A car speeds past a pothole in Denver. Columnist Barry Ritholtz wrote in last Sunday’s Denver Post that “We have allowed a transportation grid that was once the envy of the world to become an embarrassing wreck.” He suggested raising the federal gas tax to improve highways and roads (Cyrus McCrimmon, Denver Post file)
Re: “Roads are in ruins; hike U.S. gas tax,” May 3 Barry Ritholtz column; and “What Denver city candidates don’t know,” May 3 Vincent Carroll column.
Last Sunday’s Perspective section showed sharp contrasts. Vincent Carroll’s column said Denver’s problems of increased density, traffic congestion, affordable housing and homelessness “can’t actually be solved,” so don’t listen to City Council candidates. Barry Ritholtz says our roads are in ruins, so raise and index the gas tax. He describes reasons why it will work.
Both Carroll and Ritholtz complain about politicians, but Carroll tells them to stay in their own lane, while Ritholtz tells them to stop being intimidated by tax scolds like Grover Norquist. Sharp contrasts indeed.
Jim Engelking, Golden
This letter was published in the May 10 edition.Barry Ritholtz’s column briefly mentions political operative Grover Norquistap no-tax pledge that almost every Republican congressperson and presidential aspirant since 1986 has signed.
The Constitution states that taxes may be levied or additional taxes raised, if felt to be necessary, so such a pledge is clearly unconstitutional. It is a legislator’s duty to vote against new or raised taxes if, in his or her judgment, they are unjustified or unnecessary. To vote as ordered, instead of voting one’s conscience, is — irregardless of one’s party — un-American. (Kudos to Bob Dole and Jeb Bush, and a few others, for having the political courage not to sign.)
Norquist cannot be impeached since he is not an elected “public servant,” but any signatory of his pledge should be impeached. Americans should be insulted that this situation exists.
R. Kiefer, Arvada
This letter was published in the May 10 edition.
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