The nature of scientific modifications
Re: “Mice hint at hazards of biocontrols,” May 11 news story.
Nearly 40 years after the fact, scientists are now getting around to documenting the human impact of altering the ecosystem by introducing non-native species to control undesirable weeds, which has had the unforeseen result of increasing the mouse population, leading to more hantavirus transmission to humans.
What kind of head-slapping “D’oh!” moment do you think we’ll have 40 years hence when the world is confronted by the “unforeseen and unintended” ecological and human damage due to genetically modified organisms? Major food conglomerates are messing around with the DNA structures of the foods we eat with virtually no government oversight, little media coverage, and sparse public outcry.
Oh well, I guess the best guinea pig is the kind that pays for the privilege of being one at the supermarket. Welcome to life inside the giant corporate science experiment we call America.
Max Altier, Boulder
Praise for firefighters and emergency workers
This has been an incredibly hard week of dangerous fires for the Denver Fire Department. I want to take this opportunity to thank my brother and sister Denver firefighters for all they do for our city and the people in it. As Lt. Rich Montoya clings to life after serving the department unselfishly for 30 years and falling in a blaze, as Billy Greene recovers after being pulled lifelessly from a fire, and as two other firefighters from injuries sustained risking their lives for others, I hope the citizens and politicians of the Mile High City realize what is at stake every time the alarm sounds.
After my brother firefighters have selflessly preformed their duties saving many lives and seeing their friends injured and one in critical condition over the past week, I believe it clearly demonstrates the dedication that Denver’s bravest all have to protecting lives and preserving safety. Despite having only 15 shifts remaining before retirement, did Montoya hold back? No, he gave it his all and his heroic actions resulted in a young girl being pulled from a burning building.
The Denver Fire Department is tackling dramatically more emergencies than ever before, with the same number of firefighters Denver had decades ago, and with aging equipment and a budget that desperately needs increased to meet the demands of the city.
The people of our fine city should take the time to reflect on what firefighters do for them; however, they should not simply keep their thoughts to themselves, they should write the City Council and acknowledge the efforts of the brave men I am proud to call my “brothers.” The citizens and politicians of Denver should be proud to have one of the finest fire departments in the nation and understand that we will always be there when you need us.
Aaron S. Jonke, Denver
The writer is secretary treasurer of Denver Fire Fighters IAFF Local 858.
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Re: “Chief: OT stories unfair,” May 11 guest commentary.
I would like to thank Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman for laying out the facts about The Post’s stories of police overtime and, in particular, workers’ compensation. However, there is a very real problem that was glossed over: Other emergency service workers in Denver are not protected by workers’ compensation if they are injured while aiding the public when off-duty.
Regularly and without fanfare, off-duty firefighters, paramedics and sheriff’s deputies are first on the scene at traffic accidents, fires and medical emergencies, and they put their skills to work regardless of the hazards. Generally, they are uninjured and resume their business afterwards. Such was not the case in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, when roughly 100 of the 343 firefighters who died were off-duty, either just relieved at the station or responding from home. They didn’t go seeking overtime pay. Yet we didn’t hear about workers’ compensation issues for their families because they were all treated equally. An off-duty Denver sheriff’s deputy, burned while attempting the rescue of a child from a fire in 2004, by contrast, was denied coverage for his injuries. When a city hires such people to do its hazardous “dirty work,” doesn’t it take on a moral obligation to protect them whenever they help the public? If they hesitated to respond, wouldn’t The Post rightfully be editorializing about mercenary behavior?
For the assurance of their emergency service workers and their families, it is time that the cities protect those who protect the cities.
Roy Gelbhaus, Denver
Candidate Beauprez’s record in Congress
Re: “Response from candidate to Post editorial,” May 15 Open Forum.
Congressman Bob Beauprez wants to be our next governor and feels he is being tarnished for opposing Referendum C, which was approved by the voters of Colorado. Beauprez claims he wants to “ensure value for the taxpayer.” He says he is “committed to the hard-working taxpayers who foot the bills.” He says the legislature is on a “five-year unlimited spending spree,” and this is not what the voters agreed to.
Beauprez’s record in Congress concerning the “taxpayers who foot the bill” speaks for itself. He has consistently supported the Republican agenda while in Congress, voting to raise the debt ceiling limit to support the obscene federal deficit, which threatens the long-term economic survival of every “hard-working taxpayer” in this country.
Jim Saunders, Littleton
Bush’s border plan
Re: “Bush enlists Guard’s help to secure border,” May 16 news story.
President Bush ignored a critical issue during his televised address on immigration: the demand side of the issue. Instead of asking for more agents assigned to enforce employer compliance with the law, all he requested was better ID cards. While this may be a good idea, it does not substitute for the fact that there would be no flood of illegal immigrants without employers willing to hire them. If you seriously believe the problem is mostly fake IDs, I have a gold mine to sell you near Leadville. Many, if not most, of these employers know they are hiring illegals and know they are deliberately taking jobs from Americans.
By not directly addressing the fact that American citizens, by hiring and employing illegal immigrants, are criminals and are the root of the problem, President Bush is once again showing his true nature. This president does not want to hold accountable those American businesses and employers who have created this problem in the first place. They are the ones who constructed this underground economy, owe back taxes and fines every bit as much if not more than those immigrants seeking residency do.
Roger MacDonald-Evoy, Cheyenne
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It is hard to appreciate President Bush. Does the national budget matter anymore? Someone has to pay for those 6,000 National Guard troops. The president just deploys troops – no matter.
First he violates the law by wiretapping Americans, and says it is the law, and then he deploys thousands of troops in a reaction to demonstrations. This president has no identification of the national budget – nothing at all.
I wonder what the elections in November will bring. I hope they resolve something.
Mark S. Kern, Boulder
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A good portion of our border is private land, and the president wants to put troops there. When in our history since the Civil War has this happened? How can the president look at Americans with a straight face and say how he is committed to securing the border when all of his previous actions indicated the exact opposite? We need to wake up and realize that the president is using the immigration issue as a political football to raise his sagging poll numbers.
Mark Lindfors, Highlands Ranch
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