Colo. congressional delegation working together
I was impressed by two recent articles in The Post about Reps. Marilyn Musgrave, John Salazar and Mark Udall and Sens. Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard. It is refreshing to see how it is possible for representatives from both parties to work together for the good of the people of Colorado. Hate mongering and political innuendo do nothing to impress the people of this nation.
Musgrave, a Republican from Fort Morgan, and John Salazar, a Democrat from Manassa, have come together and voiced their opposition to the Army’s planned expansion of the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site. They have written an amendment to that effect that will prohibit spending money to expand that site at the expense of private landowners in that area.
And recently, Republicans Musgrave and Allard, along with Democrats Ken Salazar and Udall, reached a compromise bid to protect Rocky Mountain National Park wilderness, once again proving our elected officials can work together for the good of the people in the state of Colorado.
Betty Ward, Longmont
Moving up the datesfor ’08 caucuses and primaries
Re: “Dems back Feb. 5 presidential caucus,” July 22 news story.
Now let me get this straight. The Democrats (likely to be followed by the Republicans) will hold their caucus in February. Wow, we will get even an earlier opportunity to see numerous 20-second TV clips (hopefully sans the dirt) about presidential candidates that will be ignored by most viewers. Ho hum!
A caucus is the beginning process for electing far more important officials – like town council members, county commissioners, state senators and representatives, and federal senators and representatives. Who will be my next president is about seventh on my list of important politicians. Besides, I am already tired of all the rhetoric that more than likely will be forgotten after the elections.
We must elect people to represent all Colorado citizens – people who will work with their political colleagues to solve problems, and who will be accountable for important local issues like transportation, water availability and schools. Isn’t it about time that we elect representatives who will solve problems and reduce the current adversarial political climate? Political party officials must again begin focusing on citizens needs instead of narrow agendas a few individuals will advocate during their 20-second TV clips.
J. S. Fifield, Parker
. . .
Although Colorado does not have many electoral votes, that is not the best reason to oppose moving our caucuses or primaries earlier in the year. After all, New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada all have fewer electoral votes than Colorado.
The best reason to resist moving these events up is simply to stop the madness of the nationwide rush to do just that. Florida and California have moved their primaries, understandable given the huge number of electoral votes they carry. But similar moves by smaller states will just encourage other small states to do the same. The end result will be no increase in political importance for states like Colorado but a huge increase in the amount of time that we’ll have to spend hearing about and from politicians.
Political seasons basically bring citizens two things: incessant requests for money (by phone, mail, e-mail, carrier pigeon, or any other way they can think of) and the brain damage of having to hear candidates for far too long. No, Colorado, let’s keep our political seasons as short as we can. Even for this political junkie, there’s more to life than politics, especially in a place as beautiful as our state.
Ross Kaminsky, Nederland
Is the local economy looking up or down?
Re: “Ref. C gets a ‘D’ in disclosure,” July 15 Diane Carman column; and “Local budgets feeling pinch; Slow economy takes toll,” July 15 news story.
The July 15 Denver & the West section featured two columns on its front page. Diane Carman’s column stated the argument by Andrew Romanoff that “we didn’t realize the economy would recover so fast … .” The other article leads with, “Most of the metro region is grinding beneath the wheels of an economic slowdown.”
How can we make intelligent choices when we vote, when neither politicians nor newspaper writers can figure out the direction of the economy?
It would be helpful if the budgets were built on money actually received rather than projections of the future, especially when even the politicians and newspapers can’t agree on the state of the economy. It is sad that Douglas and Jefferson counties made decisions on housing builds with rose-colored glasses on. A downturn in housing has been predicted widely by economists in national news for the past year. How did our leaders get it so wrong? Oh wait, maybe they read the newspapers.
Rohn Goldstein, Castle Rock
Who will pick local crops?
Re: “Demand for local food grows,” July 23 news story.
The labor that Jacquie Monroe lacks to grow more organic local food might be found in the families she serves. I grew up as a “part-time” worker on my uncle’s dairy farm in western Massachusetts. From the age of 8, I worked side-by-side with my many cousins helping out. I also learned that milk comes from a cow and not a grocery store.
The solution to Ms. Monroe’s problem is right in front of her, but the children of her customers are probably too busy with sports, surfing the ‘Net, or listening to their iPods to get their hands dirty picking produce. Too bad – one more missed opportunity to make a difference.
Jim Gusek, Lakewood
Social Security’s solvency
Re: “The politics of the next generation,” July 18 letter to the editor.
Letter-writer Jeff Wright repeats a favorite theme of the radical right, namely that the present generation “stands little chance of seeing a dime of the money they’re putting into Social Security.”
When I worked at Al’s drugstore in 1951, I noticed my check was 50 cents short. Al told me it went into Social Security but I would never see a dime of it. Now, 56 years later, I’m getting it. Why? Because the fund has always been sound and always will be, because it has been amended many times to meet conditions.
So, you young whippersnapers, don’t listen to the doom and gloom. They have always been wrong and always will be.
James Warner, Denver
Conservative politics
Re: “A lesson in sticking to principle,” July 19 David Broder column.
David Broder suggests that Republican Barry Goldwater’s 1964 losing campaign established three major causes for conservative candidates: “low taxes, strong defense and skepticism about government.” He forgot two others: huge debt and making the rich much richer. The glory days of the ’30s will return.
Frederick C. Sage, Boulder
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