The death of Milton Friedman
Re: “Milton Friedman, 1912-2006,” Nov. 17 obituary.
The Denver Post appropriately noted the passing of one of America’s
true visionaries, Milton Friedman. The Nobel prize-winning economist
was an epic force in our society during his 94 years. He was an unsurpassed
champion of liberty who profoundly influenced the science of economics
as well as the monetary and fiscal policies of many nations. He instilled
a newfound respect for the free-market economy in successive
generations of students and economists alike.
However, the news accounts that I have seen of Friedman’s death overlooked
his contributions to some of the most pressing public policy debates
of our time. Notably, Freidman is widely regarded as the father of
the school-voucher movement. Over a half-century ago, he saw the common
sense in letting parents use their public education dollars to shop
around for their children s education. After all, parents have their own
kids best interests at heart and will shop wisely if empowered by choice.
At the same time, the resulting competition can improve both public and
private schools.
Also, Friedman foresaw the imminent collision of illegal immigration
and government entitlements. As he told a conference in 1999, “You cannot
simultaneously have free immigration and a welfare state.”
Sen. Andy McElhany, Colorado Springs
Energy demands and the new Congress
High on the agenda of the new Congress is the creation of a new energy policy. Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supports higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks. New Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chairman Jeff Bingaman supports incentives for the development of renewable energy sources. Where do energy taxes fit in?
In the past, Democrats have proposed new taxes as a way to cash in on the profits earned by domestic oil companies.
But while new energy taxes will help fill federal coffers, they would also inhibit the goals outlined by the new congressional leadership. Oil companies already shoulder the highest tax burden of any industry. Increasing taxes would neither protect consumers from new price spikes nor create the incentive to invest in the research and development of new, smart energy sources.
Democrats have earned the reputation for supporting tax increases. For the sake of the nation’s future, let’s hope the new Congress recognizes that taxing energy is not the solution to the complicated issues of creating the next generation of energy supplies and protecting national security.
Josh Brodbeck, Denver
Bush admnistration’s family planning chief
Re: “Bush’s choice anti-choice, groups say,” Nov. 17 news story.
It’s time for the Bush administration to bring in a reality team to handle matters related to women’s reproductive health. For five years, the administration has withheld funding approved by Congress for the U.N. Population Fund. This agency prevents the spread of HIV/AIDS, provides family planning and promotes safe motherhood in 140 countries. It does not perform abortions.
Recently, Bush’s Food and Drug Administration tossed aside scientific data and allowed politics to keep over-the-counter distribution of emergency contraception pills off the market.
Now the Bush administration has hired a deputy assistant secretary for population affairs to oversee $283 million in annual family-planning grants designed to provide contraceptive supplies and information. The new family planning chief, Eric Keroack, previously directed a non-profit that regards distribution of contraceptives as “demeaning to women.”
President Bush should review some basic facts of life and make sure Keroack’s policies are reality-based. Condoms can reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and the number of unwanted pregnancies. Access to comprehensive family-planning services reduces poverty, abortions, spread of venereal diseases and maternal deaths. Most important, it promotes the birth of healthy babies to healthy mothers.
Barbara A. Taylor, Boulder
Charter school arrests
Re: Charter soap opera,” Nov. 18 editorial.
What happened at Brighton Charter School is not trivial, and is not a “soap opera.” Alleged sexual assault is illegal, not “improper.” The arrest of multiple school officials is not an “odd twist.” It is emblematic of the non-accountability common to charter schools, which have abused the autonomy entrusted to them by school districts and taxpayers. Charter school financial scandals, religious agenda scandals and now sex scandals: all cut of the same opaque cloth. The Post got one thing right: School districts must begin exercising their oversight responsibilities and stop tiptoeing around these abuses of public trust.
Louise Benson, Broomfield
Ban on recruitment
Re: “Ban on Junior ROTC,” Nov. 18 Open Forum.
Letter-writer Tom Collingwood calls San Francisco’s ban on the JROTC and military recruitment “anti-American.” What is truly anti-American is the military’s policy of discriminating against gay men and women, which is clearly a violation of the 14th Amendment right to equal protection under the law. I applaud all institutions and individuals that have the courage to stand up to a government that is in violation of its own principles. Our military is in place to protect our rights and our freedoms; it’s time they uphold said rights within their own ranks.
Raishel Wasserman, Englewood
“No” to power plant
In ordinary times, I might not oppose
building another coal-fired
power plant. But the more I hear
about Xcel s plan for the Comanche
III power plant, the more I
think that Xcel realizes these are
not ordinary times. Maybe that is
why Xcel has taken the extraordinary
action of requesting that we,
their customers, pay for building it.
The extraordinary problems we
face due to global warming mean
that we, the public, and the Public
Utilities Commission need to support
only extraordinary actions. If
Xcel wants to step forward with
further development of wind and/
or solar power, maybe we should
be willing to pay for it. Until then,
we should take the extraordinary
action of saying “no” to Xcel.
Ken Cannon, Morrison
To send a letter
E-mail: openforum@denverpost.com (only straight text, not attachments)
Mail: The Open Forum, The Denver Post, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, 80202
Fax: 303-954-1502
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.
To reach us by phone: 303-954-1331
