Republicans and the Mark Foley sex scandal
Illinois Rep. Ray LaHood responded to the news of Mark Foley’s improprieties by proposing to abolish the congressional page program. By saying that the program is at fault, he sends the message that congressional representatives in general are not to be trusted with young persons placed in their stewardship. If we cannot trust Congress to comport themselves properly with their charges, how can we trust them to run the country properly?
LaHood’s proposal makes it sound as though Foley’s actions were the fault of the page program. Following that logic, we should also abolish women in the Air Force Academy (if they weren’t there, they wouldn’t be harassed), handguns (I couldn’t have pulled the trigger if the gun wasn’t in my hand), and the Catholic Church (no comment), among others.
Congress must investigate this matter, discover the individuals involved in improprieties, and hold them accountable. To suggest that an institution is at fault is disingenuous at best, conspiratorial at worst.
Tom Tinkle, Longmont
…
The recent revelations regarding former Rep. Mark Foley’s explicit communications to male pages just points out how much like Democrats the Republicans have become. Since assuming majority status in both houses of Congress, the Republicans have proven they can spend like Democrats, and they’ve shown that they can ignore the opinions and sentiments of the majority of Americans in favor of their own special interests, just like Democrats. And now we see that they are just as capable as Democrats of exhibiting socially perverted behavior. Wouldn’t it be great to have a real choice in an election for a change, someone who is neither a Republican nor a Democrat?
Paul Farley, Bailey
…
So we’re finally closing in on what some of us have known was the truth for many years now. The “party of values,” aka the Republican Party, is now showing its true colors. Glaring misinformation campaigns regarding the Iraq war are finally brought forth by Bob Woodward in his new book. Condoleezza Rice ignored key intelligence reports about the potential of an al-Qaeda attack just prior to Sept. 11, 2001. And now, the pièce de résistance: Republican Congressman Mark Foley, longtime crusader for legislation against sexual exploitation of children, is caught exploiting children. And the story allegedly was covered up by the GOP-run House of Representatives. Do you want these illusions of a governing body in charge much longer? I don’t. And I certainly don’t want 52-year-old pedophiles anywhere near my government, let alone my children.
Matt Kaune, Denver
Special districts’ ability to increase debt
Re: “Districts’ capacity for debt surges,” Sept. 26 news story.
I am a lawyer and represent several cities in evaluating service plans submitted for the formation of new districts. I think the state auditor’s report and the subsequent press reports are inaccurate in several respects.
The General Assembly in 1991 passed legislation to protect property owners in special districts and investors in special district bonds. This legislation included debt limits, disclosure requirements, additional powers for municipalities and counties which have jurisdiction over the formation of districts, and limits on financing which effectively limit the mill-levy rate.
Most municipalities and counties take seriously the powers granted to them in the review and approval of service plans. The service plans I see being approved limit the tax rate, limit the amount of debt, limit the maturity of the debt, require annual reports be filed with the approving jurisdiction, and require disclosures be made to prospective property owners about the existence of the district and possible tax rates.
The focus of the auditor’s report on the amount of authorized but unissued debt is misplaced. What is important is that the service plan limits the amount of debt that can be issued and the taxes which can be levied. So the debt which is authorized but unissued will not result in any increase in a property owner’s taxes unless it is within the service plan limits.
Finally, the reports that the state has no effective enforcement tools for districts which fail to file audits and budgets are wrong. State law allows the state to direct county treasurers to withhold tax revenues.
The service plans being approved by municipalities and counties contain meaningful protections for future property owners and investors as well as reporting requirements which allow the approving entity to monitor the district’s activities.
Dee P. Wisor, Denver
Teaching the Bible in public schools
Re: “Bible text hits schools’ shelves,” Oct. 3 news story.
I am reminded how we studied the Bible in public school in upstate New York. The New Testament was required summer reading for my AP-English Literature class. The reason for studying the Bible was to better understand religious references, themes and motifs in our literature course. This is exactly where studying the New Testament belongs in public school – unless that school teaches a course in comparative religion. In such a course, I would assume that the Old Testament, the Koran, the teachings of Confucius, along with many other religious writings, would be taught as well. I believe that the Bible is imperative learning for studying both historic and modern English literature, and this is exactly where this study belongs in our schools.
Jordan Wiseman, Denver
Senate detainee bill
Re: “Senate passes landmark bill limiting rights of detainees,” Sept. 29 news story.
Disgusted. Depressed. Shocked. Just a few of the feelings I felt after seeing our government pass the Bush torture bill allowing the jailing of people arbitrarily and without court review (including American citizens); gutting judicial review of habeas corpus; detaining people indefinitely without access to a lawyer; allowing Bush to “define” torture; and other travesties.
This hideous bill, a political stunt, was created out of fear. Fear is not an American trait. Our government acts as if America has never faced evil before or defeated armies numbering in the hundreds of thousands. It weakens our hard- fought civil liberties, the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions all in one politically motivated, pre-election panic attack. Cowards! This is a hard lesson of what can happen in a one-party government, and I hope people keep the ideals of our country in mind when voting this November.
Craig Keyzer, Aurora
…
Shame on Sen. Ken Salazar for his quisling vote in support of military tribunals, albeit with reasoned reluctance: “I have concerns with this bill, but on balance it meets my personal view of what America needs to get the job done.”
Sen. Salazar, it is not about your personal view; your duty is to represent Colorado in the United States Senate. One would expect the Republican leadership and their sycophants to endorse such a measure, but not one who claims to represent all of the people of Colorado.
The philosopher Immanuel Kant argued that when considering a moral proposition, one ought to ask if one would will this to be a universal law, applying to all people at all times. If the answer proved to be self-contradictory, then the moral proposition was to be reconsidered. Furthermore, such a proposition was not to be considered out of self-interest, or one’s own personal view. Rather, it was to be considered as being applicable to all people, including the person who formulated the proposition. In this case, Sen. Salazar, you have argued that it would be acceptable, albeit with concerns, to submit yourself to such a tribunal if the undisclosed facts warranted such a procedure.
In the future, sir, perhaps you ought to spend less time worrying about who sponsored what and tend to your duty as a senator, as part of a deliberative body, especially when one is considering such matters of legal principle.
J. Thomas Kennedy, Denver
TO REACH OPINION EDITORS
Phone: 303-820-1331; Fax: 303-820-1502; E-mail: openforum@denverpost.com (only straight text, not attachments)
Mail: The Open Forum, The Denver Post, 1560 Broadway, Denver, 80202 or PO Box 1709, Denver, 80201
Letters guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 200 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.
Archives: Missed your favorite columnist or the latest Mike Keefe cartoon? Archives available at The Denver Post Online (www.denverpost.com)
