Re: “Make Democrats use filibuster; Actually using the controversial tool could hurt the party,” April 29 Linda Chavez column.
Linda Chavez exposed the fallacy of the “fake filibuster,” showing it for what it is: an excuse for politicians to shirk their responsibilities to the taxpayers.
Isn’t it sad that both sides of the aisle are unable to admit that a filibuster is a filibuster in name only? We the taxpayers send them to Washington to debate the issues and vote, but they hide behind the skirts of their self-serving rules to avoid just that? Oh, for the days of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”
It’s interesting that in the column next to Chavez’s, Reggie Rivers (“Importance of checks and balances”) states that the Democrats, in order to avoid a vote, will “institute endless debate – filibuster – to prevent a vote.” They’re not debating; they’re posturing. There is no debate.
Chavez has it right. All the senators have to do is indicate their unwillingness to allow a vote, and the matter is put aside. How convenient. What would this world be like if we the people were able to handle unpleasantries in our daily jobs this way?
I am disgusted with politicians who pick up and leave when the game doesn’t go their way. The value of open debate in deciding these issues is lost when these representatives refuse to debate and vote on issues before the country.
Frank C. Petrine, Denver
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Failure of CU and fraternities to agree on terms
Re: “Frats’ move cuts ties with CU,” April 28 news story.
I would like to distance the fraternal system from the bad eggs inside it. The death of Lynn “Gordie” Bailey was caused by bad brotherhood. As you learn in any fraternity organization, you are your brother’s keeper, and he is yours. Frat boys have destroyed the fraternity man’s image that our organizations are here to create. My fraternity has raised more than $15,000 this year for charitable organizations, and many other fraternities on campus have done the same. The university should help cultivate these fraternal actions.
The suggestion that an 18-year-old freshman will become more responsible with one semester under his belt is illogical and does not solve the problem of over-consumption of alcohol.
The Greek system is the largest student group on the University of Colorado campus. More than 2,000 students make up the Greek system, and it should be the first place to help change the culture on campus. The Greek system has helped set up programs to train students about alcohol awareness. The university should use the Greeks to help teach others about alcohol awareness.
Devon Schad, Louisville
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Re: “CU frats make wrong choice,” April 29 editorial.
Counter to the assertion in The Post’s editorial, our fraternities absolutely will not stand for “business as usual.” This is why we agreed to new standards established by the North-American Interfraternity Conference.
We recognize that we must do a better job of demonstrating our commitment to academic excellence, leadership development and service, particularly as they relate to social issues. Otherwise we allow people to lose sight of who we are and what we contribute. The standards include tougher policies on how we hold ourselves accountable for these things, including a prohibition of alcohol at recruitment and new member events.
The University of Colorado needs to stop suggesting that deferred recruitment will change the alcohol-based culture on the Boulder campus. These issues require diligence and teamwork among campus and student organizations to educate students about the dangers and consequences of inappropriate behavior. The Guidelines and Objectives of Responsible Drinking established by the Greek community is a good example.
Deferred recruitment would create disparate treatment between fraternities and other student organizations, including athletic teams. It would also deny incoming freshmen the right to join an organization with which they wish to associate – a basic right in the United States.
Our desire is simply to be treated equally by CU, compared to the other student organizations and the rest of the student body.
Craig Templeton, Richmond, Va.
The writer is executive director of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
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Re: “I-25 screw-up smoothed over; Driver shoulders cost of multiple flats after fasteners fall off truck,” April 28 news story.
I want to thank the owner of the company that dropped thousands of screws on Interstate 25 last week, resulting in many flat tires on others’ cars, for taking responsibility by covering the damages. This behavior is in short supply in the metro area.
I can only hope that his actions prompt similar acts of responsibility, especially from those responsible for hit-and-run accidents. In the last few years, I have heard of too many stories of lives lost from hit-and-run drivers who are rarely identified.
Ironically, as I write this letter, the evening news reports yet another accident where a young woman was killed after being hit by by two separate hit-and-run drivers. The story reports not only the tragedy experienced by the family of the victim, but also a glimmer of hope: one of the drivers returning to the scene to take responsibility for the accident.
Richard J. Hirsch, Parker
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U.S. military recruiting
Re: “The mission: Sell soldiers in Iraq on re-enlisting,” April 29 news story.
In reading the article about selling soldiers in Iraq on re-enlisting and previous articles about recruiters not meeting their goals, I wonder what the problem is. We all know that the politicians won’t encourage their family members to help win the war, but President Bush has a core base of conservative religious folks who he could be calling on to support him.
Why aren’t the ministers who call their flock to vote for him also calling on their flock to help him win the war? Just think what Sen. Bill Frist and Focus on the Family’s James Dobson could do by having nationally televised rallies at the mega-churches calling on their young people to enlist.
Janice Mowry, Lakewood
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Development of ethanol
Re: “Oil production, prices,” April 30 Open Forum.
I agree with letter-writer Robert McCullough that ethanol is a valuable component in the quest for renewable energy and has distinct advantages, including less pollution and domestic production. But cost is not one of them, at least not yet. The price per gallon is indeed less than for gasoline, but the energy content of ethanol per gallon is only slightly more than half that of gasoline. So for E85 – 85 percent ethanol – fuel mileage will drop as much as 42 percent and the fuel cost per mile would be approximately equivalent to gasoline at $3.70 per gallon. Let’s push the development, but not rush to premature conclusions.
Rollin C. Ives, Parachute
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Qwest DSL service
I see Qwest’s full-page ads every day touting DSL service. But it is not available in some of the rapidly growing residential areas around metro Denver. Try to subscribe and you get an answer from customer service that it is not available and they have no idea when it could be. That’s some “spirit of service.”
We have been told DSL would require only a minor upgrade to the box serving our neighborhood. How many of those upgrades could be made for the cost of each full-page ad touting DSL? Wouldn’t that make sense to improve service and grow business? That would be “spirit of service.”
And I wonder how many service upgrades Qwest could do with all the money it is offering to buy MCI.
Bill Joplin, Elizabeth
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