A sampling of recent editorials from Colorado newspapers:
NATIONAL:
The Denver Post, May 28, on Obama administration’s internal investigation of any government oversight:
While engineers were working to plug an out-of-control oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, Obama administration officials were engaged in a “top kill” operation of their own.
The political version involved the forced resignation of the head of the agency that regulates offshore oil drilling. Such a move might sate the public appetite for punishment, but it’s unclear whether Elizabeth Birnbaum, head of the Minerals Management Service, was responsible for any part of the unfolding environmental disaster.
The resignation should not take the pressure off the administration to engage in a thorough investigation of the government’s regulatory system in conjunction with the cause of the accident to determine what changes ought to be made.
Such efforts are under way, and on May 27 President Obama spoke about an independent commission he is appointing to take a six-month look at the causes of the disaster.
That effort is to be headed by former Sen. Bob Graham, Democrat of Florida, and William K. Reilly, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under the first President Bush.
It is important to know exactly what went wrong at the drilling site, and whether government oversight could have prevented it.
It’s also imperative to figure out whether and how oil companies could be required to better prepare for disasters that unfold a mile under the surface of the sea. Offshore drilling, at least for the near future, needs to remain part of the nation’s energy portfolio.
Obama spoke May 27 extensively about government’s failure in overseeing offshore drilling. He blamed the prior administration, as expected, but also took responsibility for a culture within the Minerals Management Service that “had not fully changed.”
Obama went on to say he had entrusted Interior Secretary Ken Salazar with making sure people at the federal agency were “operating at the highest level.” The president also took issue with the former Colorado senator’s comments about government oversight of BP. Salazar had said the federal government had its “boot on the neck” of BP.
Obama said he wasn’t overly fond of that language, and while saying BP needed to be held accountable, such language was unnecessary.
The cumulative weight of those statements make us wonder whether Birnbaum will be the only casualty from this disaster, which many are calling “Obama’s Katrina,” a reference to the devastating hurricane that occurred during the Bush administration. Much will depend, we think, on how the next few days and weeks play out.
The president traveled to Louisiana May 28 to have a closer look at the efforts to plug the leak and mitigate the damage from oil coming ashore.
But neither the capping of the gusher nor high-profile firings ought to take the place of a thorough examination of how this disaster happened and how another can be prevented.
Editorial:
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The (Grand Junction) Daily Sentinel, May 26, on why sending National Guard troops to the border will do little:
President Barack Obama ordered 1,200 National Guard troops to the Mexican border May 25, allegedly to help alleviate problems for border states such as Arizona, which is besieged with crime caused by illegal immigrants.
Except that it isn’t. Violent crime in Phoenix, for instance dropped 17 percent last year, more than most large cities in the country, according to the latest FBI statistics. Even a border town like Nogales reports no avalanche of immigration-related crime.
Furthermore, Obama’s National Guard edict is little more than political posturing on what has suddenly become a hot-button issue once again. It will do virtually nothing to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into this country.
What’s needed is a thorough revamping of our immigration policies to make legal immigration for temporary workers more available and attractive—both to people wanting to come to this country and businesses that seek to employ them. Also needed is better tracking of those who come here legally so they don’t overstay their visas.
Revamping our immigration policy does not mean embracing a universal amnesty policy for the millions of illegal immigrants already here. Nor does it mean building something akin to the Berlin Wall across 2,000 miles of our southern border—a budget-busting proposition that still wouldn’t end illegal immigration.
But formulating a new, sustainable policy will take time, and will inevitably require some changes.
Meanwhile, those who fear that immigrants come here primarily to engage in criminal rampages should read things like the December 2009 Commentary article, “Higher Immigration, Lower Crime,” by Daniel Griswold of the libertarian CATO Institute. He and others make a strong case that immigrants—legal or illegal—actually commit less crime per capita than U.S. citizens.
Illegal immigration is a problem that requires action. But overheated rhetoric about non-existent crime spikes and political posturing with the National Guard won’t solve it.
Editorial:
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STATE:
The (Greeley) Daily Tribune, May 27, on importance of being aware during the state’s severe weather season:
So, you’ve planted your garden, staked your tomatoes, pulled out the lawn furniture and are ready to enjoy a hot Colorado summer.
Not so fast.
We just want to remind everyone, Colorado natives and newcomers alike, that this is severe weather season and everyone needs to be aware that the weather can turn violent and dangerous within minutes.
We realize most of you know this. Just two years ago, we in Weld County lived through one of the most devastating tornadoes to hit eastern Colorado in the last decade.
Homes and property were destroyed along the tornado’s path, especially in Windsor, where whole neighborhoods were annihilated.
But it bears some repeating. Weather warnings in Colorado need to be taken seriously. Not only tornadoes, but severe thunderstorms, which produce dangerous lightning, hail and floods, need to be heeded.
So be smart, Weld County. When there is a tornado warning, don’t run outside to watch the clouds rotate. Take these basic precautions: During a tornado warning, go to a basement or a center, windowless room in the house to wait out the storm. Keep a battery-operated radio on hand that can be tuned in for weather updates in case electricity is lost. Weather updates and warnings are also posted regularly on our website at .
Some towns installed tornado sirens after the 2008 tornado. If you hear these sirens, take cover immediately, no matter where you are. If these sirens sound, a tornado has been spotted.
Pull cars into garages during severe weather to guard against hail damage. Cover delicate plants and gardens with drop cloths or old sheets to protect plants before the severe weather really gets under way. Don’t go out in hail storm. Hail stones can cause injury quickly.
During severe thunderstorms, pull your car to the side of the road in a safe area and wait it out. Don’t try to drive through floods or large puddles, which can be deeper than they seem. Cars can stall out and water can sweep even a vehicle away.
During severe storms, stay away from ditches, rivers, streams and other waterways, which can flood quickly.
If Wednesday’s weather is any indication, we could be in for another severe and potentially damaging thunderstorm and tornado season.
Don’t be complacent when warnings are issued. Don’t take risks. Take necessary precautions to keep yourself and loved ones safe.
If the 2008 tornado proved anything, it was that it really can happen here.
Editorial: sign)1025
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The Gazette of Colorado Springs, May 26, on why a new helicopter brigade at Fort Carson is necessary:
Activist Bill Sulzman and a yet-to-be-named group are organizing opposition to the possibility of a new helicopter brigade at Fort Carson. The brigade would fill a hole at Fort Carson, which is the only major Army infantry post without an attached helicopter brigade. The new unit would provide integrated air operations and training for the 4th Infantry Division, headquartered at the post.
Sulzman told The Gazette’s editorial department that military spending affects our area negatively because too many soldiers pay income taxes and car registration fees to other states and stress law enforcement and social services. In listening to Sulzman, it’s apparent that he believes Colorado Springs would be better off without a military presence. It’s clear that he believes our tax base alone defines our quality of life.
It is amazing how wrongheaded this is. Our community should welcome the brigade with open arms as a key to economic growth and a more vibrant community.
There is no question that the troops and families from Fort Carson use community resources. But they also pay sales taxes, and a significant portion pays property taxes or rent a dwelling that someone pays taxes on to support the use of the resources. They spend their wages in our community and earn those wages protecting our freedom and wealth.
The implication that the military is a liability to our local economy simply does not hold water. Figures obtained from the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. details $1.8 billion in positive economic impacts for the 2008 fiscal year. This would have gone up considerably in 2009 because of the increased troop levels at Fort Carson. It will go up again in 2010 and go even higher if we succeed in persuading the Army to add the brigade. Those 2008 numbers included $1.17 billion in military and civilian payroll, much of which most likely was spent at local businesses that employ people.
The Army made direct local purchases of $192 million and spent $18.6 million to buy utility services. There was $428 million in construction; $4.7 million in tuition support; and $141.5 million in Tricare payments. These impacts do not include the businesses that are here only because the military is here. The ultimate gain is enormous.
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The economic situation in the past two years was bad enough. Think how disastrous it would have been for local businesses and for the folks who work in them if the $1.8 billion had not been here. If the military economic impact had not been here during the past two years, the last person out of town would not have had to turn out the lights. The utility company would have already turned them out for us.
So call your congressman and senators. Write a letter to the governor. Tell them we want the military here. Tell them we want the helicopter brigade. The economic impact is vital for our well-being. The troops and civilians who staff the various installations in our area, along with their families, are an integral part of the vibrant city we call home. We would be much, much less without them.
Editorial:
