Worries about China
Re: “What’s in your food? Twinkies offer a warning on foreign additives,” June 10 Perspective article.
Rather than questioning the regulations on food ingredients, I believe we have to ask: Why is anyone in the United States doing business with a fascist regime like China (reminiscent of doing business with the German Nazis prior to World War II)? I guess greed and profit far outweigh fundamental ideals of human freedom and democracy in an inhumane economic structure.
Robb Terrell, Loveland
New state education chief
Re: “State’s new chief of education has his hands full,” June 10 Perspective article.
The most important point Robert Reichardt made was that “[Dwight] Jones will have to operate in a challenging environment with few resources directly under his control while still being expected to lead the charge on improving K-12 education … .” In fact, the only tool that Commissioner Jones will have is his voice, since he has no authority to enforce school laws or to make changes in the way school districts operate. I believe that Jones, like former Commissioner William Moloney, is in a hopeless position, and he is doomed to fail if he remains in the “voice only” status.
I hope that the Department of Education will use its influence to provide Jones with the authority he needs to make a difference. Because of the built-in, unjustified resistance to change, a concerted public effort is required to persuade the governor to ask for the needed legislative changes.
It is past time for Colorado’s commissioner of education to be empowered to make a difference. Talk is not sufficient.
Darwyn Herbst, Niwot
Drilling the Roan Plateau
Re: “New direction for drilling,” June 10 guest commentary.
Ken Kreckel has written a glowing review of a new type of high-density drilling that is about to be used in the proposed gas-drilling project that has been approved by the Bureau of Land Management for the Roan Plateau near Carbondale.
Many of us who have moved to the West have done so mainly because places like the Roan Plateau still exist – they keep alive those aspects of the American dream that have been irredeemably spoiled in more industrialized regions of the nation.
Instead of being able to fill the bottomless pit of our addiction to oil, drilling in the Roan Plateau may end up turning our geography of hope into one more landscape of failed desire, re-creating the dark side of the American dream. Is that what those of us who live near the Roan Plateau really want? And does Ken Kreckel of Casper, Wyo., really care?
Joel Brence, Carbondale
Work, women and religion
Re: “Muslims bridge the gap,” June 10 Gail Schoettler column.
If you recall your physics class from high school, you might remember the formula for the measurement of “work” being the energy it takes to lift 1 pound 1 foot. Applying that formula to what goes on in the world, it is estimated that women do about 60 to 65 percent of the actual “work” – and all religions play a significant role in that equation. Gail Schoettler offers needed insights into Islam and the place of women therein. However, it’s not just Islam. Almost all religions, having been designed by men, relegate women to a subordinate position. Cultural anthropologists, acknowledging the disparity of “work” in the history of the world, note that men have a need to create relevancy for themselves and thus invented religion, war, paperwork and barbecues in order to have something important to do.
Rocky Hill, Denver
Leading by example
Re: “Coach a winner by example,” June 10 Diane Carman column.
Diane Carman writes about a young woman who overcame her difficulties after a tragic automobile accident. I think this article will help inspire people who have not led their lives to full potential because they believe their disability creates barriers that can never be overcome. Ryan McLean works as an assistant swim coach at Cherry Creek High School, taught classes, and managed to earn a master’s degree although she is paralyzed from the waist down. I believe this article will give all people with disabilities the inspiration to keep looking forward towards life and never to look back at mistakes that were made. If you keep a positive outlook on life, good things will happen.
Kristina Moritis, Denver
Water and people’s rights
Re: “Water lifeline or pipe dream?” June 3 news story.
The article regarding proposed plans to divert water from the Green River points out again that what’s good for private money should be good for public money.
In the United States today, there is a great clamor by corporations to control what should belong to the public. The people of this country need to wake up. Increasingly, water is being governed by private capital under the protection of archaic mining laws.
We the people need to nationalize our water and govern its use under state water boards. There should be no such thing as water rights. Just because the rain falls or water flows under your ground should not give anyone “rights.”
Water should not be sold on the stock market as a commodity with no mind to public distribution. The profit motive should not rule life giving water.
Norm Tempel, Estes Park
Immigration reform
Sen. Ken Salazar recently challenged those who opposed the immigration bill currently being considered by Congress, which he had a hand in crafting, to come up with better ideas if they didn’t like this bill. OK, Senator, here you go, from a registered Democrat and one who is more than a little fed up with your record in the Senate up until now:
Forget about border fences and amnesty. Instead, come up with a foolproof ID system that all people in “guest worker”- designated occupations must provide in order to work.
Make it a felony to employ (not “knowingly employ”) an illegal immigrant. Employers should have to prove that they followed the law.
Employers should have to prove that no Americans were willing to work for the pay rate they were offering, adjusted for market conditions.
Employers of legal immigrants should have to prove they are paying benefits to their workers, including health care, in order to employ guest workers.
Never allow someone who has entered this country illegally to even think that he or she can become a legal citizen. These people need to go back to their country of origin and do what it takes to make themselves legal immigrants.
Mike Dubrovich, Parker
…
I applaud Sen. Ken Salazar for his recent efforts to forge an agreement on immigration reform. It is clearly a problem that needs a solution. Rep. Tom Tancredo, on the other hand, should be up front about his real intent – which is evidently to forge a do-nothing coalition that attempts to derail any meaningful attempt at reform.
So we are left with what we had to start: a broken immigration system. Those who profit by demonizing immigrants will continue to profit in the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, families will continue to face separation, workers will be exploited, dreams will be deferred, and the border will remain “unsecured.”
Michael Worrall, Denver
…
Re: “At last, McCain is hitting back,” June 12 Ruben Navarrette Jr. column.
I always read whatever Ruben Navarrette Jr. writes. I generally find his arguments intellectually sound. But not this time, on immigration reform and his comments about Sen. John McCain.
McCain is wrong to coin the phrase “silent amnesty” in the context of illegal trespassers. Amnesty implies ultimately a path to citizenship and voting rights. Illegal trespassers are not sorry they are here, they are only sorry when they get caught here. There is a difference.
Amnesty is not silent. Amnesty implies tactical changes in immigration rules which were knowingly broken. That is why Bush is also wrong to offer any new benefits to illegal immigrants. New benefits would be amnesty. Illegal cowering amid silence among the trespassers is not. McCain knows better and so should Navarrette.
Steve Schweitzberger, Littleton
…
I see that Ruben Navarrette Jr. is still at it – “it” being his campaign to explain why the massive influx of Mexican citizens to the United States is in the best interest of Americans. If you disagree with him, you are, of course, a bigot.
Having recently moved to Colorado from California, where the effects on the schools, hospitals and law enforcement agencies (to name a few social institutions) are severely affected, I have seen firsthand how the invasion from Mexico has changed California towns and cities.
I recommend a book for your insight into the results of massive Mexican immigration: “Mexifornia,” by Victor Davis Hanson.
Jim Robertson, Castle Rock
…
Re: “TB scare highlights a failure to be prepared,” June 5 editorial.
The Post editorial regarding Andrew Speaker’s TB scare not only exposed flaws in our health protection system but exposes the hypocrisy of our immigration debate. If Mr. Speaker had been able to cross the southern border as easily as he did the Canadian border, there would have been a public outcry for more border security. But it appears that a person’s skin color and which border they cross do matter.
Mr. Speaker’s carefree stroll through the Canadian border apparently stirs no great concern regarding our northern border. There’s no public outcry for fences, increased border agents and military deployment. I guess the notion of a porous border pertains only to those evildoers from the south. Apparently, there is selective anger and resentment that is dependent on who crosses the border and which border they cross.
Richard O. Delgado, Denver
TO THE POINT
For all of the supporters of the new motorcycle noise ordinance in Denver, I have four words for you: Loud pipes save lives.
Jolene Sadowski, Bailey
That was such a sad story about the immigrant who couldn’t take a scholarship because of his status (“Immigration laws’ heartbreak,” June 7). Now they will have to give the scholarship to an American. I cried myself to sleep last night.
Mike Laden, Conifer
Both President Bush and Paris Hilton come from advantaged backgrounds, exhibit similiar personality traits and have contributed much to society. However, although our society certainly feels safer now that Paris is behind bars, can a similar outcome for Mr. Bush be predicted?
David Ferlic, Wheat Ridge
Regarding his recent request for $30 billion to fight the AIDS epidemic, President Bush assured us that “the money would be spent wisely.” Given his track record, I get the feeling that somehow Halliburton will be involved.
Ray Yedinak, Highlands Ranch
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