History of United’s “new” boarding system
Re: “Airline changes afoot,” Sept. 28 business news story.
Regarding the “new boarding system” that United is introducing, the WIlMA system of window-middle-aisle boarding was actually developed in 1994 by a group of employees in a former Pan Am cargo hangar at the San Francisco airport. We were in the process of designing an “airline within an airline” – which was eventually called “Shuttle by United” before being renamed “United Shuttle” – to compete with other low-cost carriers. We used the WIlMA boarding system very successfully from 1994 until United ditched the shuttle concept as a cost-cutting measure shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, only to reintroduce it as Ted in 2003.
The employees who worked so hard on developing this innovative and efficient boarding system need to be given credit where credit is due.
Laura Porter, Westminster
Michael Brown and FEMA’s response to Katrina
Re: “FEMA ex-chief blames others,” Sept. 28 news story.
The Post’s story confirms that Michael Brown is still a poster boy for an administration already infamous for prevarication, sanctimony, blame, name-calling, divisiveness, arrogance and (not surprisingly) incompetence.
For years, Bushies have misled us – even claiming to be “Republican” when corporate welfare and personal power, not the public, are their primary concerns. Pretending daily to be what one isn’t – especially in the face of much contrary evidence – requires chutzpah, like that of the young man who slew his parents and then threw himself on the mercy of the court as an orphan.
Brown’s attempt to avoid responsibility by blaming others therefore mirrors examples set by President Bush.
Apparently millions of Americans don’t care about the loss of our country to such people.
Daniel W. Brickley, Littleton
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Re: “Better information and fewer polls, please,” Sept. 28 Al Knight column.
Al Knight misses the big question about former Federal Emergency Management Agency director Michael Brown’s response that “Those are not FEMA roles. FEMA doesn’t evacuate communities. FEMA does not do law enforcement. FEMA does not do communications.” Knight asks, “Who does do these things?”
That is a good question, but a more important one is: For all our tax money, what does FEMA do? The responsibility of this administration is to answer that question and make sure FEMA does it. The ultimate responsibility for all of this rests in Washington, whether Bush supporters like it or not.
Beth Stefano, Longmont
Mental health funding for returning military
Last week, Republican Sen. Wayne Allard refused to approve an additional $10 million for Congress to spend on mental health counseling for veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
There has already been $4 million allocated for this purpose. We currently have 120,000 troops in Iraq and more than 14,000 wounded. Let’s say only 5,000 of these soldiers may need psychotherapy after returning from war; $4 million divided up between them yields $800 per soldier, courtesy of Uncle Sam and administered by the Veterans Administration. That equals about 15 sessions each.
I wonder if the senator knows how long it takes and how much it costs in dollars and time to “fix” a soldier’s mind. My uncle is a Vietnam veteran. His VA benefits couldn’t begin to heal the post-traumatic stress disorder that controls his life, career and family. Is psychological bankruptcy a family value?
Thank you to Sen. Ken Salazar for voting “yes” on the bill.
Gail Dubas, Glendale
A solution for Iraq
Hey, I’ve got a great idea to end this mess in Iraq and bring our troops home: Divide the country into three separate political entities – Kurdistan, Sunnistan and Shiitestan. The three countries each would be governed by the unanimous agreement of their constituents – Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites. No more conflict. Three nations in peace instead of one in turmoil. And we’re out of there!
Bill Hannah, Denver
Mother convicted for providing sex, alcohol
Re: “‘Cool mom’ injured in crash,” Sept. 27 news story.
Calling Silvia Johnson “cool mom” in a description of a tragic accident shows contempt for readers as well as her, and reflects badly on the newspaper. Reporting the serious offenses for which she is convicted, showing disapproval for her behavior or describing the harm she has done is part of the work of a newspaper. To use her own sad words as a way of making fun of her seems cheap and invites the reader to jeer rather than learn.
Charles O’Leary, Arvada
Conserving gasoline
President Bush called on Americans to “conserve gasoline by driving less.” He issued a directive for “federal agencies to cut their energy usage and to encourage employees to use public transportation.”
That certainly makes sense. However, the following day, Bush boarded Air Force One to fly to the Gulf Cost for the seventh time since Hurricane Katrina hit. I realize the president can’t take public transportation, but if he wants Americans to take his plea seriously, he needs to park his “mother of all gas guzzlers.”
Trips to bolster Bush’s image are not necessary.
Mac McLennan, Denver
Columbus Day parade
Re: “Mayor’s note heats Columbus Day spat,” Sept. 29 news story.
I agree with Mayor John Hickenlooper. I, too, am sick and tired of two spoiled brats – the Columbus Day marchers and the protesters – fighting on our city streets and then complaining because the Denver police weren’t nice to them.
Both of them should be taken behind the woodshed.
Tom Bunge, Denver
College drinking and the age of maturity
Re: “Sotted students hospitalized,” Sept. 28 news story.
The Post’s article refers to “nine underage women … treated for overimbibing.”
The legal age for drinking alcohol is 21, and, back in the dark ages, when I was growing up, 21 was the age when a girl became a woman (or a boy became a man). Eighteen was once the legal drinking age, before we settled on 21, but the concept of what age a person becomes a woman or man hasn’t really been solidified.
The “women” in question, called thus throughout the article, were termed “underage,” also. If they are “underage” for drinking, then they aren’t “women”; they are immature girls. We need to begin calling people what they are, not what they would like to be called.
Betty Gifford, Denver
