to the PROFESSIONAL volunteers on the commission. How is it that the Landmark staff can pass on the entire application time after time, ignoring any suggestions made by BOTH the PROFESSIONAL Landmark Commission and the PROFESSIONAL Planning Board? Aren’t members of both groups brought on because they are highly respected in their fields of expertise? I’m not really clear as to why the Landmark Commission and Planning Board even exist if the staff can just do what it wants. I need some clarity...
They’ve really gotten a lot of people on their side due to a lot of lying and lying by omission. It’s a lynch mob mentality at this point.
People have been led to believe we are not only tree killers, but fox killers and historical building haters as well. This community is really being torn apart by the hostility. To me, the entire meaning of what it is to save something historical as been damaged. This never had to be hostile. We aren’t bad people and things are being said that are simply not true. I certainly hope that it’s not the sheer numbers of letters you get that help you make your decision. I hope it’s based in what is right and what is wrong that helps you make your decision. It is not right that any member of the Denver community (let alone an entire family) should be put through what our family has been put through over the past year.
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CU minorities
What minorities don’t seem to realize is that whites don’t get involved because they’re scared to say anything. Any time a white speaks regarding someone or some group with darker skin, there are problems. There is constant backlash against any white for saying anything that could possibly be construed as offensive. Not only do whites risk being expelled from school for offending a minority, the school itself can, and often is held liable for such actions – since they are obviously unable to promote and ensure a comfortable and fair environment.
Mario Flores observed white students reading an article about racism and was perturbed by the fact that whites “seemed uninterested.” How did Mr. Flores know what they were reading? Furthermore, what did he expect as a reaction? Did Mr. Flores observe any other minority groups reading this article? What was their reaction? Did a “walkout” of all minorities from class ensue? And what did he expect the white students to do when he got in their faces with it? Would that not seem uncomfortable to have anyone do to him? Who’s going to open up in a situation like that?
Why is it that Graciela Najera thinks that a group of minorities sitting together is any different than a group of white people sitting together? How often do the minorities wave over the whites to come join them? She said it herself, that they’re all in there doing the same thing. She also asked, “why do people get upset over a group of black people eating and talking?” My question is, why are you upset over a group of white people eating and talking. Aren’t they “doing the same thing?
Minorities don’t make whites feel any more welcome in these situations than the other way around. What is it exactly that minorities expect of whites? They want them to attend the events sponsored by minority student organizations; yet, they would be the first people to blow a gasket at even the mention of a white student organization.
Minorities have brought this isolation upon themselves with the belief that whites owe them all something. Although whites may be the majority, they are not allowed to have groups, meetings, funds, organizations, parties, fraternities, or colleges dedicated to whites. Somehow, minorities have turned that into a perception of racism and discrimination. Yet, it’s OK for them to practice it and move up in life with the help of Affirmative Action. Minorities discriminate against whites in a fashion far more extreme than they realize, and then wonder why they feel isolated by them. It’s pretty clear to me.
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Iraq war
Murtha’s plan to “slow-bleed” the funding of war effort is yet another treasonous example of his cheerleader support of America’s enemies.
Shame on the Congress for using our troops as pawns in their political machinations. As the most powerful nation in the world it is America’s responsibility to stand up to the enemies who are out to destroy freedom. If it is not America to lead against these enemies, then who will?
Medical insurance
For this reason, I was disheartened to learn that the state was considering new legislation that would have the effect of raising my “taxes,” again.
In anticipation of my resignation — and the termination of employee-related benefits — I have investigated and am planning to purchase an independent medical insurance plan. Depending on specific coverage for disability, elected deductibles and other variables, a very good term policy will cost me something in the range of $165.00 per month.
If
If there is a problem with trauma centers or emergency response agencies collecting timely payment from providers, then that’s the problem that should be addressed. Whether this delay is due to ineffective invoice coding by providers, the negligence or inefficiency of insurers or some other bureaucratic problem, the answer may lie in standardizing billing procedures, legislating bill processing times or even tort reform.
Layering additional insurance responsibilities and costs onto auto owners simply creates redundancy, it does not address the problem.
Should this pass, the insurance providers will actually benefit from their failure to make timely payments — while my cost of living increases.
My understanding is that this bill has been referred to committee. If and when it comes to vote, I would urge you to vote against it.
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School closure
I truly hope that the community really pushes for true reform with their state legislators, state school board members and local school board members. We are all responsible for the education of our young people. Let’s not allow students to be left behind. Respect the child, understand their needs, and work with them to make learning a comfortable and safe experience. Too many of our students have had too many doors closed on them. When will this stop? When will the true problem be looked at? When will a plan be put in place before rendering a decision to put so many students on the streets?&nbs p; After all, aren’t we all educators that are concerned about the same problem? I do wish the decision were different; however I know that our focus will be the same at Life Skills, OUR STUDENTS!!!
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Renewable energy mandate
In fact, when you look at the final A37 vote tally, the IREA service territory was split about 50/50 on this issue. While this was not a ringing endorsement, it certainly did not presage the slam-dunk opt-out vote that Stan Lewandowski now touts as proof positive that IREA members don’t want renewables. The 50% endorsement of A37 by our coop members also was amazingly positive, given the non-stop barrage of anti-37 propaganda the IREA general manager and Board sent our members through the communication channels they control.
Why did we “vote” to opt out of A37? Because we were bombarded with misinformation using the classic scare tactics: Renewable energy is too expensive! You’ll be sorry! And one memorable statement: “Wind energy will drive you and your neighbors crazy!”
My plea to the Colorado Legislature and Governor Ritter: Please do not abandon the many members of the IREA coop who support clean energy! Please do not abandon the many more in our coop who would support renewables if they were given objective and accurate information so they could make informed decisions!
Governor Ritter and legislators: You are our only voices. Under the current unregulated coop system in Colorado, we have no voice or recourse in our own coop!
Please do not allow the IREA leadership to spend even MORE of our members’ money on another political campaign to defeat a common-sense standard for clean energy!
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Renewable energy mandate
Interestingly enough, after being threatened with higher bills if they did not opt out of the Amendment, members noted increased charges and fees on their monthly statements, apparently to fund a new coal fired plant. Many members also were outraged when their money was used to fund a one-sided study against renewables, and/or when IREA offered to allow them to buy renewable energy credits for IREA to claim, after pocketing one half of this credit for themselves. What a deal! I believe most members support HB 1281 and want IREA to enter the realistic 21st Century approach to safe, clean, renewable energy.
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Impeachment
I am writing now regarding your response to my request that you consider impeaching the President and Vice President. In that letter you stated that it is not clear what constitutes “high crimes and misdemeanors” and that you are not a lawyer nor an expert on impeachment. I am not either but there are lawyers who have considered the case against Bush. For example, Elizabeth de la Vega, a former federal prosecutor, wrote a book, “United States v. George W. Bush et al.” Using only public speeches and official documents she was able to provide ample evidence for probable cause that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and Powell violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. That is, that they conspired to defraud the United States. This is not about being opposed to or supporting the war in Iraq. This is about defrauding the Congress into a war instead of providing it with honest information with which to make its decision.
I cannot think of a higher crime than to defraud a nation into war besides levying war against that nation. Another example is a suit this last August by the ACLU against the NSA over the President’s domestic spying program, Federal Judge Anna Diggs Taylor of the US District Court in Detroit found that the President “undisputedly violated” the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution.
Violating the Constitution of the United States of America is another extremely serious crime.
I am at a loss to understand how it can be inappropriate for the House to consider impeaching, or even investigating, the President in light of this information.
This last November, the voters put a Democratic majority in power in Congress. I must say, the first month of that power has been disappointing. When the Republicans have control of the Congress they do not hesitate to use that power, but when the Democrats take control we immediately talk about “healing.” Frankly, I do not think that healing is possible without justice. Many Americans over the last six years have had bumper stickers declaring that “freedom is not free.”
This is certainly the case; someone must protect those freedoms. The Bill of Rights, more than anything else, defines what American freedom is and the very person we entrusted to protect those freedoms, our President, has attacked them. Someone else, in Congress, must do the work to protect our freedoms. They must step up to protect them or they are lost. I do not see how we as Americans can be secure in our freedom if there are no consequences when they are violated. Each and every member of Congress has sworn to “defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” And, yet, it will not consider investigating a President who “undisputedly violated” the First and Fourth Amendments of that Constitution.
Please explain to me how to reconcile those two facts.
Richard Nixon obstructed justice and conducted illegal wiretaps. Bill Clinton was acquitted of perjury. George W. Bush has violated the Constitution and there is probable cause to believe that he defrauded the nation into war. Anything short of the appointment of a special prosecutor and a Congressional investigation is a breach of the trust given to Congress and, ultimately, a failure of our democracy.
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Organ donation
Yet despite these statistics, one of the nation¹s most pressing public health issues is the widening gap between the supply and demand for organ and tissue transplants. Each hour another person dies waiting for an organ transplant in the Unites States. In Colorado, there are currently more than 1,700 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Nationally, 94,692 people are waiting.
The Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) will bring Colorado law up to date for the first time in almost 40 years, harmonizing the UAGA with federal law, current technology and practice, and advance medical directives. The new legislation will provide for cooperation between procurement organizations, coroners and district attorneys by requiring, for the first time, written agreements and protocols for donors under the jurisdiction of the coroner. It will also reinforce first person consent, where Colorado has been a national leader since 2001.
House Bill 1266, the Revised UAGA, will save lives by improving and adding efficiencies to the current donation system, increasing the number of transplants occurring in Colorado.
Just one donor can save the lives of eight people and enhance the lives of more than 100. HB 1266, which is under consideration in 14 states and anticipated in more than 30 states, will ensure that the wishes of deceased organ donors are fulfilled and that the 1,700 Coloradans waiting for a transplant stand a greater chance of receiving the gift of life.
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President Bush
Dan Demuth of Pueblo writes:
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Abortion
David Cook of Loveland writes:
That overrides the constitution because, as you very well know, it is the basis for the Constitution! Simple reason tells any sentient being that if LIFE is not a right, then no other rights matter. This is obviously the primary goal of the Abortion Rights advocates. Any Judge-any Judge, that will not uphold this bedrock statement of American Liberty, should not be in robes, period. By the way, the Founders, you will find, declared that this portion of the Declaration be included as law in this Nation. Since it is so basic, and law, it would be reasonable to postulate that any judge ruling for abortion is, in fact, committing high treason or subversion and should be held accountable accordingly. Failing that, citizens in his sphere should “vigorously pursue” running him or her off the bench any legal way they can. That judge is a mortal threat to the very essence of Liberty and Freedom in this great Nation.
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Gun control
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RTD oath
The central assertion in his argument- that we are a Christian Nation and the Founding Fathers were all Christians- runs contrary to reality. James Madison, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Paine all wrote things that would evidence Deism over Christianity. The American Revolution he references was fought largely to gain freedom from the tyranny of state-sponsored religion- the likes of which authoritarians like Mr. Gillis would foist upon us.
The writer’s angry tone makes me wonder how closely he has read the Bible he wants us all to swear upon. I doubt Jesus would’ve gained much sympathy if his teaching had included calling skeptics “pantywaist, spineless apologist(s)” as Mr. Gillis calls Dave Ruchman and others who fight to defend religious freedom. Mr. Ruchman’s actions actually epitomize bravery. He fights for the right of others not to swear an oath to a God in which they do not believe, and he does this surely knowing he will be attacked by people like Lance Gillis.
It’s worth noting that state-sponsored religion not only infringes upon our Constitutionally guaranteed liberties, but that it’s the stated goal of Islamist Fundamentalists like Osama Bin Laden, who similarly seek to eliminate anyone not prostrate to their particular religious beliefs. This similarity should give you an indication as to the diabolical nature of Mr. Gillis’ ideas.
Swear oaths to whatever God you want, but I for one will fight to the death to stay free from religious tyranny, just as our Founding Fathers and the brave men at Valley Forge would have wanted.
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Why take chances on global warming?
Let’s consider the consequences of the two courses of action possible.
Suppose we take measures the scientists advocate, including reducing greenhouse emissions by developing more efficient cars and using renewable energy. Then, say, some years later, the facts show that, by golly, all those “alarmists” warning of global warming were wrong, i.e., temperatures return to normal, ice caps reappear, etc. Has anything been lost? No, in fact, we would have developed new industries and had healthier air.
But if we do nothing and global warming turns out to be real, the consequences will be devastating and possibly irreversible — drinking-water supplies depleted, coastal cities drowned by rising sea levels, deaths from heat waves in summer and cold spells in winter, species eradicated, just to name a few.
No thinking civilization can afford to take that chance.
Volcano pollution cleaned up nicely
For instance, the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano on Aug. 26, 1883, put far more pollutants in the atmosphere than all of humanity in history. The Earth cleaned that up nicely all by itself, thank you. More recently, Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in July 1991 and August 1992 did the same, and again the planet took it in stride with no lasting effects. These facts alone make the man-caused global warming myth ridiculous.
Not including these events in their reporting reduces the media’s coverage of climate changes to pure propaganda. The big story is the hiding of these facts by educators and the press, thus keeping the populace ignorant and panic-stricken. Why? Why keep people ignorant of these simple and irrefutable facts? Look a little below the surface and it isn’t to hard to figure, is it?
Edwards’ health-care stance is ironic
Edwards made his fortune as a personal-injury trial lawyer by winning huge awards in cases regarding cerebral palsy, supposedly caused by Caesarean-section delivery. The scientific evidence comes down squarely against any direct link, but Edwards has never acknowledged this.
Aren’t unwarranted awards a substantial cause for high medical malpractice insurance rates and consequently high health costs?
I’d feel a lot more open to Edwards’ proposals if he had the guts to own up to, and apologize for, his part in escalating medical costs.
However, he evidently feels that the general public needs to continue to subsidize the trial lawyers in addition to paying for medical care for those who can’t afford it.
Veteran not spit upon
The Rocky’s job is to promote public discourse by printing letters with valid, legitimate perspectives, not to sow discord with hateful, divisive misinformation. Perhaps the Rocky can make amends by getting “on point” about the cuts in VA benefits and the longstanding lack of armor for our troops.
Stand tall, Senator
To Fitz-Gerald and all those who stand with her, I implore you to stand proud and tall! Show what you’re made of! Please finish the sentence. Remove the nebulous “it” and say what you really mean: We fought for the right to kill our babies. We have the right to kill our babies. We will not compromise the right to kill our babies. We will fight for the right to kill our babies with every fiber of our being.
Director, Colorado Right to Life
Abortion bill a waste
We would all be better served if they spent more energy on ways to prevent unintended pregnancies in the first place.
Preserve DeBoer
Retaining a snapshot of our past is critical to fostering respect for building our future.
Thoughtful development might have its place, but it’s not in the DeBoer Historic Neighborhood.
Define ‘emergency,’ oh King Douglas
Listen, your highness, that is taxpayers’ money in these reserve funds! Mine, and every other taxpayer’s in Colorado, including the ones whose streets are still snow-and-ice-covered or full of potholes.
I believe in taxes. How else are our government programs and services to be financed? There is no logical reason why Denver’s reserve should not be used to clear and repair the damage to the city’s streets caused by these uncommonly powerful snowstorms. While we’re at it, the money in all these funds should also be used for aid to the ranchers and the animals in the southeastern plains.
What exactly does Bruce consider a “dire emergency”? A nuclear explosion? An alien invasion from outer space? Our representatives in our representative government should be able to declare emergencies, and to decide if the reserve funds should be used for said emergencies. Oh, but wait, I forgot — TABOR forbids that course of action. What idiocy.
‘Buy your own lunch’
I don’t think that the voters would disapprove of this kind of clarification, but once again the politicians miss the mark. In the same bill we are told that politicians will be able to accept lunch from a lobbyist just so long as the lobbyist is not intending to influence the politician.
This is nuts. The only reason lobbyists exist is to influence politicians. For those who hold elective office, I think I speak for a large number of people when I say, “Buy your own lunch.”
Unfair, unjust war
The color photos are really good and you can whip through the paper really fast. Save lots of time this way. But it has lost quite a bit of its former self.
I wanted to find out what the weather was in Little Rock, Ark., recently. It’s not there anymore. Listings of the stocks and mutual funds I hold were deleted long ago.
I found out Frankie Laine died. The story was in the Rocky. The local Loveland paper has the same Associated Press story, only it is more than twice as long. He was a marathon dancer early in life. The Rocky left that out. The local paper also referred the reader to Frankielaine.com for more info. The Rocky did not.
I guess young people today don’t even know who Frankie Laine was. They know who A.I. and Melo are, however. Is there anything about these two that we don’t know?
Rocky impresses Brit
During my time in America I struggled to find a newspaper that provided a thorough insight into local issues whilst offering informed comment on wider national issues. It was only at Denver’s airport, on my way back to London, that I discovered a copy of the Rocky, and I must say that I was so impressed that I read it cover to cover on the long return flight.
Needless to say, I have told my relations in Colorado that, in my opinion, the Rocky is required reading.
Young girl’s compassion inspiring
That young lady should be an example for all of us. Her demonstration of concern and compassion for others is inspiring. How about putting a good-news story like this on the front page every day instead of more of the same negative ones? The gangs have had their moments of fame, and continuing to promote them on the front page only adds fuel to their fire.
However, I wonder what would happen to our world if we promoted honesty, decency and love of fellow man with stories like Emma’s on the front page of every paper every day?
Thanks for story
It allowed us the opportunity to tell our struggle of survival during the Holocaust and our life in Denver since our immigration here after the end of World War II.
It is a privilege and a responsibility to remember the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. By telling their story, they will not be forgotten.
Spellbinding
Enough already!
Anna ad nauseam
Religion may be the opiate of the masses, but television is its crack cocaine.
Most of us will never have a chance or the interest to read the entire report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sponsored by the United Nations. Instead we will be offered alarmist views from panicky journalists. Like us, they haven’t read the report either, but are reacting to the biased summary. As McKitrick pointed out, most of the scientists had no input on it, nor do they all agree with it.
He also points out that it omits mention of the contrary evidence that suggests that the present warming cycle is well within the parameters of earlier natural cycles of warming and cooling stretching back 10,000 years.
Thank you, Rocky Mountain News, for showing us another viewpoint from an insider.
Right-wing pedigree omitted
I found it strange that the article didn’t mention McKitrick’s status as a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute, an organization described on the Internet as a “right-wing think tank.”
However, when Rocky media critic Dave Kopel’s article in the same issue recommended reading the Fraser Institute’s dissent of the IPCC work, I thought maybe McKitrick’s relationship with the institute was omitted on purpose, lest the reader be left with the view that disagreement with the IPCC’s summary isn’t as widespread as the Rocky would want us to believe.
Pay attention, Denver
A grass roots movement, not started by any organization or special interest group and not accepting any financial aid from anyone or group, has decided that public protest of, and conscientious objection to, this invalid, unconstitutional law which is based on false justification will take place in Bars, Pubs and taverns etal, by allowing patrons over the age of 21 to smoke a legal product in their private businesses. All ticketed people will demand a jury trial and those ticketed will file a class action suite against the proper agencies, governmental entities and people, in which we will prove our contention that the claims of tobacco control advocates that second hand smoke in working conditions is a health hazard are based on false and fraudulent statements and invalid studies that have been vacated by U.S. District Courts and debunked by over 40 scientific studies. We will demand a public funded independent testing of air quality in Bars, pubs and taverns in Colorado to prove that there is justification for the Colorado Clean Air Act. And we will call for hearings to determine if any legislator who voted for this act had pre-knowledge that it was based on false and fraudulent evidence before voting.
It is time all responsible be held accountable for foisting one of the greatest shams in American history on the people of the United States of America. Have no doubt we have the evidence and the will to stop the tyranny of personal preferences and governmental acquiescence over private property and freedom of choice rights.
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God is part of our American heritage
It was believers in “God” who fought the American Revolution and shed blood for this country to be born and they called upon God countless times during that war. The history of that conflict does not contain a list of “Muslim Heroes of the American Revolution,” “Buddhist Heroes of the American Revolution,” “Hindu Heroes of the American Revolution,” “Atheist Heroes of the American Revolution” or any other religion’s heroes.
In my personal Marine Corps Bible (yes, I served) there is a copy of George Washington’s prayer for the United States — a Christian prayer. The men that fought and died to give birth to this country were overwhelmingly Christian and that’s not only socially acceptable, it’s a fact.
The United States under God does not need to be reinvented by every pantywaist, spineless apologist who bows to the pressure of someone being “uncomfortable.” How “uncomfortable” do you think the soldiers at Valley Forge were in the freezing winter without shoes, food or shelter?
Serious drawbacks to health insurance idea
First, he said that employers would pay employees the same amount that the employers are currently spending for health insurance. While he is correct that this would cost employers the same, it would be taxable income to the employees. Additionally, the employee portion of the premiums would also become taxable income instead of being a pre-tax deduction as it is now.
Depending on their tax bracket, the employees would lose 25 percent to 40 percent of this money.
Second, health insurance premiums are much more expensive when purchased on an individual basis than on a group basis because there is no shared risk. So it will cost employees more money to purchase the same level of coverage.
Employer-based health insurance might not be the best solution for paying for health care, but the solution Conlin proposes would be much more expensive for most people.
Black community tired of Phillips’ antics
In its story of his shady history (“A man with friends”), the Rocky omitted that he harassed and threatened to sue a Perkins Restaurant over alleged discrimination because he and his party were not served quickly enough.
I remember back in the ’80s when he ran Mount Gilead church — he had a Rolls-Royce parked in the lot, but there was no money for grass seed and the muddy lawn was a disgrace.
As the Rocky mentioned in the article, there were about 20 parishioners in attendance at a recent Sunday service at his church, the New Birth Temple of Praise Community Baptist Church.
This is not what’s called a following. As the saying goes, “You can fool some of the people all of the time.”
We in the black community are tired of self-proclaimed leaders given affirmation by the media.
Doing a heck of a job
Of pols and potholes
That sum could have repaired 87,500 potholes (at the $8 reported average cost), but would not have covered the posteriors of council and the mayor for their re-election in May. I guess the voters will decide which expense was more important.
Arrant nonsense in diversity training
To state that white people have “a master and control nature” is to imply that nonwhite people have “a servile and complacent nature.” To say that whites in communicating “don’t show emotion and avoid conflict and intimacy” while implying that nonwhites do show these characteristics is not only demeaning but demonstrably false.
This arrant nonsense has no place being sanctioned among teachers unless the likes of the KKK are going to be sanctioned. Racism is racism whether pronounced by the Grand Wizard or a “diversity trainer.”
Congrove trustworthy
It featured an extensive rant by Jeffco Commissioner Kathy Hartman on how all complaints should go strictly through channels. Yet the month started with the ex-Jeffco treasurer story, in which the complaint was taken first to Congrove who immediately took it to the district attorney. Where then was the wrath of Hartman or the Rocky?
People go to Jim Congrove because they know that they can trust him. I do.
In good company
Legislative per diems
Congress
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Smoking
The smoke-free law has played a significant role in improving public health in Boulder County. As the U.S. Surgeon General highlighted in his June 2006 report, there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. The only way to fully protect nonsmokers from the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking in indoor spaces. The CCIAA has reduced our community’s risk by limiting people’s exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke at work and in other public places. In fact, the CCIAA also protects the public by prohibiting smoking within 15 feet of the main entryway of all public buildings.
Today, residents in communities that previously did not have a clean indoor air ordinance – like Lafayette, Lyons, Nederland, and Erie – can now also enjoy the benefits of smoke-free indoor public places. I now feel comfortable taking my wife and children out to public restaurants that we may not have been to before without fear of inadvertently exposing them to second hand smoke.
Furthermore, while the law was not designed to help smokers quit, calls to the Colorado Quitline increased after the CCIAA was passed. This free telephone coaching service supports smokers through the quitting process and offers up to eight free weeks of the nicotine patch. The Colorado Quitline can be reached by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
If anyone in the community has questions about the smoke-free law or the Colorado Quitline, they should call Boulder County Public Health’s Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (TEPP) at 303-413-7540 or visit TEPP’s website at www.BoulderCountyTobacco.org.
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Newspapers
He describes newspapers as a “civic asset” and then sites “sliding circulation” and “declining ad revenues” and blames their plunging stock prices on “Wall Street greed.” His solution, in the form of five proposals, is taxpayer support and public funding in order to help create “economically viable ways for local journalism to prosper.”
The reason why newspapers are experiencing sliding circulation and declining revenues is because the taxpaying public is migrating away from the “old media” and toward “new media” information formats such as web sites, radio and TV. They are exercising their freedom of choice in a competitive marketplace. Its also totally ironic that Salzman proposes taxing those very same folks who are abandoning newspapers, and selling their stocks, in order to “help create economically viable ways for local journalism to prosper.” That’s neither economic nor is it viable.
Salzman doesn’t get it; competitive markets work. Salzman’s issue is with competition, not with economics or viability. His “civic asset” looks more like a “civic liability” that fewer and fewer among us find of any value in light of many competitive alternatives. If we are going to protect newspapers with a taxpayer bailout, then what about all those poor folks who long-ago made buggy whips and delivered coal, kerosene and ice to our homes?
Shouldn’t taxpayers be asked to bail them out too?
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Police shooting
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Pelosi’s plane
We may understand a vague necessity for Mrs. Pelosi’s quick transport to “home” and back for an official with a possible emergency, but not routine trips with staff (of whatever nature). Several reasons to deny such exploitation of the public trust that would never survive a Libertarian audit come to mind.
Civil jet travel is speed barrier limited, routinely cruising around 450 knots no matter what size. So, almost any available machine can cross the country in about the same time, even with a fuel stop.
Who needs body guards in an airplane? Why are politicians provided body guards in the first place? Are they better than the rest of us, more important, more likely to random assault? Is ferrying civil authorities a good use of military hardware? Your expense.
What if it were you? Would you get all you can for yourself feeding at the public trough?
Diverting military aircraft from their primary purpose—war—is another misuse of civil funding and government power. Why doesn’t Pelosi stay in D.C.—where she wanted to be—and do her job?
Isn’t it time for the public to pay more attention to what their employees are about?
Awareness of government begins in your neighborhood, before criminal intent reaches a national level.
Think about it.
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New Orleans
When one family loses their home and possessions - or when one business is destroyed - it is tragic. In the case of greater New Orleans, the devastation goes on for mile after mile, affecting all population groups. At the same time, the “touristy” parts of town are doing fine, offering something for everyone, whether culture and history enthusiasts, families, food lovers, shopaholics or devoted partyers.
How to help? 1)Go there: you will be warmly welcomed by people who deeply appreciate your presence and support, and who are determined to revive the area. Take time to see and understand the damage - and the progress. Talk with local folks, and spend freely, since tourists are essential to NOLA’s economy and morale. Enjoy the balmy weather, beignets and bayous.
2) Take people with you: if you’re looking for a worthy project for your group (professional, educational, faith, social, fraternal, civic, family, etc.), this one can’t be beat, and no passport needed.
3) Contribute what you can. Various organizations are doing important work there, Habitat for Humanity among them. Find one you click with and support their efforts; encourage others to do so as well. Make a Mardi Gras donation, then consider giving again in late August (anniversary of the disaster).
4) Spread the word, and stay informed. Read the small, compelling book 1 Dead in Attic by Times-Picayune columnist Chris Rose, if you can find a copy.
Every little bit really does help. Please join me.
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Death penalty
One of the specious arguments against the death penalty is the expense of a conviction. Who can we thank but less than ethical attorneys (David Lane is an attorney who has his bias - ethical or not?) who corrupt the system of justice with untold delays of motions etc. Another specious argument is that it won’t deter future murders and rapes. That is absolutely untrue. Once dead, the perpetrator can not repeat his crime.
Additionally, sticking someone in a 9 X 12 cell for life is just as barbaric to that individual and to the society that must finance that barbarism. Let’s face the truth, and that is that David Lane is not a Biblically based Christian, and therefore God’s law is irrelevant to him. Ah, but the Roman Catholic church is opposed to the death penalty also you say. True, but the Roman Catholic church has little use for the Bible, and that’s why there was a Protestant Reformation. That’s why we have the law system that we do today - torn and frayed as it is by the ideologues of humanism and socialism.
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President Bush
Our president must have misheard Teddy Roosevelt’s adage, “Speak softly and carry a big stick,”
It just feels like he’s wrecked the car again and is asking for the keys to another.
Environment
Newspapers
Salzman’s falsely assumes that metropolitan papers are critical parts of society. As a newspaper junk
Sadly, I no longer do.
Metropolitan newspapers are failing because their primary readers have moved to the suburbs, which are poorly covered by the papers. The papers are losing readers because young people don’t seem to care about metro Denver, and they get their news from the Internet, broadcasters, local community papers and specialty publications.
The growth of metropolises like the Front Range is making big city newspapers obsolete. It is impossible for a metro paper to cover local news as well as small community papers do. And metropolitan papers do an equally poor job of covering national and world news. The national media put their content on the Internet, mostly for free. So who needs a metro paper?
As a result, metro papers are inefficient for most advertisers, many of whom are abandoning newspapers, making the papers unattractive to smart investors.
With tax subsidies, the papers would have to accept even more government regulations of everything, including content. Who trusts politicians to run and regulate newspapers’content? No one.
If Denver winds up with one metro paper or none, it will do so because that is all the market wants and needs, and the media markets must rule.
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Geese
I have HUNTED them, I’ve FED them, I really enjoy watching them fly, I’ve enjoyed WATCHING them poke around but they are filthy, very messy and carry disease. If you ever have walked where they have been hanging out you might slip on the mess they leave behind, ugh; or the children playing on that stuff how repulsive! (Thus the disease) I would suggest that we get rid of a lot of them by using those nets that they shoot over them so they can’t escape.
Back in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s there was a shortage but no more.
It would do a lot to feeding the hungry with volunteers as well as others cooking them and the rest of the meal along with them.
Although the Animal rights group would probably moan about that but what else can we do?
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Bush energy plan
Amendment 41
I do not trust you foxes to guard the chicken coop; nor do I trust you foxes with the care and feeding of the watchdog that I set: the independent ethics commission.
That is why the ethics commission’s composition and method of appointment are carefully crafted to make it difficult for you foxes to stack it with your den mates.
That is why the ethics commission’s powers are defined in permissive rather than restrictive terms. I fully intended that any member, not a supermajority that foxes might own, be empowered to issue sub poenas. I fully intended the commission to apply any and all penalties available at law, not just those which foxes choose to accept.
That is why the ethics commission is empowered to make its own rules “for the purpose of administering and enforcing the provisions of this article and any other standards of conduct and reporting requirements as provided by law.” I intended for the commission to decide what is frivolous and what isn’t; what is “legal consideration” and what isn’t; and to let this watchdog decide how best to guard the chicken coop. I do not trust foxes to make such decisions.
HB 1304 validates my distrust of you. It attempts to leash, muzzle, de-fang and hobble the watchdog that I set, for no one’s benefit except that of you foxes.
And now, be perfectly clear about this voter’s intent for all of you, should you interfere with my will: If you value your political careers, you will “kill bill” HB 1304, and never again try to tell the dog how to guard the chicken coop.
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Atmospheric scientists
Researchers at the NOAA ESRL/CSD and its predecessor laboratories have made substantial contributions to the understanding of stratospheric ozone depletion, air quality
Those losing their jobs at NOAA m
Please ask your members of Congress to restore funding to NOAA this year and to boost resources for atmospheric research in the future.
Mike Littwin
Apparently what set Littwin off this time was Tim Hardaway’s “I hate gay people” statement “that makes him the leader in the intolerance clubhouse” because he “tossed the H-word around.”
Littwin, have you looked in the mirror lately? Because Tim Hardaway has competition, and his competition is you.
I’ll assume that by “the H-word” Littwin means “homosexual.” But the “H-word” could mean something that Littwin and all the other “politically correct” and “intolerant of intolerance” hypocrites despise: “Honesty” and the right of people like Tim Hardaway to express their opinions “Honestly.”
In response Littwin writes a one-sided opinion piece, blasts away at Hardaway’s “intolerance,” and alludes to “whatever rehab Tim Hardaway has checked himself into.” (Is that ‘rehab’ comment honest and truthful or something Littwin simply made up? “Made up” being a kinder way of saying something that may be more honest.) And unlike two other characters in Littwin’s column, Littwin may not share their excuse. Michael Richards verbally lashed out at a couple of people who were verbally taunting him. Mel Gibson was drunk. Did Littwin write his column under the real duress of having people looking over his shoulder and taunting him as he wrote? Did Littwin write his column under the influence of alcohol or drugs? Or did Littwin write his column in the quiet of his office space and while completely sober?
Given the latter, it is no wonder that whoever was given the responsibility to read Littwin’s column and then come up with a “grab” headline that would “grab” my attention came up with the hypocritical beauty of “Intolerance of intolerance.”
I hardly ever read Molly Ivins’ columns and I hardly ever read Littwin’s columns. After a while the usually always-negative shrill becomes too annoying. Unless there is that real good “grab” headline. And “Intolerant of intolerance” was a beauty.
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Mike Littwin
Men such as Ken Blackwell of Ohio and J.C. Watts of Oklahoma have what it takes, as does Dr. Condolezza Rice. Guys like Obama don’t want us to win the war. They would pull us out of Iraq, causing the biggest bloodbath since we left Southeast Asia. He doesn’t realize that our military is the cork in the bottle over there. Remove the cork, and anyone who said boo to Americans would be summarily executed. Terrorists would have safe haven (as before we removed Saddam) and oil money to build weapons caches. They would have free rein to plan attacks on worldwide targets, including the U.S. mainland. They are ready to circle the date when we leave Iraq.
A year or so after we leave, a truck crosses our non existent border to the south, and parks on a downtown Denver street. The container nuke on board is detonated. A hundred thousand Coloradans die instantly. A million more die soon from radiation burns, illness and cancer. The fallout is carried east on the prevailing winds and brings death in its wake.
Many in midwestern cities don’t worry about this, since simultaneous explosions have taken place there as well. President HRC calls the mullahs to sue for peace and later that afternoon is fitted for a burqa.
This is the scenario we are buying with this idiocy the Treason Party is pushing. Jack Murtha has laid out the Dhimmicrat’s plan to control the Pentagon’s allocation and cut off funding for the troops (their dictionary has a different definition for “support"). They have been driven mad with Bush hatred and I am sick of it and their toadies in the media. America is the last best hope, and these folks want it to end. It turns my stomach, and I’m not the only one.
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Electoral votes
Evolution vs. creationism
2. Recent polls show that over 45% of scientist now admit that modern science advancements makes evolution more and more an impossibility, more than enough reason for those truly interested in truth to teach both sides. So why don’t they? 3. Schools in America have taught creation for 400 years. It is an established ciriculum. Why mis-state this obvious fact and say it isn’t? 4. Why would courts be called in on this debate? Why would they totally ignore #3?
5. With volumes of scientific proof supporting the creation model easily available for viewing and downloading on the modern internet, which would have to be known by press, scientist, teachers, lawyers, and judges, why is this debate even existent??
To me, the answer is in the actions of the above. It only makes sense if it is not about Origins at all, but about forcing an alien World View on a God based nation and it’s children. The only rational reason for evolution under the above facts that fits is that evolution justifies Secular Atheism. It cannot be about truth. Truth would look honestly at both sides. That is not what we are seeing. It, therefore, leaves only one other reasonable conclusion, to undermine a God based culture from within using the education system, with atheistic government and courts running interference. 3 percent are atheist by polls. This gives them total control of the other 97% who are not, with all the money, rights, and privileges that go with that control. It is the only reasoning that makes sense!
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Iraq war
There’s no denying the fact that mistakes were made in dealing with Iraq since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. But perhaps we should consider what future casualties might be if we pull troops out now and allow radical Islamists, like Al-Qaeda, to take over with Iran only miles away to support them. Historically, that could be a poor tribute to the soldiers who have fought and died there so far.
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Iraq war
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Iraq war
The purpose of these visits is to seek a redress of grievances (guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Constitution) for the violation of a clear mandate from the public in the November election to end the war against Iraq. As long as the funding continues, the war will continue. If you support the funding, you support the war.
People will also ask you to work hard for the passage of binding legislation that would prohibit President Bush from attacking Iran. Congress will be responsible for the disastrous consequences if they fail to prevent Bush from attacking Iran.
Everyone who will be coming to your offices is pledged to nonviolence. We hope you will respond to the people’s desire to seek a redress of grievances and to express their sorrow at the ongoing carnage in Iraq and the possible attack on Iran.
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Naturopathic medicine
7 amendments were introduced and 6 passed.
HB 1192 does not license naturopaths. It licenses Naturopathic Doctors, who attended 4 years of Dept of Education accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools, and who successfully passed a national board exam.
The title naturopath, has been released to those who were awarded naturopathic doctorate degrees, and PhD’s, by unaccredited correspondence home study courses.
If the editors of the Rocky Mountain News cannot tell the difference between naturopath, and Naturopathic Doctor, why should we think the public will.
HB 1192 still has its issues. What was clear to this committee of 11 representatives, is a problem exists in Colorado that needs to be addressed. The biomedical model of health care is no longer the only model. Health care is a dynamic system that changes with time, cultural demands, and technological advances. The HHS committee, recognizes this, and without knowing the perfect answer to the legislative solution, is still willing to move this issue forward.
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Marriage amendment
Does that mean only one man and one woman “ever” or, as some people seem to think, “at a time?” The former case, “ever” would be the anti-divorce (or rather, no state-sanctioned remarriage after divorce), family-friendly interpretation that I’m sure we conservative Coloradans intended. The “at a time” mode would allow for freewheeling serial divorce and remarriage - not a lifestyle most Coloradans would condone. I am not a lawyer, but that wording strikes me as a little loosey-goosey.
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Banking bill
The Democrats, in Senate Bill 40, on a 24-8 vote, passed a measure that would block Wal-Mart and Home Depot from owning and operating banks in their Colorado stores.
The bill was heavily lobbied by banking interests. These interests knew that in-store banking by these businesses would break the bankers’ current monopoly on high
Again the Democrats show us just who they are and what they will do when we return them to power. What did the Democrats get from the bankers in order to pass this cruel legislation? How many families will go under because of the current bankers’ monopoly?
And who cares anyway?
It seems clear to me that the new robber barons are the Democrats!
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Iraq war
The most important issue: bringing our troops home as quickly as possible in the safest and most secure manner. Beyond that we must 1) Assess the damage from this neocon nightmare and engage all parties including Iran and Syria in hopes of stabilizing the Middle East; 2) Focus on the core Middle East issue - the creation of a Palestinian state; 3) Begin a national debate asking why the American people and their congressional representatives were so totally fooled by a handful of dangerous and delusional people; 4) Investigate those responsible - including George Bush, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz - filing criminal charges where appropriate.
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Illegal immigration
When you have border guards stopping illegals transporting drugs INTO the U.S. and the guards landing in jail to appease a “paid off” U.S. District Attorney John Stuttun and the like, when you have cop killers being spared true justice to appease the Mexican government, it is no wonder that the KKK grow stronger. The president has failed us, the congress and senate has failed us all, and even the justice of the United States of America have failed us. I will not support or assist the KKK, but I can not blame them and in fact, I understand their anger towards our government.
Mr. President, Congress, Senate, and honored Justices, I ask you this. You want to take away power from the KKK? You want to stop them and make them weak? Then protect the country, strengthen the borders and ENFORCE THE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY. If you do not do so, then you alone are to blame for all violence, hatred and anger and the resulting acts committed. When there are lawsuits filed for discrimination, file them AGAINST the government, for they alone are responsible for the acts. Not the companies, not I.C.E. and not the people. The government of the people are to blame and are therefore liable for all that occurs in response.
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But one thing: this long explanation/apology you had published in the Rocky Mountain News, please don’t do that again. It’s embarrasing and humiliating. It’s undignified. It looks weak. Nixon never apologized.
Tom DeLay isn’t going to apologize. You can bet George W. will never apologize. You should think big, like them, and hold your head high.
You’re a politician now. Nobody expects you to explain or apologize for anything. Just take the money and run.
Englewood
Labor bill veto
But one thing: this long explanation/apology you had published in the Rocky Mountain News, please don’t do that again. It’s embarrasing and humiliating. It’s undignified. It looks weak. Nixon never apologized.
Tom DeLay isn’t going to apologize. You can bet George W. will never apologize. You should think big, like them, and hold your head high.
You’re a politician now. Nobody expects you to explain or apologize for anything. Just take the money and run.
Englewood
Abortion
Boulder
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Labor bill veto
I am kind of a Lou Dobbs Democrat, Bill Ritter is kind of a George W Bush Democrat.
Arvada
Mike Rosen
If Mike Rosen dislikes democracy so much
Limon
Renewable energy
Until I read this article, I was convinced that it was going to be a real challenge to increase the renewable energy standard in Colorado because it would cost consumers a ton of money. Discovering that Xcel Energy’s investment in wind energy saved their customers roughly $14 million in 2004 and 2005 was quite a shocker. Turns out that I couldn’t have been more mistaken!
While it’s fantastic to see all of these recent developments within Colorado, I think it’s about time that our Senators Allard and Salazar step up and become part of the national solution to global warming. If we’re going to avoid the worst consequences of global warming, passing a federal renewable energy standard is absolutely essential.
Boulder
Labor bill veto
This was not your run of the mill campaign promise. Labor organizations were not asking for a symbolic pledge to support clean air or clean drinking water. There was nothing ambiguous about what organized labor was asking.
This bill made it easier for workers to secure organized representation in the Colorado workplace. Ritter understood the ramifications and repeatedly voiced unequivocal support for the bill that he knew was coming, until the day it mattered. When big business applied pressure, Ritter folded like a house of cards, shame on you Mr. Ritter.
[No hometown provided]
Iraq war
War supporters often lambast the Iraq war critics as undermining the mission of our military.
War supporters assert that it is the duty of our military to fullfill its mission, and disagreeing with the commander-in-chief is unpatriotic. The words of Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, West Point graduate, refute this attitude: “You have to ask, who is really undermining this mission? Didn’t the Bush Administration undermine it it from the start by going to war without sufficient cause, without sufficient planning, without sufficient equipment for our troops? Even now, I would argue that the Bush Administration is undermining this surge by focusing merely on the military part of the mission, ignoring the need to reform the Iraqi government, to find a regional diplomatic solution and of course, ignoring the real facts on the ground”
The dismal moral of the Iraq war is, to never hand our military a mission that is impossible to complete. It is a terrible abuse of the men and women in uniform.
Morrison
Illegal immigration
As with many who speak out against those who don’t like our immigration problem, Mr Trujillo ( Whiny Americans - 2/13/07 ) also left out the very important 7 letter word. ILLEGAL.
It’s more like: Illegals are taking our jobs, which costs us.
Illegals are clogging our hospitals, which costs us.
Illegals are driving our streets without licenses and insurance, which costs us.
Illegals are filling our school, and using our other services that they shouldn’t be entitled to, but expect, which costs us.
Illegals shouldn’t be getting food stamps. That costs us too.
Every labor pool needs workers, and illegals don’t occupy just one. I guess Mr. Trujillo didn’t hear about all the AMERICANS who lined up to fill the spots opened up by the Swift raid in Greeley. How would he feel if the tables were turned and this was happening to him in his home? Mexico. Never thought about that either.
I’m and American. I got my education. I’m working on my 28th year at my job. I don’t drink and I don’t do drugs.
And I’ll whine about our “ILLEGAL” immigration problem as much as I want to !!!
Aurora
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Climate change
Denver
Labor bill veto
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Snow removal
A
Saint Valentine’s Day
Columbus Day
Aurora
Australia’s John Howard
Someone please tell me where this clown (Howard) gets off criticizing ANY American policy or politician anyway?
I suggest Senator Obama take keen note of this kind of potential obstacle recognizing that he’s only the tip of an iceberg he’ll be dealing with in the future.
Columbus Day
State Sen
Denver
Evolution & faith
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A Differing View: Ritter would do well to help RTD drivers
Many of us who voted for Ritter are not members of unions. We just favor laws that give a little more power to the working class. In my view, organized labor is the best anti-poverty program ever. Mandates empowering workers are as American as any pro-management mandates that former Gov. Bill Owens supported. I’ll pay the extra 25 cents to ride the bus so the driver might live a decent life.
Ritter’s veto of labor bill no surprise
Front-page references to “shock and awe” at his decision demonstrate that the media, both political parties, labor and business have yet to learn that in Bill Ritter they are dealing with one of the most principled, thoughtful, dedicated-to-the-common-good individuals they will ever know.
Those who have known Ritter for many years, and I am thankful to be one of them, know that he always attempts to do the right thing for the right reason. His reasoning concerning additional collaboration in this labor bill matter is just another example of what we can expect from a leader like him.
Don’t be shocked, don’t be surprised. Just be grateful.
Racism widespread
I dare say Griego would never print such remarks against anyone of Latino descent. I guess she still operates on the politically correct premise that only gringos can be racists. As her column sadly reflects, there is plenty of racism to go around.
Let’s drop asphalt
To my surprise and amazement, the operator of the plow returned to clear snow from the front of my driveway. The snow removal company was truly conscientious about minimizing the impact on residents while plowing the streets.
As I drive around metro Denver, I realize Aurora’s residential streets have so much less snow and ruts than the other cities
Thank you to the city of Aurora for contracting Dacoa to help clear the streets.
Aurora
Driving in snow
Somehow, this “idiot” managed to avoid the same fate as those other patient, smart drivers.
John Hax
Indian Hills
Denver
Where Chicago is know
Centennial
Perfume
Northglenn
Climate change
Aurora
DeBoer neighborhood
As you know, I have been a frequent guest at your home since 1994. I have met many people at your home who today I count among my close friends and extended family. I love the neighborhood where you live. I love the large, mature trees and the character of the older homes with distinctive architecture. Neighborhoods like this are what make Denver unique.
We all love this forested enclave in Denver. I would hate to see it change.
I love the beautiful old trees and thick foliage which add immeasurably to the beauty and charm of this established neighborhood.
Many times I have enjoyed an evening with you, your family and friends, at your home in the backyard surrounded by all the lovely trees and plants. I know I have commented so many times on how lovely it is. While it is great to plant new trees, and I truly applaud Mayor Hickenlooper’s initiative to do just that, it is at least equally important to preserve these lovely stands of mature trees and foliage which garnish our older neighborhoods.
These trees contribute tremendously to the character and charm of the neighborhood and should be preserved.
I know that DeBoer strongly believed that single family homes with private front yards and mature trees were what most attracted people to this particular part of Denver. That was the case in his time and is no less so today.
I respectfully urge the Denver Planning Board and Blueprint Denver to approve the original Application for Landmark Designation with the proposed District Boundaries as per that original application.
Denver
Iran
Denver
Homeland security
Denver
Religion & schools
“Because religion plays a significant role in history and society, study about religion is essential to understanding both the nation and the world. Omission of facts about religion can give students the false impression that the religious life of humankind is insignificant or unimportant.” (Colorado Model Content Standard for History #6) Sadly, in my High School curriculum writing experience, School District Superintendents run away from this standard and, by their example, lead most teachers with them. Those left to teach to this standard are often “on their own” without the umbrella “topcover” of district staff should an activist parent ever challenge why their child is learning about religion.
State Senator Schultheis’ bill would actually serve to protect teachers who are just trying to do their jobs whether they’re part of the “religious right” or the most liberal wing of the Colorado Education Association. Because activist judges are out there waiting to jump all over teachers and their school districts, this bill is desperately needed, regardless of your political or philosophical orientation.
Colorado Springs
Seat-belt bill
The News correctly points out that as many as 70 lives a year – including children — will be saved by a primary enforcement law. Since this apparently isn’t enough to meet the “libertarian” threshold for concern, maybe some additional facts can help: in Colorado, the total cost of traffic accidents to employers is estimated to be $359 million annually in lost productivity, costs associated with replacing injured workers, medical costs, disability costs and sick leave pay. Medicaid impacts of head injury crashes alone exceed $7 million per year in Colorado. These unnecessary costs are borne by each and everyone of us — even if it is your choice to wear safety belts.
In keeping with the “libertarian” theme, I have a right to have my government find ways to reduce and eliminate these unnecessary costs. Similarly, when someone loses control of his or her vehicle because they are not properly belted, I have a right to be free of the carnage they inflict on fellow motorists and the unsafe conditions they create on public roads.
Regarding fears of “police harassment”, opponents including Representative Morgan Carroll, added language to the bill last year to raise the standard by which police enforce this law. Opponents’ language prohibits law enforcement agents from stopping someone for suspicion, and requires that they visually observe and be able to articulate that they saw that seat belts were NOT in use.
Making Colorado roads safer is the goal. Given our climate and terrain, Colorado roads are some of the most challenging in the nation. A law which substantially reduces road deaths and serious injuries, eliminate or reduces significant costs to our government and society, and protects those who are least able to protect themselves deserves everyone’s thoughtful support. I applaud the expressed concern for minimizing civil liberties and reducing police harassment should that occur. But, both arguments are stale and misguided in this context, and their proponents, including the News, would do well to focus on real threats to our freedoms.
Lastly, we give the law enforcement community the authority to police our roads and highways per the laws of the state. We can trust that in enforcing the rules of the road they use their judgment as to when and how to enforce the laws that the legislature passed and the Governor has signed into law. Just having a statue in law will notify the driving public just how such a law is considered important by the governing powers, and will signal to those who choose to break the law that there is a chance that they could be caught and ticketed. The threat alone of ticketing, and the associated fine, will in itself cause an increased use of safety belts without the law even having to be enforced. That will be accomplished because Coloradans are for the most part law abiding. No piece of legislation being considered during the present legislative session can come close to reducing highway deaths, minimizing serious injuries, suppressing the unneeded pain and suffering, and eliminating millions of dollars of unnecessary societal costs for emergency service, health care (both short and long term), and Medicaid. Let’s get over arguing about “rights” and get on with legislating quality of life for Colorado citizens which will be gained by passing Senate Bill 151.
Junk mail bill
. . . . . .
Let me get that correct, the U.S. Postal Service wants mailboxs stuffed with de facto trash paper that is mostly discarded so as to provide jobs for “thousands of postal workers.” I have many job descriptions in this life, but one of them is not, “to provide jobs for ‘thousands of postal workers.’” Further, there is no provision in our Colorado Constitution to maximize federal governmental employment.
Pardon my ignorance, but for many years I have been of the evidently stupidly naive thought that the mission of the post office was to deliver mail, not to redistribute my income to a postal workers dole program. But Mr. DeSarro let the cat out of the bag; unfortunately the postal service admits being a unionized, bureaucratized, governmental monopoly operated for the benefit of the employees, not the customers. This is another example of the term “government worker” being an oxymoron. “Sure you can trust the government, ask an Indian” - a bumper sticker
Greenwood Village
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Air safety
The airline was in no way obligated, but very generous, to offer
It is unfortunate that this happened. Perhaps all parents can learn something from this situation and take the time to prepare themselves
Northglenn
President Bush
George W. Bush is being handled like a puppet by Dick Cheney who without a doubt is a delusional psychopath with an agenda of lies, deception, hate and dictatorship.
America is in great danger with this duo of doom and misery. The only hope for the future of America is to impeach George W. Bush (the mentally challenged) and Dick Cheney (the psychopath).
Denver
Junk mail bill
For example if a small business owner wanted to run a ad in the Sunday news paper it would cost approx. $165.00 and would only cover the households that get a newspaper and happen to browse through every section and happen to notice the ad. Whereas, if the same small business owner did a saturation mailing with the same $165.00 he could reach 1300 households and each and every household would view that ad letter to determine its value to the customer. If this bill passes we are taking choices away from small businesses to try and grow there business.
Secondly, there is a website that can take a person off all national mailing registers; www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist Sponsored by the national Direct Marketing Association (DMA). A person can sign up on this list and be taken off every national mailing list, allowing local businesses to still advertise and reach local customers. Why should our tax paying dollars go to enforcing this kind of wasted bill when there is a mechanism to get off 60% of all mailing lists already?
Thirdly, the mailing industry constitutes a 9.2 billion dollar a year industry involving 150,000 jobs including printers and envelope firms, retailers, large and small businesses, direct mailers, marketers etc. besides the 11,000 Postal Workers for the state of Colorado. I ask you, where we are going to fill 161,000 jobs and create 9.2 billion dollars in revenue if this bill passes? Lastly, what kind of mail will this prevent a consumer to lose? What is enforceable on this bill? I believe you will start to see more “resident” or “occupant” mail, because this law allows you to take your name off this list. If it is changed to allow you to take an address of the list, then the next address owner will be without, unless the state of Colorado adds a “Yes, Mail List” bill.
Bottom line is this bill will only hurt business, waste our legislator’s time, waste tax payer’s money to enforce the bill and put people out of jobs and on the street. Is this piece of legislation worth not having to look at 2 or 3 extra pieces of mail a day?
Greeley
Medicare, Medicaid cuts
Medicare cuts the bill down then pays 80%; the Company Insurance pays 80% of the 20% . After you are drawing Social Security, they deduct payments for Medicare part B.
There are a lot of things Medicare won’t approve. If Medicare won’;t approve then your Secondary won’t pay anything.
Your Social Security is taxed as earned income. It should be free of taxes and treated as Insurance.
The Feds are taking money out of Social Security and Fica for their pet projects.
Seniors paid into it with the idea that it was Insurance. Some say S.S. is going broke because more people are retiring than are paying into it.
Some refer to it as Welfare, some as the Government giving it to you...Neither is true, we are entitled to it.
Bush is bankrupting the Government with his war. I guess, so that “They” can install the New World Order or One World Government that Bush Senior talked about when he was Pres.
Young working people should wake up and make their voices heard., otherwise they will be paying into it for nothing.
Iraq war
Greeley
Columbus Day
We honor with no less sincerity Native American leaders like Crazy Horse, Cochise, Quanah Parker, Red Cloud, Tecumseh and many others for similar exceptional qualities as they fought to defend their way of life.
These heroes, however, also committed atrocious acts. That’s the double standard. When Native Americans give up honoring Crazy Horse, because he as a warrior as other Lakota warriors, raided, kidnapped, enslaved, and murdered people of other tribes, as well as pioneers caught on the trail to Colorado, Oregon and California... when honoring Crazy Horse is given up, then Columbus can be given up. Not likely huh? Let’s not tolerate a double standard, then. Instead we should recognize what was outstanding in all men and women who rose significantly above the mundane to achieve greatness while conducting themselves within the mores of their culture and historical era. That would leave out Hitler and Stalin and Pol Pot and other psychotic aberrations, but include great men like Columbus and Crazy Horse.
Aurora
Iraq war
“We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we’re for them and trying to get them out of there. Hit the streets to protest Bush’s proposed surge. If you can, go to the peace march in Washington on Jan. 27. We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, “Stop it, now!”
So this is my small effort. Mr. Bush; stop sending U.S. troops to Baghdad to try to referee Iraq’s civil war. Your “surge” will only lead to more American deaths. Although the current situation in Iraq is largely a result of your arrogance and incompetence, the civil war now going on is an Iraqi problem and Iraqis must solve it. More American troops will not lead to a solution, only to more American targets. You already have the deaths of nearly 3100 American soldiers and untold thousands of Iraqi civilians on your head.
So stop it now!!!
Loveland
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President Bush
Recently Bush announced that the Iranians are supplying the insurgents with weapons. So What? Russia has been supplying AK47’s to them and to drug dealers across America for years. In addition to a few grenade launchers and mortars. Its OK for the US to provide Israel with planes, tanks, guns bombs, rockets to fight the Palestinians?
Iran is a much larger threat than Iraq ever was, and it has grown to be a much larger threat since we attacked Iraq and since Bush called them “the axis of evil.†Our soldiers should know the truth about what they are fighting for. After all they are making the ultimate sacrifice, shouldn’t they be entitled to the truth? They are told that because they are fighting in Iraq they are fighting to protect America. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, had no WMD’s or nuclear, nor a connection to Al Qeada. Iraq was never a threat to America. The threats have escalated since we have been there.
Our troops deserve the best, they do believe they are serving America, they do believe their sacrifice is important. They are not responsible for the lies propagated to them by this White House. They are sincere in their effort and should be applauded for it. And they deserve better care than their getting when they get home. But we must lie to them in order to get the recovered ones to go back. Way to go White House.
The real responsibility and condemnation goes to the Bush administration.
Their intimidation of the CIA and FBI to provide false information to the Congress and America then attacking Iraq should be thoroughly investigated and punished. There are over 3,120 American soldiers killed, over 35,000 wounded/maimed and over 150,000 Iraqis killed mainly because of the irresponsible, incompetent man in the White House. Not to mention that each person in the US now has a tax liability of over $28,000.00. Impeachment should be the first option.
Broomfield
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Conservative? Liberal?
Back then we conservatives did not advocate torture, for any reason. We publically disavowed discrimination. We were adamant about maintaining a strong military to prevent wars, not start them. We were ardent capitalists who favored a solid middle class and a robust small business community as the backbones of a strong nation.
We did not believe we had to cater to big business. We wanted smaller government and less of it involved in our lives. We stood strong by the Constitution - some of us even fought and died for it. We held individual freedoms above all else. We fought for fair and honest elections.
We believed in truth. We wanted abortions to be reduced, not outlawed. We did not try to protect corrupt politicians. We believed that a duty of the government was to help those suffering from natural disasters. We strived to preserve the greatest health care system in the world so that Americans would never lack for medical care. We believed that we should ensure proper care for the elderly, even if the government had to step in to assist. Ditto for our veterans. We believed that decorated war heroes should be honored and chicken hawks should not. We did not condone incompetence in our leadership. We felt that no person should be imprisoned without proper representation and the right to due process. We were respected and admired by the rest of the world. We were the bastion of freedom. We believed that a free, unencumbered press was essential to ensure our freedom and the American way of life. (There was no such thing as a liberal or a conservative press. The press was just the press.) We believed in the separation of church and state. We didn’t infuse “family values” into politics and try to force our values on everyone else. We believed in science. We believed in honoring all religions equally.
We believed that we the people were the “deciders". We never started a single war. We didn’t believe anyone was above the law. We believed that the homeless were Americans, too. We did not believe in destroying the lives of good people just because they disagreed with us. We did not believe that war profiteering was OK. We did not hate liberals, and the liberals did not hate us. We believed that it was more important to base decisions on facts than on ideologies. And we despised fascists. Today’s conservatives hold none of these ideals.
I have not changed, but if you want to call me a liberal, that’s fine with me because true conservatives no longer exist. Conservatives of a generation ago believed in strengthening our nation, not destroying it.
Boulder
Amendment 41
Fort Lupton
Anna Nicole Smith
Denver
Democratic convention
Denver
Executed inmate
Denver
Amendment 41
Denver
RTD oath
Denver
Climate change
Why have her own jet at all?
She should be reducing her ‘ carbon footprint ‘ not enlarging it if she believed what she says about Global Warming.
The Truth is, for most people who talk about ‘ Global Warming ‘it is simply an issue of convenience they use to pursue their own agendas.
I don’t believe there is any Anthropogenic Global Warming, and more to the point, most of the people who promote that notion don’t actually believe it either.
If they did, they wouldn’t be wasting everyones time talking about ‘ solutions ‘ like solar energy and wind power — which are fine when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing, but simply cannot meet the power on demand needs of a modern, technologically based society.
If they truly believed in Global Warming, they would promote Hydroelectric and Nuclear Power and make a sincere, honest effort to reduce their own CO2 Emissions.
Their Actions belie their statements about their beliefs.
So, when their carbon reduction mandates and carbon taxes come through and everyone is paying higher prices for EVERYTHING ( the price of electricity affects the price of everything ) I hope someone will remember these people and their actions, not their words.
Mike Rosen & English
In fact, in the last two years, four major reviews
2. Rolstad, K., Mahoney, K., & Glass, G. 2005. The big picture: A meta-analysis of program effectiveness research on English language learners. Educational Policy 19(4): 572-594.
3. Genesse, F., Lindolm-Leary, K., Saunders, W., and Christian, D. 2005. English Language Learners in U.S.
Schools: An Overview of Research. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk, 10(4), 363–385.
4. Francis, D., Lesaux, N., & August, D. 2006.
Language of instruction, In D. August & T. Shanahan, (Eds.) Developing literacy in second-language learners, pp. 365-413. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
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Elk overpopulation
Overall i believe that this is the most natural way to go about reducing the elk population. “Having elk and wolves in the same state...that’ll live up to Colorado’s historic wilderness once again.”
Devin Klundt
No hometown provided
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Amendment 41
The fact that Amendment 41 passed by a fairly wide margin shows two things: First, voters do not think through the ramifications of the words they read unless millions of dollars are spent educating them that the language is misleading. (Or maybe they just don’t read the words.) And second, Common Cause has mastered the art of creating misleading language.
Let’s not forget that Common Cause, the force behind Amendment 41, was also the brain trust behind Amendment 27, conceivably the worst campaign finance law in the nation because it effectively limits political contributions from individuals and corporations but not from unions.
Common Cause is a decidedly left-wing organization, but my guess is that the unintended consequences of Amendment 41 were a function of muddle-headed liberal thinking, whereas the terrible consequences for free speech and electoral fairness created by Amendment 27 were almost certainly not unintended. What we really need is a ballot measure to repeal any constitutional amendment supported by Common Cause.
Nederland
RTD oath
History tells us that the founding fathers referenced the creator many time in the creation of this great country. Are we now willing to reject those beliefs, and what’s the cost if we do? There are enough evils at work to destroy us and what we stand for.. We should all be willing to accept the status quo rather than remove the one ally we still have to remain a force on this planet.
Highlands Ranch
DeBoer neighborhood
D
Jeffco commissioner
Kick over a beehive and you’ll get a raging swarm of bees. The question is, why are they raging? Those bees have been doing nefarious deeds for a long time and it will take time and effort to correct the situation. Thanks to Congrove the job is being done.
Fortunately we have at the helm a man with the integrity, talent and will to get the job done. Go forth and investigate thou good and faithful servant, Commissioner Congrove. Thanks for doing the job you are doing.
Amendment 41
However, as they seem to be able to do so, I can think of two amendments that deserve nullification much more than Amendment 41
Aurora
Amendment 41
I am offended that Fitzgerald thinks I’m an uninformed voter. I certainly knew what I was doing when I checked the Yes box next to Amendment 41 on Election Day. I was supporting meaningful ethics reform for Colorado. I was taking a stand against the freebies, trips, and gifts given to legislators to influence their decisions. I was also aware that the “unintended consequences” were primarily the handiwork of lobbyists. Amendment 41 was never about stopping scholarships, and now the courts agree.
I apologize that, much like rest of us “uneducated” voters, you now must pay for your own lunch, but it is time for the Legislature to step up and do their job by passing implementing legislation that upholds what the voters wanted in the first place: ethics reform. It is truly sad that Fitzgerald won’t support the will of the voters, and truly offensive for her to assume her constituents are uneducated because they support ethics.
Perhaps voters need to further educate themselves before voting Ms.
Fitzgerald into office. Shame on you, Joan and any other legislators who think they are above their constituents.
Potholes
Public Works has the responsibility to maintain streets and the general quality of life in residential and business districts of the City. Anyone who has driven west on 8th Avenue past Denver General in recent months has to question the quality of the street resurfacing. The same situation is found on south Broadway near Gates Rubber. The way these streets were repaired and resurfaced has more to do with wear and tear than harsh weather. Parking meters on Broadway between 3rd and Alameda have been unreachable (and mostly uncollectible) for more than six weeks.
The City can’t fire taxpayers for demanding they do better jobs, with no additional taxes, higher fines, or dipping into emergency reserves!
Denver
Senate Bill 34
Also, if I maintain my place of residence in Alabama, my carry permit would remain good in the State of Colorado no matter how long I stay.
In my opinion, Rep. Al White is trying to chase away good honest people whose only desire is to be able to defend themselves against the wretched refuse of our society. If you remove that right of self defense, then what is left? Do we let these felons have their way with anyone they prey upon? Mr White - I seriously believe your RAM chips are installed backwards.
Tallahassee, Ala.
Smoking bill
These Senators where put into office to represent the people, now I understand why the people distrust government so. While the results where disappointing, so were the actions of our elected officials, to say the least.
There were over 30 people who testified on the economic loss of their businesses. A survey I conducted showed these businesses had a decrease of income in the 30 to 50 % range. 44 bars have closed their doors, over 600 people have lost their jobs, 128 women whom are single mothers. Both businessmen &women testified to their loss of income, businesses being empty for extended periods of time, their licenses and insurance rates put into jeopardy of being lost or revoked as a direct result of the many problems cause by the Smoking Ban. Bars robbed, women being harassed or worse because of going outside to smoke, customers smoking Pot outside, drug dealers approaching smokers to sell drugs. This amounts to a drug dealers friendly law.
The smoking ban law is not only poorly written, It is also confusing and without common sense or logic. For government to enact a law that puts businesses out of business is fascist government at its finest. The 14th Amendment of the Constitution, Section 1 The Equal Protection clause ie: No state shall make or enforce any laws which shall abridge the privileges of its citizens or deprive any person of life, liberty, or property rights: nor to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Senator Romer stated, they did not want to go backwards(remember prohibition). Well Government is going backwards with the smoking ban.
While we the people will be going forward for LIBERTY AND FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
Lakewood
Make My Day bill
Aurora
Iran
Bush’s charges against Iran are sounding painfully familiar. Supposedly Iran is providing advanced weaponry to Shiite militias to attack Americans, yet very little concrete evidence has been produced, certainly none tied to the central government of Iran. It’s disturbing that Bush ignores the fact that Iran is closely tied to America ‘s Shiite allies in Iraq and has a vested interest to encourage stability. Remember how Bush/Cheney tied the secular Saddam Hussein to the religious radical Al Qaeda group, ignoring the advice of our intelligence community that the two were actually bitter enemies?
With concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its support for Hezbollah and Hamas and its alliance with Syria, it may be in our interest to encourage change in Iran. But it shouldn’t come from bullets and bombs, but by open diplomacy and the free flow of ideas and culture. However Bush’s pigheaded strategy actually works against our interests and would rally the Iranian people against America, strengthen the nation’s hard-liners and turn the people of the Middle Eastern region towards Iran – and further against the U.S.
Bush’s lack of imagination for solving problems is astounding. He has a hammer and everything he looks at is a nail. It’s too bad that Bush didn’t go into Hollywood instead of Politics. At least we’d only be out the price of bad movie tickets.
Fort Collins
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Climate change
Gernannt asked what was the downside to his list of “benefits” due to global warming. The following is a small sampling of downsides due to global warming. These are: rising sea levels (with consequent land loss), insect infestations, widespread species die offs, increased energy consumption during summer months to keep cool, and mass human migrations as people search for arable land. The list goes on and on.
Even recalcitrant CEO’s are finally recognizing that global warming is not only an environmental disaster, but an economic disaster as well. To wit, just a few weeks ago, chief executives from some of America’s largest corporations have joined with environmental organizations urging U.S. lawmakers to pass sweeping legislation that would ultimately cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly.
By the way, Greenland was not called Greenland because it was “green.” It was called Greenland to help promote colonization of a landmass that, at that time, was considered a barren glacier.
Loveland
Smoking
If this is the way our Senators act toward the public, I understand why the peoples distrust of government is growing. There were 1600 bars, pubs, taverns and clubs in the state of Colorado, now there are less than 1500 as a direct result of the ban. Did you know the oldest VFW club in the state had to close it’s doors along with many others. Did you know that if this law is allowed to exist, the closure rate will grow exponentially to the point that within two years over half of these now existing businesses will be gone and thousands of people will have lost their jobs. Not to mention the millions and millions of dollars lost in state tax revenue, license fees, property tax, income tax, unemployment insurance for single moms, who make up over 65% of bartenders and wait staff, ancillary companies and, the loss of retirement investment, livelihood, children’s and grandchildren’s educational savings and pride in being independently self sufficient tax payers.
I would like to believe you don’t think the junk science propaganda of zealots, which we can prove has been debunked, is worth all these disastrous effects. The simple truth is we are going under. Can you find in your heart some semblance of the despair we feel and grant us a way in which we can remain the honest, hardworking, tax paying, proud and patriotic family men and women that we are.
War protesters
Conservatives call those who don’t blindly follow our deranged President into his wars of choice the “blame America first crowd". Considering the 70% of Americans believe the Iraq war was “not worth it", isn’t it ironic? Before tossing around allegations as incendiary as veterans being spit upon, perhaps some evidence would be in order. How about a witness? How about video tape? How about checking your facts before tossing out bogus allegations to justify your warmongering predilections?
Denver
Smoking
J
Lakewood
Junk mail bill
In the UK it has been possible for many years for consumers to register on our equivalent of the Do Not Mail list. In one way it can be said to have worked quite well, in that people who don’t want to receive adverts through the post, register and by and large stop getting them.
But the problem is that the campaign against this type of advertising has not stopped there. For the last three years the UK has had a vigorous campaign against all direct mail advertising - a campaign mostly sponsored by national newspapers that are fearful of the way advertising through the post is eating into their revenues.
What such campaigns ignore is that (at least in Europe, and I believe in the USA too) postal advertising subsidises the loss-making postal services used by consumers every day of the week. To give an example, in the UK it costs around 40 cents to post a letter from one part of the country to another. If there were no junk mail to subsidise this service the postal service would have to charge about $2.50 per letter.
I mention this because it does seem that introducing “do not mail” policies is only the start of such campaigning. I applaud your approach, and do hope you do not end up with the whole postal industry under threat.
Absurd water policies
Agriculture and locally grown produce is in jeopardy.
Water policies and regulations affect all of the people.
Is more government really the answer?
A more intriguing question that comes to mind is why nearly half of the electorate of our fair state can look out their living room windows and see the absolute incompetence of local government juxtaposed against the cleared private parking lots at shopping malls, neighborhoods hiring contractors to get the job done, etc., and yet still believe that what this country needs more than anything is government-delivered health care.
Please imagine, the year is 2015 and after six years of the smartest woman on earth being in the White House the U.S. finally has “free” health care provided by that model of efficiency, the federal government. Further, consider the effects of a widespread bird flu outbreak or a virus released by terrorists or some other unforeseen epidemic that sweeps the country.
At this point, true-believing liberals are thinking, “Well, that would be different.” How, exactly?
Sounds like blind faith to me.
Give kids, families a break on 41
I agree with Carroll that there are many unintended problems caused by Amendment 41 that the legislature is powerless to fix. One area where the legislature can and should act, however, is with regard to children of state employees who are applying for college scholarships.
The Rocky has noted that performance-based scholarships are not banned under the full language of Amendment 41, and we now have two District Court judges who agree. With that background, it is time for the legislature to step forward and minimize the very real harm being done to hard-working students and their families.
I would ask Rocky readers to contact their legislators and urge them to support Rep. Rosemary Marshall and Sen. Steve Ward’s proposed enabling legislation to give Amendment 41 a reasonable interpretation.
Database needed to confirm permits
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Gill’s letter was based upon half-truths, exaggerations and distortions. The database is not a registry for gun owners. The County Sheriffs of Colorado are staunch supporters of the Second Amendment and would never support such a bill.
All HB 1174 will do is continue the database previously approved under Colorado law; nothing new, nothing extra. Colorado sheriffs presume that concealed handgun permit holders are law-abiding citizens, but that is not always the case. Unfortunately, some of them participate in criminal episodes and are arrested for violent crimes or demonstrate serious mental health problems.
The independent database (not with criminals as alleged) provides sheriffs an opportunity to identify permitholders who have been arrested for violent crime and no longer qualify for a permit under Colorado law. There is no other purpose.
White has the foresight to understand legitimate public safety issues and the courage to do something about it. He and others sponsored the original concealed handgun permit legislation which even Gill called an “unqualified success.” Continuing success is dependent upon law enforcement’s ability to confirm the authenticity of permits and to ensure that they are verifiable in the field.
President
Secretary/treasurer
Legislative chairman
Immigrant-coddling Dems are too much
So now they don’t have to speak our language, and to make matters worse, we have to pay for bilingual this and bilingual that, translate state and local documents, have translators for tax-paid services and yet all other immigrants (Russian, Korean, etc.) somehow have to manage.
I am tired of this, especially after spending 28 minutes on the phone one recent morning with an Arapahoe County office that constantly spewed Spanish in my ears while I held. Go, U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, go!
Repeal Columbus Day
A reasonable alternative would be to replace Columbus Day with Election Day, which used to be a holiday.
That is a day steeped in civic responsibility and, no matter what your political leanings, a unity of purpose. Columbus Day simply emphasizes, inflames and deepens the divisions among us. I would like the state to take the necessary steps to repeal Columbus Day as a holiday in Colorado.
Lawbreakers favored
Now we have a state legislator who plans to resolve the problem. Shall we honor the rights of the law abiders or give in to the lawbreakers? According to Sen. Suzanne Williams, it should be decided whether to eliminate the holiday or change its name (“Columbus Day name may change,” Jan. 23). I don’t think I have to point out to her that either “solution” favors the lawbreakers.
Do we want people like this running our government?
The shame of it all
This could hurt working people in several ways: employers could deny otherwise legal workers jobs because they can’t affirmatively show adequate documents or because they have to deal with incorrect data in the government’s database. The U.S. government in effect is attempting to create a permission slip to work.
This will also likely create a situation where employers won’t hire someone because of their appearance
Denver
Iran
2. We don’t believe him. How can his “intelligence” tell the difference between an Iranian (soldier, weapon, or explosive) and the Iranian government itself when none of us can tell the difference between an Iranian and an Iraqi or a Sunni and a Shia or, on George Bush’s part, a real threat by WMD and a bogus war.
3. We don’t care, we told him to get out of there, didn’t we? We won’t be blaming Iran for the disaster that is Iraq, we’ll be blaming Pres. Bush and his political allies.
Lakewood
Electoral College bill
Senate bill 46 could be a major disaster because election error in another state could be contested in Colorado. Since Colorado Electors would be affected by voting errors in other states, fiascos in other states could be adjudicated in Colorado courts. A finding in a Colorado court that another state’s certification was illegal under Colorado law could change the way our Electors vote.
In the 2000 election, Florida’s dispute between it’s Supreme Court and Attorney General could have been contested in Colorado. Since the question was whether the Florida Attorney General had legally certified the election, and that decision would affect which candidate was the national popular vote winner, the Florida Attorney General’s certification of Florida’s results could be contested as invalid under Colorado law. SB 46 identifies the Attorney General’s ruling as final. The Florida Supreme Court ruled that it wasn’t final.
The US Supreme Court, in it’s most controversial ruling in history, held that the Attorney General’s certification was final for Florida. That holding would not be binding on Colorado because the issue would be how Colorado law applied to the Florida situation, not how Florida law applied.
There were contested issues in Washington State and Ohio. Those results could have been contested in Colorado also.
Each state’s top election official, as second guessed by the state Supreme Court, and the US Supreme Court would end up determining what the Florida, Washington State, and Ohio certifications should have been.
Denver
Flag-display bill
A local North Colorado daily seems content to spread Rep. Lundberg’s misrepresentation of this bill to the detriment of our schools and veterans. Print appearances authored by Lundberg and his campaign finance contributors accuse that HB-1050 weakens protections for the US and Colorado flags.
This is blatantly untrue, but that doesn’t keep that message off of that editorial page. The truth is clear; HB-1050 allows the display of the POW/MIA flag from State flagpoles - Lundberg’s opposition makes it a crime to fly that flag. Also, HB-1050 retains the criminal offense for flying unauthorized flags.
Most importantly, HB-1050 returns control of policies for the classroom display of flags to local school boards. Rep. Lundberg’s issue with “...displaying other flags on public buildings...” seems directed at civics classes and schools that recognize and honor their current and past international exchange students. The public harm in that practice is dubious.
The reality of Rep. Lundberg’s opposition seems to be the combination of Democratic (as in the bill’s sponsors) and US Flag. This is a good bill that Rep. Lundberg and his campaign financiers cannot tolerate being carried by Democrats. That steals a campaign stereotype that they won’t be able to use in two years. Their only hope is to lie about the bill.
Loveland
Ed Stein
One day many of us may be in this situation and we can only hope that there will be someone to care. Altho Ed’s reference to social security and medicare is clear, his depiction, in a cartoon, of the aged is very sad and in poor taste, especially for those looking at the cartoon in a retirement, assisted care or nursing home.
Lets all hope that the plight, and it is a plight, of the elderly in care centers will be considered in a caring way without malice, sadness or ridicule in the media.
Thornton
Iraq war
Denver
Abortion bill
Denver
Labor bill veto
Amendment 41
If Polis is sincere, rather than play the victim (next we will hear he’s admitting himself into an Amendment 41 Rehab program), he should fund an indemnification pool for those losing scholarships etc due to the millions he spent for his poorly worded amendment creating these ‘unintended consequences.’ Yes, this funding may displace monies that otherwise would go to forward his political ambitions, but would fix some of these problems rather than playing the wah-wah-wah (victimizer playing the victim) card.
Poor,poor Jared - has he considered Subway Commercials making faux baloney sandwichs?
Centennial
Climate change
The facts surrounding Global Warming are very technical and complicated to understand. Some of the aspects of how this important issue is being treated are reminiscent of how I remember my experiences when I was a member of the Technical Science Committee for the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission. In the 1990s, this commission was formed to examine and make recommendations on the causes of deteriorating visibility in the Grand Canyon and other National Parks. After months of compiling and examining the real science of meteorological, atmospheric, and a variety of other anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic sources/causes for deteriorating visibility, the conclusions reached by the politically established commission absolutely ignored the real issues and science. Those factions – they called themselves environmentalists - wanting to establish that power plants and other smoke stack industries were the culprits for deteriorating visibility did their very best to skew the science and created a political atmosphere within the Commission and Western Governor’s Association. The result was recommendations that were very politically correct but way off the mark if a real solution to visibility was the objective. Society lost and will pay a very big bill for no or little effect in our National Parks. So too may be our dilemma with this issue of Global Warming if the real science is set aside and ignored for a more politically correct environment, as noted so well by Dr. McKitrick.
Littleton
Columbus Day
(Speakout, February 1). Not only are Colorado’s children deprived of accurate history with the continuing veneration of an Indian-killing, slave trader, but the moral messages that we project to them are also dubious. Is the lesson to our children: steal a car and you go to prison, steal a continent and you get a state and national holiday?
I’m afraid that is the lesson. We can change that by supporting Senator Suzanne Williams’ proposal.
Cable bill
Will they have a duty to provide upgraded service opportunities to all citizens and all neighborhoods?
W
N
Is there currently anything in the way of Qwest following the same rules as everyone else to enter the market?
W
The Qwest push to go around community values and pick off the newest and most lucrative business for themselves and leave the rest of us in the dust is transparent and destructive.
C
Denver
Climate change
An opinion needs to be backed by facts. Mr. Harmening tells the reader that his opinion is just as valid as those of the scientists in Boulder.
Might we take this form of logic to its extreme to demonstrate its fallacy? For example, imagine that NASA is of the opinion that our moon is composed of rock; my opinion is that the moon is made of green cheese. Do we dismiss NASA, and all their research, because they offer no proof contrary to mine? Thus, for Mr. Harmening, his opinion on climate change is like stating that the moon is green cheese: Cute idea for a child’s story, but with no factual footing to support the conclusion. Believing that an un-informed opinion is as valid as an informed one is very dangerous thinking, because it is detrimental for the education and well-being of everyone.
One very cold or warm winter, one very wet or dry summer, one mild or fierce hurricane season, are not good indicators of the long term effects of climate change. Even the short term weather trends need to be looked at in the context of millennia to fully appreciate current and future changes.
One other area that Mr. Harmening might want to explore is called “global dimming” and its relationship to climate change. Never heard of it? Well, you might then want to educate yourself about its reality and impact on everyone.
We continental Americans have such a small view of the larger world that we oft fail to see the suffering of others especially when due to a factor such as climate change because we do not see its impact immediately on our person. We do not want to see, or hear, or read about our own citizens who have already involuntarily moved, lost homes, or lost livelihoods, because of rising sea levels. If we did, we would realize and face the tragic human and economic consequences of rising water, and would be ashamed that not only did we not help but we perpetuated the fantasy that there is no such thing as global warming.
It is not a matter of whether or not to spend resources and money on this issue, because these are already being spent to stave off the devastating effects rising sea levels are having on the globe. Our meager resources should not be spent debating the reality of rising water, but should be carefully spent to help alleviate the current impact and to help allay future problems.
I don’t think it is up to the RMN to publish all the investigative work already available on the subject of rising sea levels. Let the media inform and the reader pursue further his or her own education on the subject. If a person does not have Internet access at home, try a public library computer and do a Google search on “rising sea levels", or find EPA publications (which are also on the web), and look through the research on global warming. Some of the readily available research goes back to the decade when the first George W. Bush was president - long before Al Gore came on the scene. Global warming is not a political idea or even a theory, but, rather, it is a scientific fact.
Sometimes the media, even the RMN, tends to use the future tense to describe the changes due to climate change/global warming. Rising seas are a reality and have been so for centuries. But, apparently, the only proof that would satisfy Mr. Harmening would be water rising up to his neck while standing on the Pacific shore. We could only hope, but, alas, geologic changes occur so slowly compared to our short lives that few us ever realize the full impact of global changes.
There is open debate about the causes of global warming, and any reasonable climatologist would admit to not having all the answers on its causation which is why research continues. But, I have never heard a Chicken Little comment from a scientist on this matter. Might Mr.
Harmening provide the sources for his comment and a definition of Chicken Little? I do not claim to know the number of scientist working in Boulder, but I can well imagine that they make up a fraction of all scientists, world wide, who study the climate and come to the same conclusions. Correct me if I am wrong.
Before dismissing the Chicken Little, eggheaded scientists, those who foist their opinions on the public might first become informed about a subject, and then offer arguments that are fact based and accurate. We are so inclined to criticize and dismiss others whose viewpoints are not our own rather than participate in constructive solutions. To Mr.
Harmening, and those of like ilk, a challenge: Show us your research that contradicts the interpretation of evidence gathered over decades and that would also refute the observable changes in the world’s climate.
None of us is ever 100% correct, but could we not strive to become informed before letting our ignorance become oh so public?
[No hometown provided]
Snow removal
Denver
Gangs
I remember this meeting for the aforementioned, and for the fact that as I walked toward the meeting room, Mayor Pena, who had just spoken, passed me in the hallway and said, “Don’t scare them, Dave.” I don’t recall my verbal response, but my immediate nonverbal thought was, “How do you talk about gangs in their community and not scare them?”
I knew that the city policy of ignoring gangs and they will go away was not a viable option, nor was the media distortion method a responsible approach to the situation. So, I did the Joe Friday method and gave them, “Just the facts.” The facts were that we had L.A. style gangs in Denver and they were associated with crack cocaine. Everything else associated with L.A. gangs would be integrated into Denver’s more passive, smaller neighborhood gangs of dysfunctional youth who were in the right place at the right time. They were youth looking for an identity and were perfect targets for the L.A. fast-talking, fast money, red and blue bandana waving gangsters who offered them notoriety as they fell through the cracks of society and addicted by the intoxication of gang membership.
I attempted to temper this “scare” with the more sobering facts that only a small percentage of those involved were active and hardcore, while others remained on the periphery. This is important to the police so that they can identify, isolated and incarcerate the hardcore and vital to the community so that they can deflect, direct and divert at-risk youth into viable programs. I explained that it was important to understand this degree of involvement so that the appropriate levels of resources can be directed to the appropriated levels of involvement. I am not sure if I alleviated their concerns, but I am convinced that they were scared later as the level of violence increased, as did the level of Media reports concerning the violence increased. Ultimately, Denver got a permanent L.A. style gang subculture foundation and the original gangsters (OG’s), almost all, got more than they bargained for-jail and death.
I reflected upon this community meeting when the Media recently began reporting on the ‘gang problem” in Denver after Denver Bronco Darrent Williams was shot and killed from someone inside a vehicle belonging to a “gang member.” This was followed by numerous media reports of past and present gang related incidents occurring in the Metro area and I wondered aloud if we were going to have gang hysteria in the Media or can this be toned down and reflect the true nature of the problem.
I do not intend to minimize the danger and costs gangs impose on society, nor deny that gang activity has increased. There is a generational swing in gang activity as the efforts of the police and community combine to remove gang members from the streets and reduce recruitment. However, the foundation for gangs is always there so that new generations of dysfunctional youth can fill the void left by those OG’s who died or were jailed. OG’s recently released from jail often go back to their neighborhoods and continue their gang activity, which helps to recruit young members. The new group of recruits is not a reflection on the lack of effort by the police and community, but a reflection of how enormous the problem of disconnected youth can be and how few resources there are available. In fact, there may be more resources trying to recruit youth, some unintentionally (movies and music reinforces the lifestyle), into the gang subculture So, how many gang members are there? It is important to challenge gang statistics that may inflate the numbers of actively involved gang members. Statistics can be unintentionally misleading because they can reflect data that may not differentiate between the levels of involvement of gang members, there can be inconsistencies in the collection of data, there may be data that has not been purged, there is duplicity in data, transient and incarcerated population can be reflected in the data, and erroneous data can be entered. This information needs to be accurate so that the appropriate resources can be directed to the appropriate problems.
Media reports of gang activity by their very nature are sensational, often unintentionally misleading and scare citizens. An accurate and timely message from the Mayor and the police department to groups like the Montclair citizen organization is critical to alleviate their fears and motivate them into action. The message should contain actual numbers of gang members, their degree of involvement, the impact their criminality has on the city and the steps taken by law enforcement to identify, isolate and incarcerate those committing crimes. It should also reflect the efforts of community groups, the DA’s office and the City to deflect gang recruitment, direct youth into alternative programs and divert first time offenders into treatment programs.
So, Mayor Hickenlooper, before the snow melts, just give them the facts, don’t scare them.
Evolution & faith
Westminster
This letter has not been edited.
‘Final Salute’
Your
I have forwarded this to my entire address book. My friends will appreciate the tribute
Littleton Wal-Mart
Employing unconsititutional
During the hearing, city officials said they will disregard its own laws. Littleton has a law that limits unloading of trucks within 800 feet of a residential area between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The proposed location is only a few feet from two residential neighborhoods. The City Attorney and Staff told us that this rule didn’t apply in this situation and can only be enforceable if someone complains. Furthermore, the City Staff then insinuated that they probably wouldn’t enforce the law since there would not be enough resources to address the complaints. So the City Council has told its residents that they have no recourse from the noise at the proposed Wal-Mart property. This is a blatant disregard for the law.
The City and City Council disregarded three other areas of the law. First, the City Council ignored its own signage laws that would have forbidden Wal-Mart to put up huge and gaudy signs along Santa Fe. Second, the State of Colorado has a law that requires a
City Staff should not construe the law to find any means possible to bring in Wal-Mart. The City is trying to hoodwink us by using
Littleton
Maria Elena Salinas
This charge, Salinas says, shows that Tancredo has “a problem . .
Fact: Congressional caucuses based on race are indeed “divisive and contrary to a colorblind society.”
Boulder
Helmet bill
The average helmet meeting FMVSS218 weighs 3 pounds. This much additional weight applied to the head causes an increased stress to be applied to the neck by increasing the effective mass on the end of the spinal column. This stress is multiplied by sudden movements such as those involved in an accident may cause the spine to be hyperextended, greatly increasing the chance of paralysis or permanent spinal cord injury. Any force to the front of the helmet will force the head back, applying a massive sheering force to the person’s neck from the rear lower edge of the helmet itself, bruising or severing the spinal cord. Impacts to the side of the head will effectively apply a twisting force to the spinal column. These injuries are even more likely when considering their effect on a child’s less-developed muscles and weaker spinal structure.
Even the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has questioned the effectiveness of FMVSS218 when they stated “Data which have recently come to our attention raise a question whether motorcyclists who wear the present standard safety helmets which reduce severe or serious injuries to the head and face, may suffer some degree of counter balancing increase in fatal neck injuries. . . .
A study completed by Dr. Jonathan P. Goldstein looked at “The Effect of Motorcycle Helmet Use on the Probability of Fatality and the Severity of Head And Neck Injuries” and the results stated in part: “a tradeoff between head and neck injuries confronts a potential helmet user. Past a critical impact speed to the helmet (13 mph), which is likely to occur in real life accident situations, helmet use reduces the severity of head injuries at the expense of increasing the severity of neck injuries.”
FMVSS218 does NOT even provide a list of approved helmets. Furthermore, when asked for a list of approved helmets, the NHTSA itself has stated “While NHTSA can identify helmets that have passed the agency’s compliance tests, that is not the same as “approving” those helmets.” If a government agency issues a list of “approved” helmets and someone is injured as a result of a defective helmet appearing on that list, the government might be liable for damages.
The best possible means to reduce injuries and death due to motorcycle accidents is to prevent those accidents in the first place. Prevention is best accomplished through education, for motorcycles riders and the general motoring public. When motorcycles are operated soberly and responsibly and other vehicle operators are aware of motorcycles on the road, there are fewer accidents involving motorcycles. Fewer accidents mean fewer deaths and injuries, it’s that simple.
Aurora
Labor bill veto
Bill Ritter not only endorsed the measure, he campaigned on it. With his campaign support of this particular labor measure, he raised money, got endorsements and generated votes. His betrayal of this position has taken his supporters by surprise and left them wondering just who they elected. Yet, labor-backers have been told Governor Ritter is still their friend and will support their causes and so it appears they will hold their tongue and refrain from pointing out the obvious.
It is always troublesome when someone lies to you. It is particularly troublesome when you thought the liar was a friend. And it makes you mad enough to spit when that friend took money or support from you and abandons you for new friends when he got what he came for. Unions play an important part not only in making our work places safe and fair, but they also represent long-time allies in the Democratic party. They deserve better than this action on the part of Governor Ritter. He could have told labor, “not now", or “don’t send it up yet” or, if he were an honest man, “don’t send it up because I won’t sign it even though I promised I would.” Instead, he lead them on and humiliated labor, its supporters and several Democratic legislators.
What benefit did he hope to gain? For what price did he abandon long- time supporters and break his campaign promise? We are told by unofficial sources he vetoed the measure to gain business support for other measures such as universal health coverage. Even darker machiavellian machinations hint that the Governor knew the measure was veto proof and hoped to trick dim-witted Republicans into thinking he was on their side. Officially though, Ritter inexplicably claims “there wasn’t enough dialogue". I say its either a foolish waste or the act of a dishonest man for while he may see a moral distinction between a lie to a Republican and a lie to a Democrat, I say there is none.
Lest we forget, candidate-Ritter stood in the living rooms of gay and lesbian Democrats and pledged to our community his undying support of GLBT civil rights, stating he believed those rights to be fundamental - magic words in our legal profession. It means these are rights we are born with, rights that are so important they can only rarely be LIMITED by law, and never CREATED by law. So passionate was he about this belief that we stepped up and supported him with our time, talent and treasure. But mere hours after being elected, Ritter stood on the front steps of the captial and declared Referendum I dead, stating “the people have spoken.” What happened to fundamental rights? Yet we were told, he’s still our friend, don’t make waves, and my personal favorite, “he didn’t really mean it.”
Candidate-Ritter was a friend to Democratic voters. Governor Ritter is not. He has twice now sold out our causes for some hypothetical future gain. But I say a man willing to lie to get what he wants should never be trusted. Such a man is morally deficient - “a dog who bites". An honest man, on the other hand, sticks with his friends and defends them even at his own expense. Governor Ritter is not an honest man. I will not support him. I will not defend him. And I will hope for his replacement by an honest man - even if he’s a Republican.
Denver
This letter has not been edited.
Seat-belt bill
Democratic Representative Morgan Carroll and most Republicans have it right (I never thought I would say Republicans have got anything right), this bill will lead to abuses. Get ready Colorado! You will now be subject to more traffic checkpoints that will be used as a revenue stream, more cops taken off the streets that would normally be looking for REAL criminals and a lot more racial profiling. How do I know this? Because I lived in New Mexico. New Mexico has become a police state and these abuses and silly priorities go on all the time down there. Ask anyone from there. It is one of the main reasons I moved.
So while Democrats are so worried about whether a taxpaying, law abiding citizen like myself is not wearing a safety device, I find it ironic that not one Democrat has brought up a bill for tougher laws and penalties for graffiti “artists.” Our beautiful town is beginning to look like a world class ghetto because of all these “taggers,” but a law abiding adult CHOOSING not to wear a safety device is what they focus on?
Democrats, we voted you in to tackles real problems in our state, and you in turn bring back needless “nanny state” issues like this? It is distorted priorities like this that put you in the minority to begin with. Ask the Republicans where their whole idiotic “Guns, God and Greed” agenda has gotten them! I am begging the state Dems to reconsider this bill. It is not needed and will turn off alot of voters. Myself and others who I have spoken with will be watching who does in fact sell out my personal liberty. You can count on me never voting for anyone who supports this. If you can’t defend freedom, you are not needed. The real criminals in Colorado whom you are doing nothing about will love you though. .
Denver
Mideast peace
Before we could begin talks, we must decide what we would offer, or give up, to these countries. Do we offer to let them destroy Israel? To make nuclear bombs? To invade Lebanon? To sponsor terrorism freely? That is what they want. We want only for themto leave Iraq and Lebanon alone, and stop trying to make bombs. What is the common ground?
To end this disagreement over whether or not to talk to these coutries, let us invite them to a meeting and see if they show up. The meeting should be convened in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Aurora
Gambling
Forget about the slot machines available in Blackhawk,etc. they are the casino’s biggest moneymakers, if the casino takes in y number of dollars in a given time period they will win x number of dollars,everyday, everytime, it’s that simple. Playing machines is mindboggling dumb, unless you think you are lucky enough to overcome the huge advantage the house has over you. But it is the only way to make a big score[like the lottery, another bad bet].
However when it comes to blackjack Mr. Lillien, like a lot of other people are under the mistaken assumption that card counting actually works,it doesn’t , I don’t care what you have read or heard.
If it did, no casino in Las vegas would offer it,as they would lose and they are not there to lose. And yes I am an expert, I’ve spent more time at a black table than i can count.
The problem in Blackhawk,etc. as far as players are concerned is the $5.00 limit. It is virtually impossible to play the house every hand for the same amount as any statistician will tell you on average you are going to lose more hands than the house by virtue of the fact you have to hit a bad hand before the house does anything.
However, if the limits are raised, every 2nd,3rd hand etc. you can raise your bet and recover from several losing hands. Yes they do need to raise the limits on blackjack and until they do I’ wouldn’t think of playing the house. And I wpuldn’t recommend anybody else did either.
Steven Harmening
Denver
Libby trial
Aspen
Too often there are teachers
All of us as a community need to be a positive force in the changes that are necessary to provide the education that all children deserve.
Mr. Dumbleton, you are not inexperienced or idealistic, you are the standard of what all teachers should strive for
Denver
Veterans
Sure, they will talk about Patriotism, killing the enemy, axis of evil, etc.
This is all fine & dandy unless you get hurt.
Mr. Bush, you should be ashamed. You go around pinning purple hearts on wounded warriors, telling them how proud they’ve made you. You may even shed a tear for them.
Right. That is why you want to slash/or cutback on the funding for care of V A. patients. Who is going to suffer Mr. Bush? Are these young people going to have a co-pay on their prosthetics? Are the people that have severe adjustment problems, because they were forced to serve 3 or 4 tours going to be tossed on the street because of lack of funding? Are people in the V.A. nursing homes with severe head wounds going to have to sit in their own Feces for long periods of time, because the V.A. does not have the funds to hire nurses? I have a better idea, why don’t you take the money you use on useless Mars expeditions to balance the budget. Humans can not get it right on Earth, yet want to go to Mars? Give me a break.
Aurora
This letter has not been edited.
Junk mail bill
The proposed Colorado “Do not mail” is an Opt-Out law. Only those not desiring advertising mail need opt-out. Anyone desiring advertising mail can do nothing - and continue to receive it. Why deny those wishing to avoid advertising mail the power to do so?
I do not consider handling unwanted advertising placed against my will on my personal property to be a civic obligation!
The US Supreme Court said in the Rowan case in 1970, ““In today’s [1970]complex society we are inescapably captive audiences for many purposes, but a sufficient measure of individual autonomy must survive to permit every householder to exercise control over unwanted mail. To make the householder the exclusive and final judge of what will cross his threshold undoubtedly has the effect of impeding the flow of ideas, information, and arguments that, ideally, he should receive and consider. Today’s merchandising methods, the plethora of mass mailings subsidized by low postal rates, and the growth of the sale of large mailing lists as an industry in itself have changed the mailman from a carrier of primarily private communications, as he was in a more leisurely day, and have made him an adjunct of the mass mailer who sends unsolicited and often unwanted mail into every home.
It places no strain on the doctrine of judicial notice to observe that whether measured by pieces or pounds, Everyman’s mail today is made up overwhelmingly of material he did not seek from persons he does not know. And all too often it is matter he finds offensive.”
Furthermore, the Supreme Court said, “the mailer’s right to communicate is circumscribed only by an affirmative act of the addressee giving notice that he wishes no further mailings from that mailer.
To hold less would tend to license a form of trespass and would make hardly more sense than to say that a radio or television viewer may not twist the dial to cut off an offensive or boring communication and thus bar its entering his home. Nothing in the Constitution compels us to listen to or view any unwanted communication, whatever its merit; we see no basis for according the printed word or pictures a different or more preferred status because they are sent by mail.”
We need a Colorado “Do Not Mail” law to create a one-stop, convenient place for homeowners to give senders the aforementioned affirmative notice that we do not want certain kinds of mail sent to our homes.
Labor bill veto
I voted for Ritter, for he impressed me in one limited conversation on resource issues as sincere and decent. But this veto troubles me.
He sure needs to remind himself that since the Bush crowd has been in office, 5.4 million middle-class Americans have slipped into poverty. Indeed, working families have not seen an increase in real buying power since 1999. All the while, bonuses on Wall Street have reached the $60 million threshold, while CEO’s are receiving golden parachutes up to $400 million (Exxon), thanks in great measure to Bush’s tax cuts for the rich, the one percent who control more wealth than bottom 90 percent.
Governor, you need to respect the bottom 90 percent by helping level the playing field. And HB 1072 is the best of all possible worlds; it is budget friendly. I look forward to a favorable vote when a new labor-rights bill hits your desk this session.
The top one percent can afford to bargain in good faith with those who have helped create their wealth.
Oh, and Governor, if you really want to help the folk out, veto the bill working its way through the legislature that sets aside $19 million annually in a gift to the tourism industry. It will be an off-budget, recurring gift out of the Severance tax.
We voted this giveaway down by a huge majority a couple of years when it was a ballot initiative. It is the darling of the top one percent, the same bunch who cried wolf over worker rights.
Littleton
Propaganda or science?
Loveland
Obama & Lincoln
I’ve been reading about how Senator Barack Obama is comparing himself to Abraham Lincoln in that both had only served a short time in Congress before running for President. He really drove the point home by announcing his candidacy at the Old State Capital in Springfield, Illinois, where Lincoln made his famous “House Divided” speech in 1858.
“We’re just hoping to borrow a little of that Lincoln aura,” said Obama spokesman, Robert Gibbs.
Oh this is rich! Remember what happened to Senator Dan Quayle when questioned about his experience to be VP? He said JFK was also relatively inexperienced when he ran for President, and both Democrats and the media tore Quayle apart for that remark. I doubt Sen. Obama will ever draw the same criticism, even if he were to show up to his next speech wearing a stovepipe hat!
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Xcel & pollution
All the weather did was move the bad air to someone else’s area!
We have cars on the roads that do not and could never pass any emission tests. If you can afford to drive a car you can afford to have it meet current epa emissions standards; this is not the case. Have you driven on the roads behind “new” diesel pick up trucks in the morning or trucks? You can hardly breath. Cars with out of state plates don’t need emissions testing, Pueblo does not even do it and I don’t know about Colorado Springs.
Xcel Energy is pushing mercury and nitrites into the are to the point where they are restricting access to Estes Park by car. Are you kidding me? So what does Xcel do, they say “we are going to review the test data” and of course we will build more coal fired plants that cause this problem!
Now we have the gas patch in the Rockies spewing all sorts of fumes from unregulated engines and the like and burning the soil with salt water from the drilling. And why is our State government giving them time to get this under control? Most of us live and love Colorado for the open spaces and “clean” air.
What needs to happen before something is done!?!
[No hometown provided]
Snow removal
In years past when I lived in Potter Highlands and we had major snowstorms and cold spells, the neighbors of my block would pool our resources and buy bags of rock salt and use it on the street in front of our house. It worked great to keep our street clear of ice and none of us spent more than $50 per winter.
While you gripers sit watching moronic sitcoms and wait for the city to come to your aid, you will, come summer, gripe about the heat and water restrictions.
Grow up you gripers, or move back to your “land of luxury” where you came from. This native of Colorado is sick of you.
Englewood
Iran
Indeed Ahmadi
Before Americans jump on the Bush wagon to vilify and invade Iran, they should consider how the Iranians view the circumstances in their neighborhood. The U.S. installed, trained and supported the abusive Shah’s of Iran. (1953-1979) The U.S. once supported Saddam Hussein in his war against Iran, including the use of chemical weapons. Now we have invaded Iraq under false pretenses and without U.N. sanction, and as an occupying force have failed to live up to international law regarding occupying forces providing security there. Bush has also reintroduced indefinite detentions, torture, abuse and chemical weapons in the region. Bush has sold nuclear weapons technology to Pakistan and India and has no qualms with Israel’s secret (Shhhhh!) nuclear program, or its use of U.S. cluster bombs on civilian populations in Lebanon last summer.
It is no longer secret that Bush has had his sites set on Iran.
Unlike the U.S. Iran actually shares a border with Iraq, and has as much interests there as we do. Bush has actively refused to engage in diplomatic relations or talks with Iran, and very likely has been sending U.S. Special Forces units into Iran. The U.S. has the most foreign fighters in Iraq, and Bush administration goals there should be met with extreme suspicion by Iranians, Americans, and the world.
Amendment 41 & smoking
A truly fair and representative government of ALL the people would have allowed business owners to accommodate either smokers only, or non-smokers only, at the choice of the owner. Only the most rabid would fail to see the fairness of this approach. The current rhetoric citing the “health” of the wait-staff completely ignores the fact that wait-staff certainly have an abundance of non-smoking places to work and workers at businesses that allow smoking are themselves mostly, if not all, smokers. It’s called “freedom of choice.”
The anti-smoker brigade has been for many years incrementally pursuing legislation with one goal in mind - to FORCE people against their will to quit smoking using every means possible including outright falsehoods. Sadly, our legislators opted to troll for votes in an election year convinced that “democracy” was guiding this legislation when in reality it was intense well-financed advertising and lobbying.
Now that our representatives have themselves been stung by the consequences of bad law, perhaps they will correct their failure to be fair and stop heaping “nanny-state” laws on their constituents. I can only hope.
Montrose
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Ritter’s true colors
White officers can forget advancement
In reviewing the numbers by the Rocky Mountain News, white males make up 31 percent of upper-level administration compared to 23 percent white females, 23 percent Hispanic males, 15 percent black females, and 8 percent black males. It appears that females and minorities make up 69 percent of police management, which seems to be more than equal to the diversity of the population in Denver.
So, what is equality? Are we as a nation really striving for the “best qualified” or is there always going to be an asterisk next to that theory (* the best qualified as long as you are a minority).
I can only imagine there are extremely well-qualified individuals in the ranks of white male officers, yet, as a group, I guess the thought of moving up is far-fetched. Maybe I am mistaken, but I did not see anyone from this racial group even considered for the division chief position and I am wondering if anyone will be considered for the commander position.
Equality and fairness — only in certain eyes.
Krauthammer tries a diversion
Before the attack, people who knew Iraq warned against the outbreak of a civil war there, but our chicken-hawk leaders ignored them. Guess what, Bush and the neo-cons were wrong about a civil war, just as they were wrong on almost everything else about Iraq.
What is truly amazing is that Krauthammer and other pundits such as Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and William Kristol still have jobs. In the real world, anyone with such a lousy track record would have been fired a long time ago. But here they are again aiding Bush by peddling the same story they used in fomenting a war against Iraq to build support for an attack on Iran. I hope the American public doesn’t fall for the bogus claims from these neo-conmen a second time.
We need to demand that Congress stops these folks from attacking Iran and committing additional war crimes in our names.
Religious views don’t enter into it
How does that comparison make any sense?
Since when, in the eyes of the media, are scientists’ arguments on a science question refuted by clergy? We could come up with a list of far more clergy who believe that God, not chance mutations acting on by natural selection, created life on Earth, but so what?
The point is that — while Darwinists claim virtually all scientists agree that life arose by chance mutations and natural selection — we are showing that increasing numbers of scientists do not agree with that theory.
The question of religious views is a different matter altogether.
President, Discovery Institute
Disposable liberties
What if Frangas was lucky enough to have quickly hailed a cab that night? Then the rest of us would continue to suffer under these terrible monopoly-promoting regulations, apparently.
The default condition should be freedom to start businesses and voluntarily trade with others, not the other way around.
Same here, Senator?
Littleton turns its back on the people
On Jan. 30, the Littleton City Council (with no independent environmental, economic, traffic or crime studies) voided voter intent and misused the public trust by approving a proposal to subsidize a retention pond for Wal-Mart on this property. The taxpayers will fund maintenance of the retention pond for as long as Wal-Mart owns the adjoining property.
The irony is that even if Wal-Mart’s promises of increased sales-tax revenue are realized, the city will be required to refund the excess to the taxpayers under TABOR.
Because the council has the discretion to redefine ballot issues after the fact, I will never again approve a TABOR request, no matter how reasonable it sounds.
I paid for open space, but I bought Wal-Mart’s toxic waste.
Understand the issue
Read and understand what you are voting for before casting your ballot.
The next time you vote for a Jared Polis-supported issue, make sure that it’s the one that fixes the mess he helped make with Amendment 41.
Until then you get to live with your vote on 41.
I voted no.
Visually or aesthetically, it is messy; it feels cluttered. Not being trained in print design, I’m not able to really analyze the specific effect of all the changes, but somehow the combination of the font used for articles (please go back to the Times New Roman, or similar, that used to be used and is found throughout all the other sections of the paper), the black lines used around columns, and perhaps the sizing and spacing of articles vs. ads — all of this (and more?) now makes trying to the read the Spotlight section an annoying experience. It used to be a pleasant way to finish my daily newspaper reading. No more.
A pleasure to read
Boyles goes too far
This letter is in response to Boyles’ attacks on the Abraham Lincoln High School’s boys basketball program on Jan. 29.
In his derisive comments about a player who could speak only Spanish, Boyles has once again proven himself to be ignorant, malicious and sarcastic. He has managed to perpetuate hatred among his community of listeners and has encouraged an onslaught of threats toward students and staff at Lincoln High; specifically death threats made to the head basketball coach.
Boyles’ show and his agenda should be removed, as it is unproductive, promotes racial intolerance and has the potential of encouraging hate crimes toward minors. His comments regarding the basketball player set a poor example and demonstrate his lack of judgment and ethics. Any respectable individual can see that Boyles has crossed the line; and people of decency and humanity are distancing themselves from his narrow-minded agenda.
Massaro is stellar
His journalistic ability transcends mere talent.
I made copies of the article and sent them to relatives and friends across the country. I have been receiving much positive feedback from the recipients regarding Massaro’s engaging style.
In particular, everyone has been extremely impressed with the manner in which Massaro wove all the information together to create a true masterpiece.
Accolades! How fortunate the Rocky Mountain News is to have such a stellar professional on its staff!
You go, Chicks!
Then, at Feb. 11’s Grammys, along came the Dixie Chicks themselves and, wouldn’t you know it, I’m right back where I started (“Dixie Chicks get last laugh for defiant disc”).
A warm, admiring and respectful congratulations to these “chicks” for winning album, record and song of the year. What a well-deserved slap in the face to all those radio stations across the country that so presumptuously removed them from their playlists. I bet some — no, a lot of them — are feeling pretty stupid and irrelevant now. Brava!
Coverage lamented
Journalism is a field in which one is capable of reporting news, but it is necessary to report in a civil manner. The Rocky is found lacking in this area and should recognize the issue before it insults another grieving family.
What is the goal of the diversity training in the Cherry Creek School District — to make the world even more divisive than we can currently tolerate? This type of teaching does not provide a kind understanding of our neighbors and classmates. I think Cherry Creek Schools would be ahead of the game if they focused on educational skills and ethics and less on defining what they think makes everyone so different from one another.
Personally, I am thankful for the parents who teach their kids the wisdom of the simple struggle to honor the Golden Rule: To love your neighbor as yourself. That covers a multitude of cultural misunderstandings and differences.
Polis a hypocrite
Polis may have noble intentions. He may even be as clever as he thinks he is. And he’s indisputably rich. I hereby nominate him chairman of the Liberal Largess Party.
Rosen’s implication
Why wasn’t this fact — which, by the way, I found after a five-minute Google search — included in Rosen’s article? I forgot — Rosen is far too busy amusing himself with liberal-bashing to check his facts.
Freedom for people not only to speak out, but to be listened to, to be heard and considered. Freedom to have a government that is open to the people’s voice, especially when it is a large majority; not led by a dictatorship. Freedom carries the responsibility for a prosperous and powerful country like ours to help people
Pro-union bill veto
There is no doubt but that the union movement was a valid tool during the early nineteenth century, and forward, to fight child labor, and improve the lot of the average working public of that time. The actual need of organized labor has lessened as the years have rolled by as is evident in the fewer number of individuals involved now as compared with past years.
Businesses analyze costs versus revenue in planning for business success. A labor union involvement for a business is a serious cost factor that must be passed along to the ultimate consumer. Unions are profit making businesses themselves, and the ultimate consumer provides their income. Union efforts usually result in compensation increases for union worker members. Those increases,plus the amount of union dues, and all other related union administration costs, are passed along to the ultimate consumer. Obviously, as this equation shows, the Union Officials win, and the ultimate consumer loses. The union members themselves are middle ground because in the end they also pay more for the products they buy that tends to offset any compensation increases they might receive.
All ultimate consumers should be pleased that businesses, like Wal-Mart, have avoided union organization.
It has been said that unions protect the working population. That’s not all true. A well qualified worker,doing a good job, does not need the protection of a union.
A well qualified worker, doing a good job, is a valuable asset to a business, therefore those type workers provide their own protection. Unions protect the problem worker, one who usually provides questionable input,and possibly not dependable. This type worker, when justifiably fired, files a grievance with the union,against the business, and frequently wins the job back. An ideal working world would be one that all workers were happy, well qualified, and doing good jobs, and, in the process, being valuable assets for their given business. Union organizations would not be needed, and ultimate consumers would reap the rewards.
Possibly Governor Ritter was thinking along these lines when he vetoed the new Labor Organizational Bill.
Poncha Springs
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Amendment 41
State employees have some form of performance pay.
Students do not receive money in going to school 172 days a year but receive credits towards graduation as their reward. If their performance is outstanding, they may receive scholarships to continue their education as a reward for a job well done. This outstanding performance must be maintained or risk the loss of the scholarship. How can this be classified a gift? Maybe our State and Federal elected officials should be placed on performance pay as well, especially our Federal Representatives who spend more time fund raising to build up the re-election coffers than doing their job of solving problems in this country. Don’t be so petty in taking your frustration out on these deserving kids.
Northglenn
Lafayette vote
Presently, there is only a very narrow piece of public land buffering Lafayette from Broomfield in this northeast section. Our open space inventory only increases when we religiously shop in Lafayette, and have the vision to realize what belongs where. The 32-acre parcel, in a larger context, lies amid four of the top five desired open space parcels, according to Lafayette
The City
A Lowe
Lafayette
Iraq war
Denver
Climate change
For example, McKitrick’s reference to the “insolubility” of the Navier-Stokes’ equation over-inflates a the significance of a problem that has no over-arching bearing on the actual global warming we behold.
McKittrick also would know that Navier-Stokes also plays a key role in the fluid dynamics underpinning hurricanes, and yet hurricane forecasts are regularly made with 90% or better accuracy - and no one ignores them because the Navier -Stokes equation hasn’t been solved!
In terms of global warming we already have the data to support certain unimpeachable facts: - the last ten of 12 years have been the hottest since records have been kept - major sea ice melting, and ice shelf breakup is occurring in the Arctic and the Antarctic - Ice core samples taken globally disclose temperatures now warmer than even 400,000 yrs. ago As for McKittrick’s reference to solar influences and data, the best work ever done on this was by Sofia et al in their 1979 paper (Science, Vol. 204, page 1306). This showed a maximum variation of 0,1% in solar luminosity averaged over a typical solar cycle. This is insignificant in terms of the (listed) preceding warming effects.
More recent space-based observations appear to show a variation in solar irradiance of at least 0.15% over the standard 11-year solar cycle. (Nature, Vol. 399, p. 416). but even here the heating effect is nowhere near comparable to that induced from man-made global warming.
People also deserve to know that McKittrick is NO climate scientist, but an economist affiliated with the conservative Fraser Institute in Vancouver, B.C. His word should be the last we use to judge the merits of the IPCC report!
Colorado Springs
Super Slab
At the Colorado title insurance industries’ request, the Prairie Falcon Parkway Express Company, PTR, has recorded all Superslab corridor parcels with each of seven affected counties’ Clerk and Recorder Offices. This recording has created a complex financial and legal DISASTER of huge proportions!
A mortgage broker said he would not make a loan secured by property with this encumbrance. I hear of purchase closings collapsing when this notice is attached to titles. Realtors say that tollroad property is “unsaleable”.
Existing law lets a private tollroad company arbitrarily “nail” down a three-mile wide tollroad corridor onto defenseless landowners without “due process”. Actual construction can probably be avoided indefinitely. Thus, a tollroad company can “squat”
This scenario is unfair to and disastrous for landowners within a private tollroad corridor.
Rep. Marsha Looper has drafted HB-07-1068 to remedy this property rights abuse.
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RF dangers
Golden
Bush administration
But what I can’t understand is why have not the American people and Congress in any meaningful way risen up against the Bush Adminstration’s use of torture and indefinite detention without proper trial, against the same Administration’s use of domestic spying, and, of course, against the waging of the illegal war in Iraq (and coming soon: in Iran)?
Because, in general, Americans may be as the German people during the Nazi era, they don’t want to see what is really going on.
Yes, there have been some moves by Congress to deal with the misuses of power by those in the Administration, but none of these moves have been significant.
To borrow a term: Americans now need a “surge” of moral leadership, of truth, of democratic values. We need more than just this “non-binding resolution” fluff, when it comes to opposing the Iraq war. Where are the questions, I wonder, that were promised would be asked?
Where are the crowds in the streets demanding America return to its once-charished values of democracy and human rights?
For it is time for each of us to take a stand, time for us each to demand America once again truly represent its own ideals.
Denver
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Snow, gangs, climate change
First, round-up all the gang members and give them shovels. As we apparently know how many gang members there are around town, it should be easy to find them.
Have them shovel snow into piles for pick-up.
Then we take that snow and dump it on all the melting glaciers we’re being warned about.
This way we keep gang members busy doing constructive things and solve global warming at the same time.
Ranchers
Who has it tougher, we city folks trying to work together, or ranchers who thrash around in snow up to their butts trying to save their cattle?
And, who are the lucky ones, us with our lights and sounds or them with their earth and sky?
No matter. The ranchers really need a hand this time. Really. They are tough. We’re all tough in this world. But, they have taken a serious, serious blow. A rare blow from a blizzard that remains frozen in place. With plenty of winter remaining.
The helicopters looked nice on television, giving us city dwellers a bit of solace that relief was on its way. But, new trouble brews always in this metropolis and hub to the world. It’s easy to think “thank goodness they got those ranchers help,” and go on. Unfortunately, the cattle need food the day after the helicopters are gone and the grazing is still buried in snow.
Meanwhile, the sound of animals breathing their last—livestock, coyotes, rabbits, all . . . is swept away by the ceaseless wind across the miles of prairie between us and them.
They are a proud lot. Fortunately, they live such tough lives that no one else will do it for them, as do we all. But, they don’t have time to march on Washington. They’ve got baby calves to feed. They don’t ask often. Let’s hear them, now, before they’re swept away, as well.
D
Denver
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Climate change
There’s not much doubt that earth’s climate is temporarily warming - there is geologic evidence that earth has warmed and cooled repeatedly, back and forth, for hundreds of millions of years. The multiple advances and retreats of glacial ice in the northern hemisphere are well known and accepted by nearly all. A relatively recent example of climate change was the Medieval Warm Period extending from about 900 A.D. to about 1350 A.D., when Greenland was warm enough to allow farming by Viking settlers. That warm period was followed by the so-called Little Ice Age extending until the late 1800s, a colder period from which earth’s climate even now is rebounding. There are many possible natural reasons for earth’s climate to change, among them variations in solar activity and orbital cycles, fluctuations in the release of thermal energy from inside the earth, and natural phenomena not yet understood.
Atmospheric scientists, along with the disciples of Al Gore who insist that human activities are the cause of global climate change, have an obligation to explain, ethically and honestly, why they now are so certain that humans are causing the global climate to change, when it is well established that earth has cooled and warmed many times before without any influence by humans.
Englewood
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President Bush
Lakewood
Labor bill veto
Lakewood
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Race & politics
Obabma is, according to your article, half white and half black, so what makes him automatically black...his skin color? Isn’t that racism? And Mr. Richardson is the son of a Boston banker and a Mexican mother...doesn’t that make him half white, or half non-mexican? Why aren’t both of these men simply referred to as Americans? In fact, your quote from Mr. Richardson indicates that he thinks of himself as an American first.
My Great Grandmother was Cherokee, but I don’t consider myself an Indian-American, although I have deep respect for the heritage of my Cherokee ancestors. I consider myself an American. Period. The next Presidential election should not be one of choices between labels, but between qualifications. This country was founded on the idea that many would become one. We seem to be stuck in an attitude today that the best thing for this nation is to focus on all the differences among us instead of the things that unite us. It is time for racism to die in this country, and that starts with removing labels and hyphens.
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Food safety
Denver
Dixie Chicks
Maybe a few of our representatives could take a clue from the Dixie Chicks, regrow their cojones, and take Thomas Jefferson’s admonition to heart: “Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism.”
As for the rest of you who hounded Dixie Chicks off your know-nothing radio stations and whooped and hollared for CD-burning parties: In Your Face!
Wheat Ridge
Racism
In, recent decades, it seems to me, that our national government more closely resembles one “of the Congress, by the Congress, for the Congress,” not one of the people, you and me.
Charles L. King 2870 Duke Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-499-7547
The new Rocky
Centennial
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The new Rocky
Grand Lake
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The new Rocky
As a loyal reader of the paper, the new look of the paper is a turn
Bring back the
Westminster
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Iraq war
Bring our troops home NOW! The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater,but you do not murder hate.In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness:only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. —Martin Luther King
Amendment 41
Arvada
We’re paying now for loss of driver’s ed
Part of the problem is “schooling” that has passed for education in the decades since the mid- to late-’60s. This has created a dumbed-down populace lacking the ability to think and reason, along with lack of an academic foundation on which to base a modicum of thinking and reasoning.
Too many people, even with college degrees, believe that a four-wheel-drive vehicle is safe to drive on ice and compacted snow at normal, good-weather highway speeds. As a result, every snowfall results in the highways littered with upended 4WD vehicles.
A 4WD vehicle is fine for plowing through deep snow if necessary to get out before the plows clear the roads. But on rutty and packed snow, 4WD vehicles have all the grace and agility of a cow walking on ice.
I think that a good share of the problem was the dismantling by the legislature of the formal driver’s education programs in the schools. It assumed that parents understood proper driving procedures, but that is a fallacy. And now they will pass on poor driving habits through successive generations.
Livestock take back seat to money
While cattle ranchers are in business for profit, I can’t imagine our well-meaning ranchers not caring for their cattle to the very bone.
While Ritter and the feds think about money, what about the poor animals freezing and starving? Oh, there may be a few token bales of hay dropped for the media to photograph, but the main focus is on money.
Are Colorado’s cattle just products for slaughter and a means for the government to profit at the expense of humane treatment of animals? If the government cares at all, it should care for the safety of the animals first, then reimbursement to farmers if the livestock dies. But it’s the other way around. Is this just a look ahead to what the Democrats have as their main emphasis when it comes to Coloradans?
They’ve got a funny way of pushing peace
A disabled veteran, who lost a leg in Iraq, was also there. He was part of a counterdemonstration supporting the troops in Iraq and advocating victory in Iraq over the terrorists. When the two groups converged, they exchanged their “chants.” One of the disabled soldier’s buddies yelled to the anti-war protesters that they had the right to protest because people like the Iraq war vet had fought to preserve that right. The anti-war protesters response? They spat on the vet!
Sadly, things haven’t changed much.
The anti-war protesters also vandalized the Fox News satellite relay truck, smashing the windshield and doing other damage.
The anti-war protesters claim they want peace. So violence (assaulting a disabled vet) and destroying property is how they express that?
None of our business
Since 9/11, spending on homeland security and surveillance of terrorist countries have very significantly increased. If there were terrorists in Iraq that were a threat to our country and the other countries that have been attacked by terrorists, why wouldn’t those other countries be there fighting with us?
This extremely expensive conflict in blood and treasure is just none of our business.
Allard’s disgrace
The Iraq war will go down in history as one of our great nation’s most tragic debacles, and George W. Bush will go down as our worst president. By siding with Bush to prevent this vote, Allard has demonstrated he deserves to be considered complicit in Bush’s Folly.
Upping wager limit has drawbacks
He claims that, “In a few more years, you might as well be playing for matchsticks.” Really, Mike? At $5 a spin on the $1 slot machines, you can lose $1,000 very easily in an hour. With the slot machines generating more than 90 percent of the casinos’ revenue, why would they want to raise the limit? Very few people can afford to play $5 slot machines at $25 a spin.
If the betting limit is increased, then the blackjack card-counting syndicates would come out of the woodwork and wreak havoc on the casinos. The only way raising the maximum wager would make sense would be if more games (like craps and roulette) were allowed.
However, this would require such a substantial increase that it will never happen.
Qwest-ionable assertion
Why doesn’t it?
Qwest used these massive government handouts to build up its network — the same network it says it will upgrade to offer video service. And then Qwest has the nerve to say that, despite this government-subsidized network across the state, it can’t offer video service to all residents.
Wisdom of Solomon
Solomon did not follow his own advice and his kingdom was split and eventually the people were sent into exile.
No grounds for suit
While I was growing up, my understanding — from my parents — was if a cop says to stop, you stop! Time for the judge to throw this out of court and threaten the mother with a lawsuit for her son breaking the law.
Snow is natural
There’s an old saying: If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
I have a new one: If you can’t handle the snow, get out of Colorado!
A Differing View: No teen legislators
I agree. However, that is exactly the reason that was given to prevent 18-year-olds from drinking.
If they can’t make reasonable decisions about drinking, they should not be voting either. If they are not capable of making decisions about drinking, they should not be in the legislature.
Aurora
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Amendment 41
There is concern in this state about keeping unemployment and welfare rolls at a minimum. What do you think would happen if the parents decided in order to let their child be eligible for an award or scholarship, the parent(s) just quit working or resigned their state office. What about the dropout numbers in our schools? No incentive for a student if one or both parents work a local, city or state job.
This situation needs to be resolved now, before it is too late!
Does this affect me? Not directly, but I saw a Channel 4 News story regarding Kelly Granado on 2/5/07 possibly losing her scholarship. I read about the Richard Marvin’s daughter the previous day. It is not right these girls or any student lose their rights to something they have earned because of Amendment 41!!!
Arvada
Climate change
Plants and animals flourish in hot regions as opposed to cold, just think of the diversity of life in the Amazon compared to that in Antarctica. How do we know that change would be bad, and that mankind and the earth wouldn’t be vastly better off if the temperature was 1-2 degrees warmer, or even 20 degrees warmer for that matter?
Commerce City
Climate change
While some look at the present winter in Colorado and ask: “what global warming?”, we must look at the entire planet. Yes, it has been bitterly cold in Colorado, but much of the Northeastern U.S and Europe have been exceptionally warm until the past several weeks. More significantly, as the IPCC reported, all but one of 12 hottest years ever recorded have occurred in the past eleven years. Additionally, more intense storms (snow, rain, tornados, hurricanes, etc) as well as more intense drought are hallmarks of global warming.
We can avoid the worst impacts of the global warming if we immediately reduce consumption of fossil fuels, both by conservation and by moving toward renewable energy sources, If one considers the legacy we leave to our children and grandchildren, it is morally and ethically required that all of us immediately work toward solving this problem.
Additionally, this could be a win, win for Colorado. With our 300 sunny days/year, we are ideally situated to become a market and manufacturing leader in the photovoltaic industry. This would certainly be preferable to the destruction of fossil fuel extraction, which further exacerbates the climate crisis.
Manitou Springs
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Electoral College
Denver
War
Denver
Climate change
Why is this relevant, now? Because people with the very same mindset and the very same lack of hard evidence to back up their assertions have whipped up a similar frenzy in today’s world that I refer to as the ‘Global Warming Hysteria.’ Anyone truly interested in learning the facts of global climate patterns will quickly discover that global temperatures do not remain static (imagine that), and that humans have a negligible, at best, effect on them.
Instead of being a dire threat to humanity, ‘global warming’ is only the latest in a long, long line of leftist scares (think DDT, Alar, SUV’s, pollution, corporations, Republicans and Capitalism to name but a very few) that ultimately have one basic purpose; to tear down the incredible improvement in the quality of living caused by the introduction of freedom into the lives of ordinary men with the founding of America. The real question is not whether ‘global warming’ is a threat, but why a substantial portion of the population continually dreams up ways to prevent other people from being free and enjoying their lives.
For the same reason a population bomb didn’t destroy our lives in the last thirty years, global warming won’t harm us in the next thirty. Indeed, the only harm that will ever come from ‘global warming’ is the harm that would come from the prescribed ‘remedy.’ Oh and one more thing you ought to know about leftist scares of the ‘70’s; the climate problem they were awful worried about back then was ‘global cooling.’
Centennial
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Denver
Israel & Palestinians
Lakewood
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War on terror
It was a little ironic that page 37 of the news on Feb.1st, had quite the contrast in capabilities of fighting terror. Britain corrupts and intercepts a plot that saved lives, The police in Boston stop an ad campaign from the Cartoon Network. Glad to see our tax dollars are going to good use in the fight against terrorists.
Brighton
Homosexuality
There are numerous socially undesirable traits and tendencies possessed by people which they cannot simply shut off. And yet civilized society, rightly so, expects these affected persons to quell those desires and not act out according to their urges. A good example is methamphetamine use, or use of any of numerous addictive drugs. It is believed by many in the neuroscience and drug treatment disciplines that some people are born with inherited traits that predispose them to addictions. There is also scientific evidence that abuse of certain drugs leads to actual physiologic changes in the brain which perpetuate the addictive behavior. And yet we as a society expect those persons to overcome those tendencies and either not become drug addicts in the first place, or break free of the addictions once present. And to the best of my interpretation society by and large does not excuse meth or heroin abuse if it occurs in the privacy of one’s home.
What about pedophiles? I have heard it said by experts who study this behavior that pedophiles cannot necessarily extinguish their desires. The fear of repeated offenses is the main reason for sex offender registries. However society demands that these people not act on their desires, and rightly so.
In less dramatic fashion, the same could be said for heterosexual men who struggle with lust over numerous women. It is socially unacceptable for such men to act on their desires and force themselves on women. The driving force behind this socially unacceptable behavior is the same sexual physiologic and emotional response (e.g. the effect hormones and thoughts have on the body) that is argued to be the reason homosexuals cannot control their sexual attractions.
So the argument that homosexuality should be accepted because gays and lesbians are born that way is extremely weak and should not be accepted as reasonable, any more than it would be accepted for drug addicts, sex offenders, or overly aggressive heterosexual males. I am not necessarily equating homosexuality with drug abuse and pedophilia. However the issue is whether or not society deems homosexual behavior socially and morally acceptable, regardless of the presence of innate desires.
And the debate of what is socially acceptable should be able to occur without those promoting the gay lifestyle trying to intimidate and suppress those who find it unacceptable. It seems the favored debate style of gay proponents is to simply label those who find the gay lifestyle socially and morally unacceptable as haters, bigots, and uncaring. However, are people who believe drug abuse, pedophilia, and even polygamy are socially unacceptable labeled as haters and bigots? No, and I am quite certain many gay proponents share those beliefs.
Cheyenne, Wyo.
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Labor bill veto
Lakewood
The new Rocky
Commerce City
The new Rocky
However, you have cut a lot out of the weather page which disappoints me greatly.
I appreciated and used the weather forcast. I looked at cities that you have removed the temperatures for. I also miss knowing what the temp was the previous day as we all know that the forecast is not always correct. Please put the weather page back the way it was - useful!
Aurora
Iraq war
And on the way stop and pick up Nancy Pelosi for a new suit at Armani’s. We wanna look really cool when they get here. Because radical Muslim terrorists are open minded reasonable terrorists.
Thornton
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Iran
Usually I consider the policies of George Bush to be despicable but not really crazy. However, an attack upon Iran, or even a threat to attack, would be sheer lunacy. Iran has about 70 million people. While it lacks the military capacity to retaliate against the United States directly, it can prodigiously accelerate the tempo of violence in Iraq and the casualty rate among American soldiers. An attack upon Iran would render the entire middle eastern region from the Himalayas to the Mediterranean severely unstable for a generation or more. Israeli participation in such an attack would convince the over 300 million Arab, Persian, Punjab, and Pashtun people that accommodation with the Zionist state is completely impossible.
An attack upon Iran could unhinge the global political and economic system in many different ways. It would probably have profound and lasting effects upon the supply and price of middle eastern oil. It could touch off a new nuclear arms race by persuading small countries that operational nuclear weapons are the only reliable safeguard against American aggression. And for great powers like China, India, Russia, Germany, and Japan an attack upon Iran would demonstrate that the United States is truly an out of control rogue state whose imperial arrogance threatens everyone.
I rarely agree with American military leaders, yet I fully endorse the statements made on January 18 by retired general Barry McCaffrey in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. General McCaffrey called the Bush administrations public threats against Iran “sheer insanity” and said that military action against Iran would be “the most significant blunder in strategic thinking...since World War II.”
Boulder
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Junk mail
Denver
Police shooting
Brighton
Nursing
Colorado Springs
Nursing
The best way for you to find out what nurses are up against is to be a patient in a hospital for a week. Then try to tell me staffing doesn’t affect the quality of your care. Problem is you might not even notice when a wrong medication was given to you or that you never did get the ordered medication at the right time and the right dose. If you believe hospitals treat nurses well ask a few why they left the bedside. If you believe hospitals have troube making money, why is it that Colorado hospitals are the most profitable in the country. It sure isn’t because the nurses are well paid and the hospitals overstaffed. Good journalism requires you to hear both sides of the story.
No hometown listed
Climate change
A. In the 1970’s the talk was global cooling, not global warming.
B. We just had in Denver the coldest January in 28 years.
C. Because of GW, we were told, the 2006 hurricane season was going to be very active; but no hurricane hit the US.
D. The sea level could raise 23 inches!!! That happens every day between high and low tide in most places. A two feet rise would not even flood Miami or New York City.
E. Climate has always changed and humans had nothing to do with it. During the dinosaurs it was much warmer; 20,000 years ago it was an ice age.
F. What are the benefits of GW? We never hear about them. According to some, the benefits are going to be much higher than the costs.
G. Are the people who talk about GW really impartial? Or do they have something to gain from it, such as more money for research?
Westminster
President Bush
Money talks- and this is what it said: Mr. Bush’s budget proposal proves what is really important to him. He was only trying to impress us at the State of the Union speech. Salvage some of the public opinion. These people need to learn to walk the talk. It seems less and less like our elected official in the White House wants to act like an elected official. I hope our “Mr.
Decider” decides that perhaps he should listen to the folks he’s supposed to represent.
Legislative plea
This is what I just sent my Congress persons: As your constituent, I strongly urge you to become a co-sponsor of the “Effective Terrorists Prosecution Act,” a bill being introduced by Senator Dodd to fix the problems with the Military Commissions Act. Another option is totally repeal it as unConstitutional. Impeach/Indict- Convict - Imprison Bush and his entire Administration.
Fort Collins
Ted Haggard
We have seen the light and heard the word. This is all it took for these experts on human sexuality to set the world straight again.
No hometown listed
Ted Haggard
I guess “de Nile” is not only a river in Egypt, and it runs rampant and wildly through Colorado Springs.
Tickets to Dave Chappelle: priced at $45. Ted Haggard’s claim of “heterosexual": priceless.
Denver
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Labor bill veto
Nevertheless I am thrilled to have a governor who looks at the big picture and is committed to representing all the people. To disappoint good friends and supporters, especially in a matter one personally supports, is terribly difficult for all of us. That Ritter could do this gives me hope that we may have a period of well-thought-out laws instead of constant scrambling to repair “unintended consequences.” It also seems possible that even when I hold an opinion that differs from that of the folks in power, my side will be seriously considered. What the heck is this, a democracy?
Willa Allen
Westminster
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Dislike Amendment 41? Too bad
It’s the constitution. And in retrospect, it’s a terrible one, badly devised. Bad results. But not subject to revision by the legislature. Get over it, and know you messed up.
Keep in mind that’s why so many people voted on it in the first place — because pols have twisted and turned and wiggled out of past laws. So thanks for our state politicians who are refusing to wiggle out of this problem forced on them.
Irony at the Capitol
Bush’s tax proposal hurts small business
Small businesses pay a fortune for insurance, if they can get it, and for modest or stripped-down coverage. So the bulk of people paying taxes will not be well-heeled executives — they will be employees for small businesses scrimping to pay high monthly premiums — and now also paying tax on a portion of that cost.
It just so happens that someone witnessed you doing this; not only could you have caused a horrible accident by someone avoiding hitting the dog; I might add people that actually have a conscience unlike you go out of their way to avoid hitting a dog. I happen to live closeby and saw the poor animal last week in the sub zero weather wandering around; it took me 2 hours to finally lure the dog into my house; a safe place and then I had the heartbreaking task of calling animal control. Not that you are interested but the dog is now at Adams County Animal Shelter. I am so glad that most people are not like you!!!!!
Carol Leech
Commerce City
Amendment 41
If ever there were a need for drastic measures, this is it. Immediate action must be taken to undo the damage caused by this flawed amendment. “It takes less time to do a thing right than it does to explain why you did it wrong” (Longfellow). Jared Polis and Common Cause must suck it up, admit their good intentions went awry, and fund an immediate special election to repeal the cause of this debacle. We could have the one-question mail-in ballot distributed directly, to be returned by the beginning of April. With any luck, the scholarship and awards committees would be able to delay finalizing any decisions until after the election. I have a vested interest in all this. It is ludicrous to think my musically talented 16-year-old son might not be eligible for a scholarship to a prestigious music school when he graduates simply because, when it snows, his father pulls himself out of bed at 3:00am to clear off the county roads. Now there’s a terrific way to thank our public servants for their hard work.
What a mess. We should not have even considered cluttering up our Constitution with this frivolous amendment. It should be covered by a state statute. If there is any good to come out of all this, it may be that future voters will read ballot proposals in depth, and truly understand their implications and consequences. We will then avoid repeating this fiasco in a future election.
Seat belts
It is our hope that Rep. Carroll’s position has changed and that she has been able to look at the issue from a position of common sense. If this is how she truly feels about the hard working men and women who put their own personal safety secondary to those they serve and protect then this is a slap in the face of every one who serves in law enforcement. It sounds as if Rep. Carroll wants the law enforcement community to just roll out the red carpet for criminals to the homes of the honest people who live in Colorado because she does not trust the police. Have police officers been accused of abusing their authority? Yes and those few have been dealt with and any abuses in the future will be dealt with. Do not paint the men and women in law enforcement with a broad brush of suspicion because of a few.
Rep. Carroll has apparently forgotten that behind this proposed legislation is the true desire to save lives. Over the last few years the “Click it or Ticket” campaign has shown that direct enforcement of seat-belt laws has reduced the number of injury or death related traffic collisions. One thing that many seem to forget when they look at this legislation is the cost of automobile insurance. When hard working families are trying to get more out of their hard earned dollar we need to remember that when injuries occur in these collisions this costs all of us more. The cost of emergency health care goes up; the ability for those injured to work goes down. Wear your seat-belt and safe yourself and your family in the long run.
If we were to go by Rep. Carroll’s theory then why do we allow the police officers to enforce any traffic violation on the possibility that their rights will be violated? We believe that the citizens and their elected representatives want us to enforce the laws that are not only important enough to put on the books, but also save lives.
Lakewood
P
Vincent Carroll & Jared Polis
The current matter of “Diversity Training” certainly has many faults, failings, and problems. But Carroll sounds off as if his were the only proper approach to attempting to structure a complex educational program - although his credentials as an educator are, at best, minimal, if at all existant that is. And in reality, the abomination called “Amendment 41” is beyond the ability of Executive, Legislative, or Judicial act to remedy. And Polis sounds off as if he were not to blame in any way for the current and future problems facing the families of those working for government in any capacity - blaming “Lobbyists” for “creating fear", when he himself is not only a Lobbyist as such, but also the originator of the whole sorry mess.
I guess the new Rocky Munchkin News - as one writer has so aptly described it - has decided to save both paper and space, by way of printing whatever be available where ever it might wind up on the layout boards. But after all, who really takes the Rocky for anything other than its comic pages in the first place?
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The new Rocky
Highlands Ranch
Columbus Day
Aurora
The new Rocky
Aurora
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Evolution & faith
Jean Torkelson’s column, “Church makes evolutionary change over time” (Rocky Mountain News, Monday, Feb. 12, 2006), makes it clear that there are certain pastors who spend their time not only questioning the truth as found in the Bible, but ridiculing those who actually do believe the Bible is the truth.
Why are they pastors? Why are they pastors in Christian denominations? Why do they waste their time and our time trying to undermine Christianity with their lies when it would be much more honest of them to simply start their own church wherein the Bible they don’t believe in the first place is no where to be found? They can write their own book, start their own religion and see how many people buy into their lies and deceits.
But that’s the point, isn’t it? Pastors who believe in evolution simply aren’t honest. They are not honest to God; they aren’t honest to their congregation. So they “sneak” their way into a leadership position in a supposedly Christian church where, over time, they undermine the truth of God and the Bible with their own lies and deceits — just as the truthful Bible says would happen.
Here’s a clue: What would we EXPECT to find IF there was a world-wide flood just as the Bible in Genesis claims there was? Maybe BILLIONS of buried dead things all over the world? And is that not EXACTLY what is found? Do we not find billions of buried dead things all over the world?
Atheistic evolutionists interpret the “evidence” of billions of buried dead things their way, while those of us who actually believe the Bible as being the truth can look at that same evidence and point to the most logical explanation — something that “evolutionary pastors” won’t do since they have already assumed that atheistic evolutionists are “right” and the Bible is “wrong.”
And that brings me back to my original question: Why are “evolutionary pastors” even in a leadership position in a Christian church when they hold Darwin’s “The Origin of Mankind” as being more truthful than the Holy Bible? Are they so incredibly dishonest that they can’t even start their own religion — they have to “sneak” their lies and deceits into a Christian church on Sunday mornings?
Lakewood
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Ethics in government
Isn’t it great to see a multi-millionaire tell people of modest means what they don’t need? Like Douglas Bruce before him, he is the consummate outsider who moves to Colorado and then creates a government nightmare for his adopted home.
Does he now claim that our state’s Attorney General, John Suthers, is a lobbyist and that this is why he has said that public employees kids can’t accept scholarships - or that academics at CU-Boulder can’t accept a Nobel Prize (Rocky Mountain News, December 29, 2006)? Now, academics have another reason not to work at CU-Boulder.
The truth is that Mr. Polis and his colleagues made serious mistakes. Mr.
Polis, you owe the citizens of Colorado an apology. Get over yourself and roll-up your sleeves.
Denver
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Pit bulls
In Denver alone since the ill imposed Pit ban, over 800 dogs have been confiscated and murdered. Commerce City, Denver and Aurora, in spite of State Law banning breed specific legislation, came in under home rule “we need to protect our cities from these vicious animals” and banned the dogs. Pets were taken from their homes and killed. Commerce City Sheriff bragged to CIty Council every time a Pit was confiscated and killed “one more down!” My question to you the citizens is “How long are we going to allow this to occur?”
Here is my vicious Pit, thank gosh we live somewhere where people have enough brains to have vicious dog ordinances. I imagine her living a long, happy life after having survived being gashed herself, surviving days without medical care only to be taken to the vet and still refused care. Her former owner then took her home and was going to have a neighbor put a bullet in her head. Animal control was able to take possession of her and spent 9 hours stitching her up. After extensive recovery and painful treatment for heartworm, she is the best lapdog in my house. Here is a picture of her in a bikini. She loves to be my Barbie! Isn’t she wonderful?
Broomfield
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Drunken drivers
Now the city want’s to crack down on drunk driver’s because of the horrible tragedy of the family that was run down by a drunk driver.Why does it take a horrible tragedy to enforce the laws against drunk driver’s in the first place?How many hit and runs in the past have been because of driver’s being drunk?There seems to be a hit and run every week.How many drunk driver’s did the police catch and release?The police by letting these drunk driver’s off with a ticket sent a message to them ,that DUI is not a big deal in Denver.So how many continued to drive drunk on other occasions.We will never know that answer.
Now Denver want’s to make drunk driving laws tougher.How are they going to enforce the tougher laws when they wouldn’t even enforce the laws already on the books?
Thornton
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Smoking
This just happens to be the convienant choice of some goody two shoes because they don’t like it or is a “far worse” complainer the dreaded “reformed smoker". Last but not least, if this is such a dreaded contributor to cancer, I suggest we make this LEGAL product illegal. SAVE US ALL!!! I could live with a total ban of cigarettes and the smoke associated with it, but to handpick the many ways to remove our legal rights is not why our grandparents and great grandparents came to this country. It was because of the many rights afforded us by the Constitution and its Amendments and the Bill of Rights, which have brought us all here. I want the non-smokers of the United States to know that I really appreciate there concern for my health and the health of all the people around me which they have never met. Just do it legally, go through the process and take this harmful product out of the access of the general public by making this “cigarette madness” illegal, then you won’t have to worry about taking our rights away one by one.
Aurora
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Health insurance
But who wants insurance that doesn’t cover anything?
The author (Sally Pipes) asserts that the problem with mandates is that they force us all to pay for things we don’t use - yet that is the fundamental function of insurance. No one buys health insurance hoping for cancer. When we buy a policy, we all hope we are paying for things we will not use, yet we all want reassurance that we will have coverage for the services we need if and when we need them.
Articles such as Sunday’s editorial are ridiculous distractions. What we need now is an honest and far-reaching conversation about how every American can have affordable, timely access to the essential health care we all would want under the same circumstances and the moral and political courage to make it happen.
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Climate change
This kind of talk gives our species a bad name. The author of this opinion letter is of a very special and unique group that would look at an issue like human papillomavirus and the risk of cervical cancer it presents to all women and probably say, ‘there’s no evidence that human papillomavirus is causing cancer, it could actually be not enough pesticides in her diet; besides this phenomenon is a good thing, because the world is a better place without so many women.’ To that author I say this, “there is no looking on the bright side of global warming.” People like this author and of that same mindset make me seriously step back and wonder, “wait, if people are so stupid and blatantly ignorant, shouldn’t we be deathly afraid of human effects on the environment and the evidence strongly suggesting that we are destroying that environment?!?” And further, all these diehard Republicans, Conservatives, and old-school Bureaucrats need to take a hint from George W (Google search ‘Bush admits humans cause global warming’) who just recently asked we reduce gas use by twenty percent nationally. If the crown-prince of anti-environment, who nixed Kyoto, is starting to worry about this problem, then all his mindless cohorts should follow suit and simply admit that global warming is a bad thing. It’s much greener on our environment friendly side of the fence, and I will be happy to hand you all the tools to succeed, live life normally, and even make money (gasp, that’s right) in an environmentally-friendly world.
Arvada
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The Rocky
The descent of the News, now called “the Rocky,” was slower, occurring in bits and pieces. National and international news were hidden inside toward the back of the paper, replaced on the front page by sports and numerous freak shows. The obituaries were placed at the end of the business section. The listing of stocks was pared to only show the most widely held stocks. The weather page was split between the front and the back of the paper. Some of the comic strips that were “funny pages” were replaced with strips of political diatribe or inane “humor” that is often inappropriate and sometimes bizarre.
Letters to the Editor and Editorial Page Editor Vincent Carroll are a couple of saving graces of the Rocky. Holding out against the nitwit-onslaught of buffoons like Mike Littwin and Ed Stein, who are allowed and encouraged to run rampant over logic and journalistic professionalism, Carroll manages to provide clarity and editorial excellence. Of course, the Rocky will probably decide to split Carroll’s columns into paragraphs sprinkled throughout the paper to make them incomprehensible.
Although it is usually not good form to speak ill of the deceased, let it be said that the loss of columnist Molly Ivins was no great loss to the Rocky. We all go sooner or later, and, thankfully, Molly has gone.
Speaking of gone, although it is important to remember the past, the bus-train wreck that the Rocky has enshrined in endless pages was gone long ago. Aren’t there enough ambulance-chasing, fire-tragedy, auto-wreck, murder-mayhem stories happening everyday that the Rocky doesn’t have to dredge up past horrific events. News should be hot, not warmed-over sentiment that happened years before.
One major difference between the bus-train-wreck series and the death-of-a-Marine series was relevance of the Marine story to the present. Handled empathetically and poignantly, the Marine story soared beyond anything the Rocky has done in recent years. Maybe there is enough journalistic savvy left under the facade of the Rocky’s new building to restore the excellence the paper once had.
Lakewood
The new Rocky
The new Rocky
Nursing
The News thinks that patient outcomes that are currently publicly reported are sufficient, while the staffing levels are too difficult for prospective patients to understand. I know the newspapers insist on dumbing down the news, but my 30 years in nursing has not given me the impression people can’t understand this kind of report.
Particularly if the newspapers would do some decent reporting on the problems and contributing factors. The combination of patient outcomes and staffing ratios can be more accurate than just one or the other.
Yes, educating faculty and nurses are the true solutions ( including better pay for faculty especially). In the meantime, the staffing ratios would curb the hospitals’ tendency to ignore low staffing situations and maintain surgery schedules and other admissions that strain patient care to unsafe levels. It is hard for them to forego payments for the surgical suites, cath labs, etc. just because they are short ‘a few nurses’.
Would you rather wait another week for that surgery or take the chance on increased risks of complications?
Wheat Ridge
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Unions
True Pepsi Center is a privately owned building, but they had the opportunity to hire on the Union, but choose not to, could it be that the Union rules about things like plugging in an extension cord or changing a light bulb, which according to them are specialist positions and required a trained technician to do those tasks, are totally ridiculous and drive costs even higher. If a company whishes to be union, more power to them and congratulations, but don’t assume that everyone is interested in being union and they should have the opportunity to decide for themselves. Unions should never have the right to force themselves on any company ever, period. This also works both ways, companies should not be able to keep unions out, if and only if the workers decide they want a union and have the opportunity to vote whether or not they want to become Union.
Edgewater
Evolution & faith
She correctly notes that the number of scientists challenging Darwinian theory is steadily growing, but claims that they have “lost” the race to the overwhelming numbers of clergy who have signed an open letter claiming evolution is compatible with Christianity. All 10,000 of those signers would not offset a single challenger among the credentialed scientists who recognize that evolution is a failed theory, devoid of any empirical basis, because the supporters of “Evolution Sunday” are members of the apostate church who are not of scientific standing. Further, the idea that a godless process of random/chance mutations could produce the wonders of Creation we observe in the universe is at its core atheistic materialism, and contrary to the Biblical view of origins, which forms the basis for all Christian doctrine. Any philosophy that attempts to extricate Creation from true history destroys Christianity at its heart: “In the Beginning there was the Word [CHRIST], . . . and the Word was God, and all things were made by Him.”
Centennial
Hillary Clinton
To now claim their actions were because they were fooled does not reflect the reality of the time, or show real leadership or integrity. There were a large number of people who did not trust the information being presented as a slam dunk. That is why the U.N. put weapons inspectors in Iraq to confirm Bush administration claims. Bush demanded the withdrawal of those inspectors before they could verify his claims, which we now know were false. That is why the U.N. would not sanction the U.S. invasion. Over 100 house members voted against the invasion, and Scott Ritter the foremost expert on the Iraqi weapons program openly challenged Bush claims.
Clinton also said “when she becomes President she will end the war in Iraq”. There is no reason to wait. Congress, not the president has the power of waging war. Congress can bring the troops home now if they choose. If Hilary Clinton were serious about ending our unsanctioned occupation of Iraq she would be working on a binding resolution to bring our troops home now, not later.
Anton
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Urban renewal
Please preserve the DeBoer district! Don’t allow the same old, same old development to take place. Don’t let the generic-looking development destroy the trees, the old houses, the distinctive Tudor-style house on Iliff, the integrated character of the place with its hundreds of trees and bushes... People can live here. Single families enjoy living here with yards and trees and the small-town feel of the place. Instead, the developers come in with their ideas to aggolmerate, agglutinate, conglomerate, and concentrate families into a little stack with the “quintessence of condo.” If there must be development, at least force the developers to preserve the natural beauty of the place. It takes a hundred years to grow those cottonwoods, but really there is no way to keep the total atmosphere of the place if developers come in and tear apart sections of the neighborhood.
Thank you for listening.
Robert C. Bayers
Centennial
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Don’t blame market for health-care woes
To put it simply, where the government is, the free market is not.
In his own article, Campos goes to lengths to dispel the common myth that “health care is provided by the market, rather than by the government.”
Stop picking on the market! Why not call it an institutional failure or a people failure? The mere fact that doctors have to be licensed to work in this country (not that there’s anything wrong with that) is proof that market forces are not the sole determinants of outcomes in American health-care markets.
Finally, please do allow Campos to explain away differences between international longevity and infant mortality rates as functions of a single variable — the quality of national health care. Unless he is controlling for other variables, that might affect these outcomes (e.g. institutional, lifestyle, dietary, etc.), Campos is misusing statistical information to construct inferences that are thoroughly misleading and false.
Half-right about wealth, disparity
But how did the rich of that era acquire their wealth? Was it through entrepreneurial skill, using resources efficiently to deliver highly desired products and services to the masses? No; there wasn’t much of a free market. The rich were the politicos of their day — lords, kings, princes, holders of state monopolies. Their wealth was the result of expropriation, violence, coercion, conquest. There is nothing soul-crippling about earning wealth by improving the condition of society through voluntary exchange.
Campos is correct about the rising income disparity and its bad effect on the soul, but he does not note its source: our growing corporatist big-business state, in which favored established companies use the state to suppress competition and stick their hands into the pockets of the less well-connected through taxation. The military-industrial complex and the myriad “security” firms are only the most obvious examples.
Law-abiding gun owners targeted
Despite restrictions in the current law which granted sheriffs temporary, limited authority to share information with other law enforcement agencies to verify validity of permits only, numerous abuses of this information by law enforcement have occurred.
Now White is asking for a totally unrestricted, unprotected statewide database of law-abiding citizens for no practical purpose other than to compile a list of Colorado gun owners. How can White credibly claim to be acting to protect his original bill, which has been an unqualified success for nearly four years, when he seeks to discourage concealed-carry permit applicants with de facto gun registration?
Sedalia
Vice-president,
Colorado State
Shooting Association
Whiny Americans
Mexicans are taking our jobs. Boo-hoo-hoo.
Mexicans are lowering our wages. Boo-hoo-hoo.
We have to wait behind Mexicans to get our food stamps. Boo-hoo-hoo.
Why are you still in the same labor pool as immigrant Mexicans? Get off your duffs, whiners. Get off drugs and booze. Get your GED and get an education! This is America, remember? The land of opportunity! And ... stop your whining!
Glad Bush embracing new energy future
As a high school student living in Denver, I am one of a growing number of people concerned with the haze of pollution draped over the Rocky Mountains and am grateful that our nation is at last resolving to progress toward a new energy future on behalf of coming generations. A 20 percent reduction in gasoline consumption in the next century and a diversification of energy supply, especially considering past positive market response, is not only reasonable, but something we as a society should pursue in earnest.
Our country has achieved ambitious goals in the past, so I am optimistic for the health of our environment, so long as the public remains aware and bent upon keeping our legislators on track.
Give peace a chance
Why won’t the “decider-in- chief” consider giving peace a chance?
War is death, destruction, conflict, suffering, pain, chaos, anger, hate, fear, waste and hell. War is what a country will declare on an enemy when it has been attacked or terrorized.
Peace is friendliness, calm, order, security, cooperation, diplomacy, love, trust, honesty, concern for all children, and helping others so they can help themselves.
Iraq had nothing to do with the terrorist attack on 9/11. The war should be in Afghanistan where Osama bin Laden and his terrorists are hanging out and preparing for more terrorist activities.
Pitch in, Mr. Carroll
Snow removal ideas for Denver’s mayor
1. We haven’t had a December blizzard in about 25 years. They are not to be treated like the spring and fall storms that are much more prevalent, i.e., don’t count on solar power to melt it. Expect hard freezes — it’s wintertime!
2. When the storm has passed, get every available frontloader and dump truck, municipal and private, out on the streets 24 hours a day, loading the snow and dumping it into the river. Plowing huge drifts of snow onto sidewalks and driveways doesn’t cut it.
3. Since sidewalks are then not buried by snowplows, feel justified in fining everyone who doesn’t shovel their walk, which should help offset the major expense of snow removal on the streets. Pedestrians have rights, too!
Littleton
Amendment 41
I’m sure that Amendment 41 was formed with good intentions
Tell me, is the new legislature changing the wording of Amendment 41 because they don’t like it, or because they are smart enough recognize its problems? It is my belief that if the voters of Colorado, including
Aurora
Amendment 41
Denver
Organic foods
Background research is important for journalists. With a quick Google search on organic law (or a longer visit to the actual legislation),
For the consumer, and for the environment, organically produced food still can be toxic. As a farmer who has to correct the public’s misperceptions about organics daily, I think it is time that reporters do their research, and stop leading the trusting readers to believe they are buying something much better than what they are actually getting! Sloppy background research will undermine the public’s trust in journalism.
Arvada
Climate change
translates to 90% certainty that global warming is caused by humans. Why not just say 90% certain? Heck if I was 90% certain I would win the lottery I would actually play but “very likely” to win, I don’t know.
Westminster
Dave Schultheis
Denver
President Bush
Martin Perkins
Highlands Ranch
Budget
In fact, SS is now showing a surplus of income over expenditures each year—so it should be shown as LESS-THAN-ZERO in budget reports.
Whereas the Pentagon is demanding $1700 MILLIONS each DAY.
We should refer to the Pentagon Deficit, not the Federal Deficit. All the other departments are now living within their means.
What a bunch of tame flacks are the RMN staff!
Dan
Fort
Renewable energy
In addition to legislation requiring utilities to generate 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by the year 2020, other bills under consideration would provide funds to Colorado colleges/universities for biofuel projects, fund wind-powered generators for schools, and expand the transmission grids for making solar and wind power more accessible.
The benefits of expanding our alternative and renewable energy sources are enormous. Reducing our dependence on foreign oil strengthens our national security. Expanding alternative energy sources in conjunction with appropriate uses of oil and gas benefits consumers. The economic growth potential is demonstrated by the projected 400
I urge each of us to contact our legislators, encouraging and supporting their efforts in advancing alternative and renewable energy sources in Colorado.
Loveland
Weather forecasters
We deserve better.
Denver
The new Rocky
Castle Rock
This letter has not been edited.
The new Rocky
Perhaps
Littleton
This letter has not been edited.
Amendment 41
Estes Park
This letter has not been edited.
Barack Obama
I do think Obama has potential to be as much of a leader on an issue every bit as important as slavery was in Lincoln’s day — the issue of the international pandemic of HIV/AIDS. Last summer, Obama and his wife visited Kenya and took HIV tests. That is a much bigger deal than it might sound at first, as almost no African leaders will take that step.
I really believe that as HIV spreads rapidly through Africa, India, Russia and China, it will become the
Just as Lincoln transcended most Americans’ local or state loyalties in 1858 with his “House Divided” speech and subsequent fight against slavery, Obama could transcend most Americans’ nationalism and lead by example as we really escalate the international fight against HIV.
My wife is Zambian and our family has been devastated by HIV, so I speak from personal experience. This issue needs to be an absolute top priority, and Obama could make it happen.
Keep up the good work.
Front Range Community College
Longmont
Mike Littwin
The new Rocky
Loveland
Amendment 41
Not mentioned in the discussion regarding scholarships is that these “children” are now 18 and legally responsible for themselves, with the exception that many are still claimed on their parents’ taxes. What control the parents have over whether or not gifts, grants or scholarships are accepted by these children stops at 18.
Additionally, how do you account for children, or adults for that matter, who are not in contact with each other, who may not even be aware that one or the other works for the state. An example of a state worker who has had no contact with their child for several years, and now this child at 18 finds out they may be ineligible for a scholarship? Or the parent state worker who’s child is 36 and going back to school for a masters and gets a scholarship?
There is no control after 18. What can be done to fix it?
Broomfield
'The Crossing’
In the Briefings section — how about again putting the location of the event in the heading of the item so we don’t have to hunt for it in the body of the paragraph?
Speaking of hunting, whose bright idea was it to hide the legal notices somewhere inside with the car ads and job opportunities? Return them to the back page or inside back page where they have been for as long as most people can remember.
Finally,
Broomfield
Mike Littwin
Denver
The new Rocky
T
Aurora
‘The Crossing’
This letter has not been edited.
Perfect example: Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia stated, “I am no climate-change denier.” Good start, but he didn’t quit while he was ahead. He finished with, “The mere convergence of politics and science does not itself denote interference.” I have read that sentence a couple of dozen times and I am still baffled at what he is trying to say or not say. For shame, Rep. Davis; with such a brazen example of “governmentspeak,” you only add to the growing skepticism and cynicism of the public toward both sides of the aisle in both houses of Congress. We deserve better!
Put climate change in perspective
We learned in grade school science that animal life and fire take in oxygen and emit carbon dioxide. Plant life takes in carbon dioxide and emits oxygen. It stands to reason that if there is too much carbon dioxide in the air, plant life will flourish and animal life and fire will suffer. If there is not enough carbon dioxide
in the air, plant life will suffer. If we were really concerned about the environment we would be more concerned about plant life than animal life.
As far as man’s contribution to greenhouse gases, just imagine if there were no roads or reservoirs or farms or greenbelts and man never put out a wildfire. There would be twice as much carbon dioxide in the air.
Maybe we should send Al Gore and Michael Moore to the sun with a can of gas and a fire extinguisher and they can control our temperature.
Don’t move caucuses
If anything, it should be moved back to April or even to May. The warmer weather would increase participation, whereas the February date will very likely just kill it off.
People who care about the grass roots and neighborhoods should speak out about this now.
John Wren, Denver
A solution for surge
According to the College Republican National Committee Web site: “The CRNC currently has over a quarter of a million members on over 1,800 campuses nationwide.”
If only one out of 10 joins up and volunteers for Iraq, that’s 25,000 troops. More than enough to do the job.
And, as an added bonus, the other 225,000 members could hold “Support our Troops” fundraisers to buy Kevlar vests, silly string and Humvees, and I’m sure the proud parents would be happy to chip in, too.
Problem solved.
'1001’ insulting
As an avid theatergoer and a Jewish American who seeks peace through understanding, I was offended by the use of theatrical devices which, in the chaos of 1001, were supposed to pass as theater.
Let’s see how Dems tackle benefits system
One would think this is the first automated system in Colorado that didn’t work as advertised. (Can we say “DIA baggage system”?)
While the legislature ultimately controls the budget, and surely had something to do with this fiasco, to be fair it should be acknowledged that if the Owens administration undertook this project and it doesn’t work, they should shoulder most of the blame, right up to January of 2007. Now it remains to be seen if Bill Ritter’s crew can do much better, and how much more it costs the state to do it.
Bear just one thing in mind while Democrats howl over the inefficiency and cost overruns associated with this bureaucratic nightmare: These are the same folks who want government to be in charge of running your health care.
Michael Trimble, Littleton
Story on Noel failed to note consequences
The writer ignored completely the harm Denver incurred as a result of this social engineering, as parents who had worked hard to elevate their lifestyles watched in amazement as their children were placed on buses for an hour-plus ride to failing inner-city schools.
The response on the part of many was an exodus of sorts, as much of Denver’s middle class fled to Jefferson and Arapahoe counties. Many of those left behind were relegated to what are now isolated pockets of poverty and neighborhoods more segregated than they were before forced desegregation of the schools was implemented.
It is not my intention to cast Noel as a person with bad intentions. To the contrary, I am sure that she held a deep desire to improve life for all people. But history must judge the consequences of a person’s actions, not just the good intentions.
Forced busing was a miserable failure. Those who irreparably harmed the city of my youth should be held to account, not praised.
Religious right’s sense of entitlement
He wants our government to legally protect publicly paid teachers who refuse to do the jobs they are paid for — so long as they refuse for “religious” reasons. And, in an educational climate where a teacher can be suspended for the display of the United Nations flag, he wants protect the right of these work-shirking teachers to subject their students to display and discussion of religious materials that represent the teachers’ own religious convictions.
The public should not pay for teachers who refuse to do the work they are assigned. Nor should the public be required to pay for evangelizing in the classroom where attendance is compulsory.
One of the highlights of the week was reading her column most Sundays in the Rocky . She will be greatly missed.
Unimportant details
If Steve Farber decides to spend $105 on a bottle of champagne to celebrate the Democrats bringing their convention to Denver, it should be a private matter (“Little touches add a lot in reporting,” On the Media, Jan. 20). Farber is paying for this out of his own pocket, after all. My pockets are nowhere near as deep as Farber’s but I myself would subsidize $105 for a reward for the efforts of those who brought this boon to Denver.
Salzman needs to focus on issues that matter.
Helmet references
Why does every accident on a bicycle or a snowboard or skis have to include “the person was (or was not) wearing a helmet” when the injuries related to the accident have nothing to do with wearing a helmet?
I never see “the skier/biker was not wearing gloves” if their hands were not injured.
New Rocky is sharp
Great job!
Today’s news, please
Are we to be faced with a continuance of this arbitrary attitude? The Rocky can spend days covering an event that happened 45 years ago, but I expect to read today’s news.
If I wanted to read the news online, I wouldn’t pay the Rocky for the paper.
A paper with panache
The new edition has caused discomfort in our house because my wife — who reads the Post — is more jealous than before and insists that she will cancel the Post and order another copy of the Rocky.
In the 1930s and early ’40s, I earned a few bucks delivering the Rocky. It can’t be much easier now, but as a reader it is always at the front door and, now, joyfully presented in a style that starts the day with panache. Thanks!
New Rocky has problems
For older readers and many others, some of the print is clearly smaller, limiting our reading, and much of it is printed lightly. The first issue, at least, had the old problem of some blurring, and it was poorly folded.
As to content, the editor, for evidently political motives, moved Mike Littwin and other columnists to the back of the paper, even beyond us letter writers. Littwin is to the Rocky what Mike Royko was to the Chicago Tribune. Their kind of columns attract readers, pro and con.
We would hope that the editors will carefully consider the comments of those of us who take the time to respond to your new format, making at least some changes for the better.
A Differing View: Candidates could not ignore inland areas
First, that would never happen. In presidential elections, the Democratic candidate always carries the big cities, but that is never going to be enough votes by itself to win the election. No serious candidate would concentrate on only coastal metropolitan cities.
Second, if presidential elections were decided by popular vote, it is possible that candidates might visit more locations in the country. Currently, only swing states get much attention from presidential candidates. According to an analysis by The Washington Post, in the 2004 campaign, with the exception of Kerry visiting his home state, the candidates were intelligently concentrating their visits on those states that were “in play.” If the presidential election were decided by a popular vote, perhaps the presidential candidates would not make Ohio their second home, and could visit other parts of the country more frequently.
Finally, the U.S. Constitution is silent on how electors should be chosen. Two states, Maine and Nebraska, do not choose electors by the winner-take-all method. Instead, those two states give one elector for the winner in each congressional district and two electors for the overall winner of the state. If states want to choose electors based on the national popular vote, that is their prerogative.
While it would be nice if the voters decided to change how to select our state’s electors, I don’t find it necessary. If Senate Bill 46 is enacted, the end result is that the person who received the most votes nationally would be guaranteed to be elected president, which strikes me as a fair result.
A Differing View: Legislators merit blame for ethics fiasco
The blame goes to the legislature, not the voters. Any measure that is done by proposition is a blunt instrument. They are good for addressing large issues, but bad when it comes to nuance. For nuance, we have our elected representatives. In this case, the elected representatives failed. Much as they have failed in Washington. When abuses were abundant, the legislature did nothing to correct them. As a result, the people felt they had no alternative to voting for Amendment 41.
Had there been an alternative proposed for the legislature, perhaps Amendment 41 would never have come to be. For every action there is a reaction.
That applies to inaction as well.
Do not blame the people — they did all they could do. Yes, it is bad. But it is better than the legislative alternative, which was to do nothing.
CU presidency
We should get someone at CU with a new and different objective, reducing the cost of college to make it affordable again.
Costs of higher education have risen at more than double the inflation rate for the last 20 years. When my children attended more than 15 years ago, it was barely affordable. Now, it is out of reach of me and most middle class people.
The answer is not in gouging the taxpayers for more subsidy money, but in reducing costs. Give me a couple of years running the place, and I would have tuition and fees down by half. Grandiose buildings, nonsensical courses (Ethnic Studies, etc), outlandish and unnecessary instructors could all be cut out.
Hire a hard-headed business manager who can impose and enforce budgets and trim costs.
Aurora
Charles Krauthammer
Now the Great Decider wants to go back and establish that security so that his “surge” can cleanse the country of resurgents. He expects the Iraqis to “stand up so that we can stand down” when we never provided the Iraqis with the security and protection to trust and cooperate with us in the first place. Sure, so our soldiers gave out some candy bars and built some playgrounds - but compared to the bloodshed and destruction we’ve allowed, that is as nothing.
Mr. K is right about one thing, this situation is not America’s fault or the military’s - it is Bush’s, for the Americans ( and yes, even Democrats ) who supported the invasion did not expect, and still cannot believe, the ineptitude and shortsightedness ( and yes, arrogance ) with which this campaign has been waged. The onus is squarely upon George W. Bush’s shoulders, and those who still support him; and speaking of these, why is it so difficult to get volunteers to supplement our troops? Why aren’t those who believe in this “surge,” and who are able-bodied, lining up to join the Army or Marines right now?
Arvada
Amendment 41
Voters approved Amendment 41 as written, not on hidden intent, and this is now a part of the constitution. Thus, it is above the authority of the state legislature.
If Jared Polis, who bought this, doesn’t like it, then let him buy another amendment to nullify it.
However, if the legislature dares to nullify 41, let them also nullify Amendment 23, and the de-Bruce Amendment. Maybe a few others, too.
Aurora
Sen. Ken Salazar
Isn’t that the same plan and reason which he opposes for America’s border with Mexico?
Denver
HPV vaccine
The medication insert from Merck states that this vaccine will prevent 4 out of 100 HPV strains that are in the population. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. This infection is transmitted skin to skin and is not protected by condoms.
When considering the HPV virus we must put it in perspective. We are not talking about preventing a disease like chicken pox or polio where transmission is airborne. One thing that must be considered is will this vaccine reduce cancer rates or raise them. The reality is that by providing a vaccine that only covers 4% of the known strains of this virus, it will create the perception of immunity, and because of that this very preventable activity of sex outside of marriage will actually increase because of this vaccine. This vaccine is being sold as a vaccine when at best it is a partial vaccine The increase in cancer that will come if this bill passes will far outweigh any benefits. And because this bill will likely lead to an increase in cancer, we will see an increase in health care costs and untold amount of suffering.
We should not pretend that everyone in the population is at risk for this disease. The best way to prevent HPV is to wait for marriage. We should be honest with our children about sexually transmitted diseases. It is wrong to force young girls to take a vaccine for a disease they have no chance of getting if she isn’t engaging in sexually activity. Why is it we expect kids to say no to drugs? But we won’t even attempt to tell them to say no to sex outside of marriage, even though this very issue provides the concrete evidence of why they should.
Littleton
Charles Krauthammer
Very simple; if someone had ousted Tito, they’d be responsible for resulting Yugoslav anarchy.
By ousting Saddam, we’re responsible for this bloody anarchy !
Fort Collins
Psychiatry exhibit
Editorial page editor Vincent Carroll objects to the Citizens Commission on Human Rights’ “demonization” of psychiatry at the Colorado History Museum and asks, “Would the (Colorado Historical) society throw open its doors to an exhibit on immigration by David Duke’s European-American Unity and Rights Organization? An exhibit by Ward Churchill on U.S. imperialism?”
I sincerely hope so, with only one caveat: factual accuracy is a legitimate concern of museum gatekeepers, but an exhibitor’s opinion of facts is not.
It is not enough to tolerate the First Amendment grudgingly, as polls indicate many freedom-forsaking Americans do these days. Free speech must be nurtured affirmatively regardless of its palatability to the people, government or editorial editors.
The more forthrightly radical and disturbing the speech is, the more valuable it is to a citizenry seduced by disingenuously “balanced” propaganda. The former provokes a quest for the whole truth, while the latter lulls one into unwarranted and dangerous complacency.
I commend the Colorado Historical Society for renting museum space to this Scientology-sponsored exhibit even though I, like Carroll, find the exhibit’s rhetoric offensive (and its sponsor too, for that matter). During this intellectual Dark Age of the Bush administration, it is rare and heartening to find any government agency taking such a principled stance, with the stalwart exception of public libraries. Public libraries do not bar learners based solely on what they wish to learn, and public museums should not bar exhibitors based solely on what they wish to exhibit.
Denver
Bad laws
Denver
Xcel power plant
Just this week we have had another definite statement that human activity is a “very likely” cause of climate change, and global warming in particular, from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in a consensus report that took into account 30000 comments from 600 reviewers around the world.
The exact consequences of global warming are still unknown but the possible ones are dire, the melting of polar ice caps with associated flooding of high population coastal areas, more extreme weather events, crop failures from increasing temperatures and decreases in precipitation, etc. The risks are high enough that policy makers ranging from the Prime Minister of Britain, to members of the United States Senate, to the Chief Executive Officers of multinational corporations believe that we should start now to take steps to reduce our impacts on global warming.
One of the most suggested policy changes is an end to the construction and operation of old technology coal fired power plants. In a recent article appearing in the Scientific American David Hawkins and coauthors explained that over their 60 year life spans the old technology coal fired power plants planned or now in construction will “collectively introduce … as much carbon dioxide as was released by all the coal burned since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.” This is an unacceptable course to take if we wish to reduce our contribution to global warming. Why should we build Comanche III if we can see that this is coming?
Even if this plant is not shut down there is a very high likelihood that Xcel, and hence its customers, will have to pay a carbon tax premium to continue to operate it. Such a tax will be designed to provide incentive to switch to cleaner energy sources; so we may anticipate that it will (and should) be a stiff one – maybe to the point where operating clean alternatives is cheaper. Why should we build a plant that we will be taxed to operate?
The answer to both of these questions is simple. We should not allow Comanche III to be built and operated.
Boulder
Sen. Wayne Allard
Dr. Allard was my Veterinarian for several years. He was knowledgeable about every problem I brought to him with my dogs & cats. He solved them all including a complicated knee operation for my dog. His office was functional, spartan and comfortable. He was personable, friendly and I enjoyed going to his office. I knew I was getting good value for my animals and my time.
When he was elected as a State Senator, he put in bills his first year that were passed, and continued to represented his constituents well there for eight years.
Now as U.S. Senator, he works hard to meet National and Local needs for all of us, and has an aggressive agenda set for the 110th Congress. You can go to his website to see this agenda for 2007 and his past bills. He also runs his Senate office the way he ran his business, frugally, returning office money to the government for most years.
I want to thank you Senator Allard for you positive, Intelligent work for these 23 years you have served Colorado and the nation as Senator and Representative. I hope we find someone like to take your place in 2008. People like you are rare and hard to find.
Fort Collins
Littwin & Stein
Today, on page 38, two of the paper’s lockstep liberals, Mike Littwin and Ed Stein, actually take mild shots at Jared (big money in politics is bad, except when it’s mine) Polis, and St. John-of-the-permanent-honeymoon-Hickenlooper.
On the same day! On the same page!
I’m saving this paper. I’m sure that someday, it’ll be as valuable as one of those postage stamps with a reversed image.
Westminster