Historical comparison
Re: “Colorado 2006 and Pike 1806,” Nov. 5 John Andrews column.
In musing how the Founding Fathers (Thomas Jefferson in particular) would perceive the state of our republic here in Colorado 200 years later, John Andrews incomprehensibly equates his own ideology with that of the founders. Andrews thinks that “the founders would be shocked at our militant secularism” and “hubris of progressivism,” but 200 years ago the Christian monarchies of Europe condemned our early American government for possessing these exact same qualities.
In his “yardstick to measure by,” Andrews conveniently quotes the only two references to God that can be found in the entirety of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and Bill of Rights combined. This is because Thomas Jefferson and the other founders thought decidedly that there should be, as Jefferson wrote, “a wall of separation between church and state.”
Andrews is right on one score: “Jefferson would generally approve of our 21st century Colorado republic.” However, Jefferson would be shocked by what has happened at the federal level. The almost complete abolition of our constitutional rights through the Military Commissions Act, the Patriot Act, NSA wiretapping, and other hand- overs of congressional and judicial power to the executive branch would have set Jefferson and the Founders to planning another revolution.
Doug Curtis, Aurora
Hunting area access
Re: “Does the NRA hate wildlife?” Nov. 5 Ed Quillen column.
Ed Quillen omitted consideration of a couple of major factors regarding wilderness designation of an area.
You have to be able to travel into wilderness to either see it or hunt it. If you are young, fit and have a great deal of time, you can backpack into the area. If you are a professional outfitter with teams of horses, you can horse-pack into the area. If you are an average Colorado resident, you are not likely to have the resources to be able to pack into a wilderness area to enjoy it. By designating yet another area as a wilderness, you functionally close it to almost all of the public.
The opinion expressed in Quillen’s column is that of an elitist who seems to care little for his fellow Coloradan. Many Coloradans rely on the very motorized transportation that Quillen would ban from yet another area in order to access the backcountry.
Please do not confuse representing the average Coloradan for being “a shill.” It appears that the National Rifle Association may be just representing the average Coloradan rather than the elitists that Quillen is shilling for.
Dave Gill, Sedalia
The war in Iraq
Our president insists that we must “win” the war in Iraq. What is there to win? How will we know that we have won? There are no battles, and no land to conquer. As long as we occupy Iraq, any elections Iraqis hold are suspect. They are a patient lot; they will wait us out.
I would bring the troops, Haliburton, contractors, etc., home by Christmas. In their place, I would use half the money allocated by Congress toward this war, divide it into three equal parts, and give each of the three factions the same amount of money to rebuild and provide jobs for their people.
If they use the money wisely, then I believe we are obligated to spend enough money on Iraq so they can reach the same level of prosperity they had before their country was destroyed.
Jean McBirnie, Denver
Air traffic controllers
Re: “Controllers lose power to leave tower for breaks,” Nov. 5 news story.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s new policy prohibiting air traffic controllers from bringing liquid and semi-solid foods to the control tower seems to border on hysteria. Worse still, requiring air traffic controllers to take personal leave in order to get a short break from the well- documented stresses of the control tower almost surely increases risk for the flying public. Human error results from unrelieved stress, and human error has killed far more passengers than terrorism.
As a business traveler, I average 75 flights a year and I appreciate the security efforts of the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the controllers, airlines and airport personnel. However, labor-relations issues should never result in reduced safety for the traveling public.
Robert E. Fletcher, Castle Rock
Invasive species
Re: “The scourge of ‘global swarming,”‘ Nov. 5 Perspective article.
This article tells of the impact of invasive species on native ecosystems, including efforts to eradicate tamarisk along many water courses on the Colorado Plateau. Tamarisk has replaced native plants such as willows, cottonwoods and native grasses, resulting in habitat degradation and loss of forage for livestock.
The article implies that merely removing tamarisk will restore the native vegetation and those benefits that were lost, such as grazing.
The principal reason that invasive plant species have become such a problem is that native ecosystems have been so badly disturbed ever since the European settlement of the West. One of the principal agents of disturbance that has assaulted the entire semi-desert lands and riparian areas of the West is livestock grazing. Livestock grazing began about the middle of the 19th century and has caused widespread invasion of weeds such as tamarisk, cheat grass, Canada thistle and others.
Attempts to restore native vegetation will be fruitless if the original disturbance such as grazing that caused the loss of native plant associations is re-introduced. We wouldn’t ordinarily think of an animal being an invasive weed, but that is what cattle are, a non-native invasive species that has caused almost limitless damage to Western ecosystems.
Philip S. Miller, Telluride
Long lines on Election Day
I arrived at the Westridge Recreation Center in Douglas County at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday. After 5 1/2 hours of waiting, I could see the voting booths, but imagine my dismay at midnight, when they automatically shut down, catching voting officials by complete surprise. About 60 remaining people were told we could cast our votes on “provisional” ballots, but there was no process in place, with varying accounts on voter verification, where the provisional forms were, and filling out envelopes. Finally, at 12:45, I could not take it anymore and went home without voting.
While there are things I will do in the future to avoid another last-minute rush, the complete collapse of the Douglas County voting process will forever be a disgrace.
Kerry Neuville, Highlands Ranch
…
It was with great pleasure that I found myself in a long line of people, waiting for our turn to vote.
Even though my wait, from start to finish, was two and one-half hours, and my wife’s wait was one hour and 10 minutes, we voted! Very few people left (except the person who was told that a cellphone was a no-no) while I was waiting to vote.
We can go on and on (and should so that it does not occur again) about the debacle that took place when we as a nation performed our duties, but I would like to say that we Americans made this country proud by finally turning out and voting.
John Lambert, Parker
…
After leaving three voting locations due to two-hour-plus waits or malfunctioning computers, I arrived at the Tattered Cover at 6:55 p.m., five minutes before voting ended. When I finally made it through the line at 9:30 p.m., a man rushed up to an election official, explaining that he had the provisional ballots they needed. The election official rolled her eyes, and said they had ordered them at noon and they no longer needed them because voting was closed.
This election was a complete fiasco. The number of voting locations in Denver was dramatically reduced, and the most basic load- testing was not done on the computer systems. We, the Denver voters, demand a satisfactory explanation. If this was a result of sheer incompetence, the Republicans deserve to be let off the hook from the feeling on the street that they are responsible. If this was from something more malicious, the integrity of democracy as a whole deserves the truth.
Dan Gish, Denver
…
While standing in a long line in Douglas County so I could vote, I kept seeing images in my mind. The images were of the people of Iraq waiting in even longer lines while fearing being bombed or shot at and their smiling faces holding up an inked finger. It made my minor inconvenience pale in comparison.
We are fortunate that all we have to complain about are long lines and glitches in our advanced technology.
Sue Weinroth, Castle Rock
…
Why is my family, a struggling lower-middle-income family, finding yet another struggle to simply vote? Why do I have to choose between angering an employer or putting myself through misery (in line after work – between 6 and 7 p.m. only – with cold, hungry toddlers)? Sure wish I could afford to take off work, hire child care and own more convenient transportation. Some people can afford it; they don’t have to consult the bus schedule or explain to their boss why they are late.
Why did no one in the line that I was waiting in want to take a chance with the one commercial electronic machine available?
Excuse me if I don’t get warm fuzzies about my democracy today.
Trust needs to be restored so that I don’t doubt if my absentee or early votes will in fact be counted. With proper training, public education and truly equal opportunity, we can make our election system smoother for all, the low-tech way. The time is overdue. We need a guarantee of voting integrity with an independent public verification audit system, and we need an election holiday so everyone can have a chance to vote.
Amy Meier, Longmont
…
To all members of leadership, oversight and management at the Denver Election Commission and all associated contract vendors participating in the November 2006 elections: Please resign and/or refer to more competent information contractors. From absentee ballot printing errors to being completely unprepared for Tuesday’s election, anyone associated with the Denver Election Commission should take responsibility for this complete and utter failure.
Denver voting problems are the butt of jokes and news reporting nationwide – again. As a resident of the City and County of Denver, I would have a better chance of having my ballot counted in Venezuela or Iran than here in Denver. I would ask the Denver Election Commission and its associated vendors to spare the excuses and just move out of the way. Yes, change is hard – and we need qualified people who can actually handle change.
If I had performed my job like the Denver Election Commission has performed theirs, I would be fired and given a few hours’ notice to clear out. I am disgusted and outraged by anyone associated with the Denver Election Commission – and unless overwhelming credibility can be restored to the voting process here, I see no reason to vote in a future election in Denver.
Ben Kemena, Denver
TO THE POINT
Nov. 7, 2006, in five words: “You are not the king.”
Alan Napier, Denver
I think the best way to describe the 2006 elections is: “No. Mr. President, we’re the decider.”
Kerry Gubits, Littleton
Kudos to Congressman Tom Tancredo for running a clean campaign, free of negativity, personal attacks and criticism. What’s left of the GOP should seek his advice in future elections.
Jan Herron, Evergreen
Ted Haggard says he is a liar and a deceiver. Is he really sure he’s ready to enter politics?
Gus Molinari, Aurora
As I read Gary Hart’s Nov. 8 column, “The human condition,” I thought again of the loss that this wise, eloquent man who should have been president never was.
Joline Lee, Monument
Didja notice that the last two candidates to concede their Senate races were Burns and Allen?
Say goodnight, Gracie …
Dan Selig, Westminster
To have your comments printed in To the Point, please send letters of no more than 40 words to openforum@denverpost.com (no attachments, please) or 1560 Broadway, Denver, 80202. Writers are limited to one letter per month.
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.
