Responses to Post’s editorial on U.S. labor bill
Re: “Labor bill should be killed on return,” July 16 editorial.
Seventy-two years of collective bargaining rules in the U.S. have not worked, which is why the percentage of unionized workers in the private sector is so low.
In 1991, I was involved in a rare successful organizing campaign at a mental health center. To begin the long ordeal, it took eight months to finally have an election after union authorization cards, signed by more than 50 percent of the workers, were submitted. The employer hired a union-busting firm that threw up road blocks at every turn. Management had a captive audience when they bashed the organizing attempt and tried to intimidate workers who participated in the campaign. Frustratingly, they were within their legal rights. Members of the organizing committee had to sneak around to talk to fellow workers about our legal right to organize a union.
We were thrilled about the victory, unaware that bargaining the initial contract would be as grueling as the original organizing campaign. It took a year from the time of the election until the contract was complete, with the employer retaining the same union- busting firm at the bargaining table. As the law does not impose a time limit, management stalled and fought against the most basic issues of fair employment.
After that experience, I figured out that something is seriously wrong with labor laws in our supposedly free country.
Mary Brewerton, Denver
…
Your editorial concerning the labor bill contained a surprising detail. Since when does a Democrat running as a moderate mean that he will actually behave like one? You were disappointed that Sen. Ken Salazar abandoned his “centrist values.” Actually, depending on your definition of centrist, he is being true to form. Look at his voting record.
Mark Sear, Lakewood
Referendum C’s effect on transportation, education
Re: “Roads will take a chunk of Ref. C funds,” July 12 news story; and “Asphalt beats ivy on Ref. C funding,” July 13 editorial.
In its article and editorial, The Denver Post buried the lead of the story and in so doing suggested that Referendum C has produced winners and losers, when the real story concerns programs still struggling against Colorado’s convoluted fiscal policy, not one another.
The article and editorial mischaracterize the effect of Referendum C on transportation, labeling it as a “bonanza” and providing “robust growth.” These terms misconstrue the fact that state funding for transportation only this year has clawed back to the $1.3 billion level it was funded at in 2000 – a struggle shared by higher education, which also only now is returning to pre-recession levels of funding.
The real story is left at the end of both the article and editorial – the fact that both transportation and higher education are critical state services in need of better funding mechanisms. Rather than sensationalizing a story by suggesting rivalries where there should be none, The Post would better serve its readers by focusing on the need for Coloradans to put our heads together and figure out a way to resolve the funding crises facing both transportation and higher education.
Tony Milo, Centennial
The writer is executive director of the Colorado Contractors Association.
Why the U.S. health-care system is incurable
Re: “The health care debate in the wake of ‘Sicko,”‘ July 18 letter to the editor.
Letter-writer Karen Libby mentions Canada’s waiting lists for two expensive diagnostic technologies. But that says nothing against universal health care; it’s simply a matter of domestic funding priorities. Compared to these minor flaws, our system is positively incurable. Three words show why: “preexisting condition exclusions.” What good is a system that denies care for those who need it most? It’s sick! An HMO’s prime legal duty is to make money, and the only path to profit is by insuring healthy people and by keeping those with “conditions” out. Universal health care, by contrast, devotes all of its funds to care for everybody, and keeps paperwork to a minimum.
Martin Voelker, Golden
Aquarium’s debt to Ocean Journey supporters
I recently saw a crew working outside the Downtown Aquarium. They were chiseling the metal sculpture off a concrete wall outside the former Ocean Journey. The small metal water drops, fish and starfish they were removing were messages from grandparents, grandchildren, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles and other relatives and friends. They were messages of love, memories and expressions of hope addressed to loved ones, many of whom are now departed. They were statements of encouragement purchased in support of a dream many of us had for Denver. Together, like the many different people in our community, they were a mosaic that formed a beautiful picture reflecting the Colorado sunset.
It was through donations such as this that Ocean Journey was built. Although that dream did not survive, we hoped that some small part of our legacy would remain. It was because of the financial foundation laid by those who supported Ocean Journey that the Downtown Aquarium was able to purchase the facility at a fire-sale price and make a large profit on the investment of the Denver community. Now that beautiful piece of art, paid for by citizens of Denver, will be turned into garish advertising.
Downtown Aquarium can argue that it owes nothing to Ocean Journey and its supporters. However, I believe it owes much to our community.
Paul Aldretti, Denver
Presidential support
Re: “A pro-Bush letter in hand …,” July 15 Dan Haley column.
I had to chuckle over Dan Haley’s disappointment in the recent 5:1 and 8:1 anti-Bush letter-to-the-editor ratios even as polls show 26 to 29 percent of Americans still supporting the president. Did it occur to him that maybe most current Bush supporters don’t read newspapers, or, for that matter, read anything?
Steve Wallace, Lafayette
The other football
How refreshing to see a true world-class athlete like David Beckham on the front page of The Denver Post (July 19). Beckham is the most recognized athlete on the planet, due more to his skill and work ethic than to his colorful personal life.
As a mom of five competitive athletes (swimming, volleyball and soccer), I long ago fell under the spell of the World Game, the beautiful game, the game that 95 percent of the planet calls football. The number of people who actively support this sport dwarfs the number of Americans who care about football, basketball or baseball. The amount of money spent worldwide on football (soccer), including advertising revenue, makes any other sport puny by comparison. We Americans love to flatter ourselves by believing that our sports are more important simply because they are American sports, but the truth is that football (soccer) has always been the No. 1 sport on earth, because it is the most egalitarian, fascinating and enjoyable sport to watch. This, despite those frequent 1-0 score lines. Get used to it!
Stephanie B. Logan, Centennial
Online extras
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