Ethics problems in the Colorado legislature
Re: “Hanna quitting Senate; Possible recall vote loomed in wake of legislator’s ‘reparations’ request,” March 9 news story.
State Sen. Deanna Hanna did the right thing by resigning her position. Any time that one of our elected representatives crosses the ethical line, resignation is the only recourse. The Democratic leadership and Hanna are to be congratulated for taking the right course in this matter.
It must also be noted, however, that Hanna committed one act, albeit an improper one. Now we turn to the House, where Rep. Joe Stengel over a period of months acted improperly multiple times – every time he turned in his timecard. He claims that he is always on the clock, even when on vacation and studying for his bar exam. Were he an employee of a private firm, he would be terminated on the spot.
Where are the ethics and values people on this one? Stengel resigned his Republican leadership post but he still occupies a position of trust. What he got was essentially a slap on the wrist because he was caught with his hands in the cookie jar. Well, Mr. Stengel, that cookie jar belongs to the taxpayers of this state. So long as your Republican cohorts in the state House condone this theft, they too will be sullied by your actions.
Leo Habers, Denver
The cost of heating your home
Xcel Energy gives its customers this advice: Lowering your thermostat 5 degrees can actually reduce your heating cost by 5 percent. I am a senior, and I set the temperature of my home at 68 degrees during the day and 63 degrees at night. My average heating cost the last two months was $192. If I lower the thermostat 5 degrees, the temperature of my home will be 63 degrees during daytime and 58 degrees at night. Who wants to live in a house with that uncomfortable cold? Where is the quality of life? And who is going to live in the cold for a month to save just $9.60 out of $192?
I cannot believe an institution like Xcel can give meaningless advice like that to its customers. If Xcel is able to find the way to lower gas price, everybody will be happy.
Ninh Ledinh, Littleton
Google in China
Recently, there has been a small uproar in the media about the corporation Google cooperating with the Chinese government to censor Internet searches conducted by Chinese citizens. The fact that this behavior comes as a shock or unexpected is surprising. The fact that Google behaved as it did is not.
A business is principally built up by one or a few people and those same individuals, or their successors, still run the company. Their main focus is the survival of the company. A company is not run like a democracy. The employees may have some input but they are not the directing force. So how can an organization that does not function like a democracy act like a tool for promoting democracy to the outside world? It can’t. Nor should it.
A corporation’s main function is to make money, by either providing a service or producing a product. To think that a corporate entity is or should be a promoter of democracy is foolish. Promoting democracy does not necessarily lead to high profit.
Gerald T. Gourdin, Bould
“Body Worlds 2” exhibit
Re: “World below the skin,” March 10 news story.
I had the privilege of visiting “Body Worlds 2” in Chicago last summer and it is by far the most amazing exhibit I have ever experienced. The displays remind us that our body is not just a machine of science, but is truly a work of art more profound than the greatest masterpiece. It speaks volumes that my 8-year-old son was more captivated by “Body Worlds 2” than the highly acclaimed dinasour exhibit we toured the day before. Mere photos do not do it justice. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this breathtaking exhibition for yourself.
Rae Curtiss, Westminster
