Recognizing Amache will help us learn from its horrors
Re: āHouse OKs Amache historic site bill,ā July 30 news story
As a 91-year-old survivor of the Japanese incarceration at the Granada Relocation Center (known as Amache) in Colorado, the news that the bill to make the location a National Historic Site unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives brings me hope.
I was 11 years old in 1942 when my family was forced to leave our farm in Northern California and imprisoned at Amache for three years until the war was over. I never thought Iād see the day when our country imprisoned more than 7,500 individuals, all removed from our homes without cause or trial. The majority of us were American citizens, but that did not matter because we had Japanese faces and names.
As a nation, it¶¶Ņõap only by remembering these events and honoring these stories that we can learn from them. I urge the Senate to pass the bill without delay.
The time is not only right — it is long overdue, and I have been waiting a very long time.
Bob Fuchigami, Evergreen
The progress in making Coloradoās former Japanese internment camp, Amache, a national park site is welcome for those of us whose families experienced the trauma of unjust imprisonment.
My late father and his family were among the thousands of Japanese-Americans imprisoned at Amache between 1942 and 1945. Like many others all over the country, they were forced to leave their home and business and were imprisoned simply because of their race. They were told by their own government that they were not welcome in the country they called home.
It is only by preserving and protecting the Amache site that we can tell a more complete and factual history of Colorado and our nation. In doing so, we will ensure that this stain on our nationās Constitution and past is never repeated. I look forward to seeing Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper help move this bill through the Senate.
Derek Okubo, Denver
Ken Buck and Joe Neguse are doing Colorado History a good deed. Camp Amache should be a National Historic Site. The Japanese-Americans who were interned there during World War II are heroes.
They met a bad situation with courage and imagination and hard work. They turned the camp into a vegetable garden, helping the war effort. They built a printing press and made posters promoting the sale of war bonds. Their sons joined the Army and fought valiantly in Europe against the Nazis.
Bob Gordon, Lakewood
Address lingering racism and systemic problems
Re: āThe disturbing consequences of critical race theory
As a white parent, an educator, and a human being, Krista Kaferās column infuriated me. It uses the time-worn tropes of the far right to argue that critical race theory is a void of postmodern meaninglessness that will strip white children of educational resources or advantages they would gain through āhard workā or ānatural gifts and talents,ā both coded terms that imply white superiority. She even finds a woman of color to quote, who points out that āthere are plenty of white children from hard backgrounds who are marginalized.ā
Yes: Each individual faces their own set of challenges and oppressions. But white people in America, no matter their background, enjoy a specific set of privileges just because they are white. That does not mean that āall white people are racistā or that āit is OK to stereotype whites.ā
The suggestion or downright assertion that education and critical theory of any type are tools of oppression is dangerous. If youāre concerned about how your childās school might be teaching white kids about white privilege, check it out for yourself. Recognizing white privilege does not mean that white people must live in shame, but instead is a powerful way for us to make America safer for people of all races. And if Kafer is convinced that, as she states at the end of her column, āColoradoās schools can fight racism and inequalityā in other ways, perhaps sheāll use a future column to enlighten us on what ways those might way be, especially if she truly cares about racial justice for all.
Kimberly OāConnor, Golden
Thank you, Krista Kafer, for your analysis of critical race theory as it is being implemented in Colorado schools. It is disingenuous for school districts to say theyāre not teaching CRT under the premise that K-12 students are not technically being taught the original theory as inspired by Marxists Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida.
The fact that preschoolers through high school seniors are being taught that they are either oppressed by whites, or are oppressors if they are white, should be a concern to all parents, regardless of race. Resegregating groups of the āoppressedā and shaming white children reverses all the strides Dr. Martin Luther Kingās influence and the Civil Rights movement accomplished. In fact, Dr. Kingās dream that people be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character has taken a perverse turn in the CRT movement.
Those who think that only white parents are concerned by the introduction of CRT into their childrenās curriculums need to watch the videos of parents of color admonishing school boards over this development. Our country is a country of equal opportunity, not equal outcomes or equity. A sad example of equity at work is the attempt to eliminate pre-high school advanced math classes in California. Thereās a phrase that would seem to apply here: reducing math instruction to the lowest level of mediocrity. How sad for the children.
Karen Libby, Denver
Krista Kafer acknowledges that āracism is a problemā but ignores the implications of her insight. One doesnāt need the philosophies of Derrida or Foucault — favorite targets of the right ā to recognize that racism is both embedded in our countryās origins and has been an active force in shaping American society ever since.
Rather than do the hard work of trying to understand how and why racism persists in overt and implicit forms, Kafer takes an easier path. She focuses on critical race theory, a sustained effort by many scholars to confront and understand racism. To make her point that CRT has ādisturbing consequences,ā Kafer picks several easy targets, CRT-related programs that are, in her eyes, āthe theoryās poison fruits.ā She may be right about these examples. The history of education shows that leaders all too often respond to new insights with faddish, shallow, one-shot responses.
But Kaferās effort to make CRT a bugaboo should not distract readers from its essential insights. Race is a social construct, not a biological fact. Whether we recognize it or not, white people enjoy privileges and protections that are either denied or simply unavailable to those who are not white. And, most important, addressing the problem of racism as it exists in America today requires all of us who have unwittingly benefited from the persistence of racism to support thoughtful — and perhaps even painful ā efforts to eradicate it once and for all.
John Frazee, Castle Rock
Americaās historical appeal to immigrants does not fit the ongoing emotional, subjective narrative that we are racist, repressive, intolerant or uncaring. Our allure and status as a world leader are the results of economic successes, our self-confidence, our creativity and generosity at home and away. Our country continues to offer the opportunity to succeed, to find a better life and to benefit from individual freedoms.
There are some among us who continue to see America as deeply flawed. Our public school educators, through critical race theory, inform our children, that our nation is guilty of pervasive individual and institutional racism. They say this prejudice infects every aspect, every interaction, of our everyday lives. Through the media, from the entertainment medium, in college and university classrooms, we are repeatedly shamed and reminded of our national dysfunctions, deepening resentments, of tensions emanating from class warfare and oppression. Their cure for oppression, as they see it, is for our society, culture, and institutions to be torn to the ground and then rebuilt to secure social justice, perfection, and utopia.
The instruction of history of our nationās exceptional experience demands that our resolve, our national focus, must remain on the preservation of individual rights and economic freedom over perfection.
Forrest Monroe, Aurora
The challenges in filing sexual assault cases
Re:Ā ā44% of 2020 rape cases prosecuted,ā Aug. 1 news story and āMan is convicted of offering women rides home from LoDo bars and raping them,ā June 18 news storyĀ
One thing that was not made clear in The Denver Post¶¶Ņõap Sunday story on prosecuting sexual assault offenders is that the Denver District Attorney Officeās filing record is steadily improving. Since 2018 our prosecution rate of sexual assaults rose approximately 11%. We attribute this rise to innovations like better training and coordination with the police, hospital staff, Blue Bench therapists and victim advocates, and others.
Sexual assault cases are unlike other criminal cases because they are typically private crimes.
There are rarely other witnesses, and the assaults usually are committed in spaces without surveillance. We want victims to know that we start by believing them and that we will investigate every outcry. We have to evaluate a potential case, though, in light of our ethical obligation to only file a case in which the evidence available is likely to result in a guilty verdict.
Sometimes we are presented with cases in which no suspect has even been identified. A victim may have been sexually assaulted; however, they do not know or remember the details.
Embedded in the numbers reported in the story are cases in which we have no identified offender. Still, we investigate each one.
That was precisely the situation when between 2017 and 2018 four people reported sexual assaults. Those cases went unsolved until DNA linked them all to serial rapist Byron Whitehorn in 2019, who was then prosecuted by my office and convicted by a jury.
Thereās a saying that justice delayed is justice denied. Tell that to the brave survivors of Whitehorn.
Beth McCann. Denver
Editorās note: McCann is the Denver district attorney.Ā
School board, at what cost?
Re:Ā āStep up and run for your local school board this election year,ā Aug. 1 commentaryĀ
I appreciate Sue McMillin advocating for community members all across the state to step up and run for their respective school boards. In all reality, there is probably not a more important volunteer job than to serve on a school board. McMillin clearly lays out the why, and — along with the Colorado Association of School Boardsā āBuilt to Serveā website ā some of the how. All great, even encouraging. However, what is missing is āHow much will it cost me to run for the school board?ā I suspect in some districts like Denver or Douglas County, the cost to the candidate is tens of thousands of dollars. And, since Colorado has a variety of sizes of school districts and school boards, the range of those campaign costs are extensive. Perhaps McMillin and CASB can clearly lay out the campaigning costs and articulate how to raise and spend campaign funds legally, ethically, and wisely. Until we address the costs to run a school board campaign and win this unpaid, elected position, all the encouragement and support matters little.
Mark Newton, Denver
The role of ego
Re:Ā āWhat if the unvaccinated canāt be persuaded?ā Aug. 1 commentaryĀ
Ego. That¶¶Ņõap what explains why some ānever vaxxersā insist on rejecting a COVID vaccine. Ask yourself this question: After having stated an opinion, do you ever turn around and admit you were wrong? Are you humble enough to say, āI was wrong, you are rightā?
Ezra Kleinās excellent commentary explained all the reasons why some have said āno vaccine for me.ā The only angle he missed was the impact of ego. And yet, how many stories about people who held anti-vaccination opinions are finding themselves gasping for air and then dying does it take to change a mind? I have also read reports about people secretly taking a vaccine after publicly stating their opposition.
Ego is what¶¶Ņõap keeping some from taking the shot that may save their life.
Howard Amonick, Aurora
Move faster to stop climate change
Re:Ā āU.N. climate report reaction: State āscramblingā to endure intensifying heat, calamities,ā Aug. 10 news storyĀ
Why isnāt anyone telling it like it is? Not the pandemic, not the economy, not racism, not housing, not jobs, or anything else is more important than stopping the emissions that are killing the Earth.
The continuation of supporting fossil fuels is insane in the face of the worldwide fires, floods, melting ice, and changing ocean currents. What kind of idiots are the members of this human race to be twiddling our thumbs while our beautiful world is dying?
We should be leading the world in curtailing the known causes of this crisis. Tell President Joe Biden to get a move on!
Katherine Delanoy, Eagle
Vaccines are effective; drop the masks
Re:Ā āStudents, teachers must mask up again,ā Aug. 1 editorialĀ
The Denver Post¶¶Ņõap editorial calling for students to and teachers to mask up again is based on panic spread by the Centers for Disease Control. The vaccines are very effective at protecting people from the delta variant. The CDC has said as much.
The editorial by The Post is nothing more than knee jerk reaction in lock step with the CDC. The public was told to get the vaccine and no more restrictions. Now we are told get the vaccine and the restrictions remain. This is why the CDC has zero credibility.
And now The Denver Post with its absurd stance is racing to meet the CDC at the bottom of the credibility scale. The Post should haveĀ taken the position that vaccines are safe and effective and please get vaccinated if you not already done so. But this requires courage, integrity and leadership. None of these qualities exist with CDC, The Post editorial board or the current political leadership (Gov. Jared Polis and President Joe Biden).
Jeff Jasper, Westminster
Protect our oceans too
Re: āHaaland and Biden can protect our lands themselves,ā July 25 editorial
I fully agree with this Denver Post editorial. The editorial laid out strong and specific reasons for how Colorado will benefit by utilizing the Antiquities Act to put carefully selected and targeted lands into the National Monument system.
I would also like to stress that marine areas are just as important to us as land regions are, and in particular the underwater canyons off of the northeast coast.
While former President Donald Trump was in office, his administration removed protections from the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument located southeast of Cape Cod — the first and only marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean. This region supports ancient deep-sea corals, a huge amount of biodiversity of threatened and endangered species, as well as other marine mammals. This unique ecosystem is unlike any other place in our worldwide ocean, containing canyons deeper than Coloradoās Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the Grand Canyon, with vast underwater mountains rising up thousands of feet from the ocean floor.
As the editorial mentioned, we are waiting for a specific plan on how the Department of the Interior is going to meet President Bidenās goal of 30×30 — protecting 30% of land and 30% of the ocean by 2030. Protecting targeted Colorado lands and ocean ecosystems, and restoring removed protections from National Monuments, will get us closer to our goals of conserving land and water for future generations.
Vicki Nichols Goldstein, Littleton
Editorās note: Goldstein is founder and director of the Inland Ocean Coalition in Boulder.
New āsmallā cell towerĀ looms large in front yard
On Tuesday, Aug. 3, members of an Xcel contract crew arrived at my home on S. Grape Street in Denver to remove a wood telephone pole adjacent to my property and replace it with the ironically named āsmall cell tower.ā
Our quiet residential street has now been blessed with a 30-foot steel forest green beauty, a giant high-tech amenity that fits right in with a neighborhood of single-story homes built when Kennedy beat Nixon.
The tower has been quite a tourist attraction already. One man stopped his car in the middle of the street so he and his family could admire Xcelās handiwork. No one has pulled over to look at a tree. And you should have seen the wonderment on the faces of my neighborās children when the tower finally soared toward the firmament, tall and proud.
And such a surprise! It was so thoughtful for Xcel to keep mum until the day before work would begin. The doorknob flier from the company was a nice touch, particularly the bold-face assurance that āthis construction should have no negative impacts on our customers.ā
The flier has a cover photo that shows a tower just like ours amid large office buildings on a busy city street. This made me realize how lucky I am to have what Xcel calls a ādual-use poleā right outside my front door.
Sometime in the near future, Iāve been told that Verizon will come out and attach its 5G equipment to the tower. I hope the wireless carrier takes a page from Xcel and keeps us in the dark until the last minute so all of us on S. Grape Street can be surprised once again, just like kids on Christmas.
Cliff Foster, Denver
Time to move National Western Center west
Re: āWhat residents would get out of the mayorās proposed $450M bond measure,ā July 29 news story
Denver Mayor Michael Hancockās plans for a $450 million infrastructure bonding package include a new, mid-size āstate-of-the-artā arena at the National Western Center. But City Council members are not sure this is the best move. And they are probably right.
I think it is high time that we move the National Western Center west.
It is about time that western and southern Colorado stopped getting overlooked by Denver. A new state-of-the-art stockyards arena would be a huge benefit to the Western Slope. We have the room, the infrastructure and the know-how to put together the complex. Locating it in Mesa, Moffat, Delta, Montrose, Montezuma, Saguache or Dolores counties would be an economic boom for the Western Slope. If a new arena in Denver would create 7,500 good-paying jobs, $483 million in worker wages and benefits, and $1 billion in economic benefits, imagine the generational benefit it could create for the Western Slope and southern Colorado.
We need new investment opportunities like this to create new diverse jobs. When we create these jobs, we donāt lose the recreation and agricultural sectors that have been so beneficial to the 3rd Congressional District; we expand and diversify our economy. We can grow the economy more broadly, which leads to new construction jobs and new small businesses in the neighborhood anchored by the arena.
Job growth shouldnāt be contained to the Denver area. For Colorado to continue to thrive, every part should feel the benefit of forward-thinking and creative investments.
Colin Wilhelm, Glenwood Springs
Editorās note: Wilhelm, a Democrat, is running for the U.S. House in Coloradoās 3rd Congressional District.
Inequality not a theory
Sometimes I wonder why I read the Perspective section in The Denver Post. Usually, op-ed articles get published that are extreme philosophical positions. Some conservatives go too far in criticizing new ideas when they challenge their mindset. Some liberals go too far in defending them.
The latest controversy is critical race theory. When I was teaching at Metropolitan State University of Denver, I advised my students to always define their terms. Donāt assume people know them. For instance, racial inequality is not a theory. Racial inequality can be seen every day in many different ways. Documentation is irrefutable unless a person is hampered by confirmation bias.
The question is, do our students need to know more about what has gone wrong in our history? The answer is yes with qualifications. Fair-minded citizens may agree that students need to know about the Holocaust and Wounded Knee, about Indian boarding schools and Japanese concentration camps during World War II. Donāt be afraid of what they may think as long as we give them the opportunity to think.
Ken Spooner, Littleton
Boycott Florida until DeSantis takes COVID-19 seriously
I am infuriated that just as things began to open up, there are forces at work, particularly among certain politicians, that appear to be reversing the progress weāve made with masking and vaccinations.
I am not a fan of boycotts, particularly for political reasons. We boycotted the Russian Olympics for their invasion of Afghanistan and years later remained there ourselves for 20 years.
I feel differently when it comes to health, life and death. Florida and its governor are particularly concerning. Iāve canceled a trip there and I would recommend other Americans do likewise. Hit āem in the pocketbook.
That may change Gov. Ron DeSantisā mind about how he governs during this threat to both American lives and our economy.
Bill Starks, Arvada
Dissent or misinformation?
Re: āThe silence-brigade doesnāt like Boebert¶¶Ņõap vaccine questions,ā July 29 commentary
I have markedly different views about many of the statements in this editorial. However, I do agree that censorship of dissent is a grave concern. On the other hand, I think it is disingenuous to conflate dissent and misinformation. Dissemination of misinformation, twisted facts or outright lies is not legitimate dissent. We may disagree on the interpretation of facts, but legitimate dissent must be based on well-documented facts. I would therefore turn Randy B. Corporonās statement on its head and say that calling misinformation dissent is mislabeling.
Lynn A. Larsen, Berthoud
I find it amusing that Randy B. Corporon, a Tea Party Boebert supporter, criticizes Megan Schrader for her āsharp partisan edge.ā
He goes on to praise Rep. Lauren Boebert for her āespousal of freedom of choice regarding COVID-19 experimental vaccinations.ā
He lauds her for ādefending the right of every citizen to make an informed personal choice … regarding COVID-19 vaccinations.ā
I wonder how Boebert and Corporon rationalize their sharp partisan edge when it comes to a womanās āespousal of freedomā and āright to make an informed choiceā about her own body?
Barbara Reinish, Denver
It has been said that the main divide in the U.S. currently is between those who base their decisions and actions on facts and those who donāt. It has also been said that if humans donāt start basing what they do on facts rather than beliefs, our species is doomed.
An example is what is going on in our country right now with COVID. We are experiencing another needless increase in COVID infections, severe disease and deaths. This didnāt have to happen. If at least 80% of Americans eligible for COVID vaccinations would have gotten them, we would have conquered COVID months ago. The fault lies with people who are hesitant or refuse to get vaccinated — based on conspiracy theories and other misinformation propagated by people like Rep. Boebert.
The COVID vaccines are extremely effective in preventing severe illness and death, and are extremely safe. They are not āexperimental vaccinationsā and they have been studied for safety.
Greg Feinsinger, Carbondale
Editorās note: Feinsinger is a retired family physician who currently does pro bono medical work through non-profits.
Exposing the āunfair landscapeā
Re: āStateās inequities came to the fore,ā Aug. 1 news story
I have read countless books and journal articles on social inequities (and I have written a few myself). Meg Wingerterās article was a tour de force. She presented an overarching picture of a broad and complex field, drilling down to some specifics of how inequities show up in Colorado. The article reveals some initial suggestions for how we can begin the long process of changing this unfair landscape. If anyone doubts the realities of structural racism and classism, they should take a look at Wingerterās article.
Glenda Russell, Louisville
Reform the IRS
Recent news stories have suggested that Congress should authorize more money to the IRS for tax collection. Based upon our ongoing experience, that would be futile.
After an extension, we filed our 2019 tax return and anticipated a small penalty might apply on the tax due. Because of the small amount and complexities in calculating estimated taxes, we requested a full waiver with an explanation. If we knew what the IRS expects us to know, with the accuracy and timeliness required, weād just buy the United States and fire the IRS.
Since January, we have received nine letters from seven different IRS offices, excluding the duplicates sent separately to my wife (seeking duplicate payment?) to collect about $240, plus interest.
They have never addressed our original waiver request or provided a detailed calculation of the penalty amount. Based on the guidance in their latest letter, the proposed penalty is about nine times my calculation ($27.53). In response, we have wasted numerous hours calling and writing letters, filing appeals and even setting up a payment plan to extend the deadline so the IRS has more time to answer our waiver request.
So, Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Rep. Joe Neguse, please do not provide additional funding to the IRS for tax collection — they need reform, not more money.
Greg Scott, Evergreen
Consider tax break for landlords
Re: āWhite House calls on states to prevent evictions,ā Aug. 3 news story
Building owners have also suffered from the pandemic, and stimulus money was not always used to pay rent. One suggestion might be to allow landlords to subtract rent not paid from their property taxes.
Lorraine Lore, Littleton
Should have left Sooner
Re: āTexas, Oklahoma killed college football as we know it. Now CU Buffs might be wise to follow Nebraskaās lead and call Big Ten,ā Aug. 1 commentary
Writer Sean Keeler has a childish view of what is happening with NCAA Football. Oklahoma and Texas simply took an opportunity; I am sure many other schools wish they could have done the same thing.
The Big 12 overall gets no respect lately as it is, with early kick-offs for TV, and always getting roasted as a weak conference. I have been wanting Oklahoma to leave the Big 12 ever since Nebraska left. The conference only gets credit and respect is when it suits ESPNās agenda. Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri, and Texas A&M leaving the Big 12 is the start of the conferenceās ruin.
Texas, the kings of overrated, didnāt do the Big 12 any favors by starting the Longhorn Network; this is perhaps the straw that broke Nebraskaās back and helped them decide to leave. Being a huge OU fan since 1975, I am not happy about UT going with us to the SEC.
As for ruined? No OU didnāt ruin college football. ESPN, the ridiculous bowl committee, and, to some extent, the old BCS system ruined it. And the āpaying playersā move set this into fast motion; I am positive this and the transfer portal is what actually is ruining college football. The transfer portal was a good idea that became abused and corrupted.
Remember all those other conference jumpers from before, look up the word hypocrisy, then we will talk.
Jon Lynn, Noble, Okla.
Common sense and enforcement
Re: āCDOT lowers the speed limit on U.S. 36 curve to 40 mph,ā July 29 news story
In the article, a spokesman said, āThey are hoping enforcement and common sense will be used in this instance.ā
As a lifelong resident of Denver, I am afraid that we lack enough of both.
Years ago, the city of Denver installed four-way stop signs in my neighborhood to help control traffic speeds. Has this been successful? The answer is a resounding no! I remember a traffic officer in front of my home on a regular basis monitoring the four-way at the corner of my block. He did a terrific business. But now, I havenāt seen a police officer on our block for years. With just a few posts on social media (Nextdoor and the like) after better enforcement, I believe things could become a safer.
The same is true on our highways. How many times have you seen some dumbbell in the middle lane doing 45 miles per hour on their phone or texting in direct violation of the law? They are putting themselves and so many others in danger. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for me to see motorists and motorcyclists traveling at least 30-40 mph above the speed limit. I often wonder why we even have speed-limit signage?
We are in dire need of more enforcement and even more common sense.
Allen Vean, Denver
Sports do teach us about life
Re: āPower couple Rapinoe, Bird redeļ¬ne āsports heroā,ā Aug. 1 sports commentary
I have to write to thank Mark Kiszla for his recent articles about women in sports!
I really appreciated his thoughtful and accurate explanation of Simone Bilesās health issues that caused her to remove herself from Olympic competition. The world has been watching her, and that collective expectation had to have been a heavy weight for her. She is smart to know her body (and brain) and what it needs — a lesson for all of us.
Then, in Sundayās paper, we learn about more Olympic heroes: Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird and Erica Sullivan, all American women who are beautiful and inspiring examples of āminoritiesā in America.
If sports do teach us about life, as we are told as youngsters, can we remember those lessons when we are adults?
Jill Smith, Highlands Ranch
Shameful status of Puerto Rico
As a native of Puerto Rico now living in Denver, I am disappointed that only one member of Coloradoās congressional delegation — Rep. Joe Neguse ā has co-sponsored the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act.
Many Americans now understand that Puerto Ricoās unequal status as a U.S. territory is harmful and immoral. The question of whether Puerto Rico should become a state or an independent nation is complex and divisive. But what most on both the island and the āmainlandā can agree on is that Puerto Rico deserves a robust, inclusive decolonization process.
H.R. 2070, the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act, provides for such a process in which Puerto Ricans discuss all legitimate non-territorial options in conjunction with the U.S. government. While a ārivalā pro-statehood bill is sure to fail in the face of hardened Republican opposition, the Self-Determination Act, which does not require members of Congress to take sides and favor a single option, is the first viable attempt in decades to address this issue.
The United States cannot call itself a true democracy while it keeps a nation of more than 3 million people in a state of political subordination. And no Colorado politician, including my Rep. Diana DeGette (who sits on the House Natural Resources Committee), will have my vote in 2022 or in future elections unless they help end this shameful colonial chapter in our shared history.
Alberto Medina, Denver
The lighter side of Coloradoās Gov. Lamm
Re: Remembering Richard Lamm and his fight for Coloradans,ā July 31 editorial and āA life of service,ā July 31 news story
I was Richard Lammās executive assistant for eight years at the University of Denver. Not too many people know just how I got the position. It was my jokes!
At our first meeting, the governor took
a few minutes and looked over my resume, which included stand-up comedy as a
ās°ģ¾±±ō±ō.ā
He then looked up and said, āSo, youāre a comedian. Heard any good jokes lately?ā
As a matter of fact, I had, and after 15 minutes, I performed most of them for him.
Then, the unthinkable happened. Gov. Lamm looked down at his watch and announced that he had to cut the interview short. I was
stunned and remained seated as he got up and excused himself. This was the most bizarre interview I ever had. There were no questions about my previous employment, qualifications or skills.
A few days later I had a second interview with the governor. I arrived early and he escorted me into the conference room. Gov. Lamm smiled and introduced me to some members of the department.
āJeanne, why donāt you tell us a couple of jokes to start the day?ā he asked. I did and
after a round of applause, he offered me the position.
I often tell people that working with Gov. Lamm was the best job I ever had. He treated me with respect and even invited me to some family gatherings.
Dick Lamm was a very serious man, but he sure enjoyed a good joke.
Jeanne Nott, Loveland
Thereās more to picking a ļ¬nancial planner
Re: āFinancial education for your new graduate,ā July 25 business story
The article discussed fee-only planners focusing on recent graduates, suggesting parents āgiftā their child some basic financial education. For young adults who didnāt get the basics in high school or earlier, this is a good idea. However, it is incumbent on our schools to include basic financial literacy as a graduation requirement.
The article suggested fee-only planners avoid conflicts of interest. As a professor at the College for Financial Planning, I had over 30,000 Certified Financial Planner students. I also spent many years in the field serving clients.
Among the things I learned:
ā¢ Financial planners may or may not have adequate education or experience to provide competent advice.
ā¢ It does not matter how planners are paid as long as they are competent and honest. Certified Financial Planners, Chartered Financial Planners and others are all required to operate as fiduciaries.
ā¢ The industry focuses on financial earnings as a measure of success rather than the amount of good they do for clients.
ā¢ Any planner who does not do comprehensive financial planning should not be considered a financial planner. (There are specific situations where it is not necessary, but it should be the standard of operation.)
ā¢ All financial planners have their biases.
ā¢ Far too many āfinancial plannersā who have designations that imply they do comprehensive financial planning operate as financial managers, focusing only on assets under management with no effort to coordinate that activity with the rest of a client¶¶Ņõap financial issues.
Mandell S. Winter Jr., Denver
We have to be on the lookout for distracted drivers
Many federal, state, local and industry campaigns stress the dangers of distracted driving. That approach is doomed to failure because those of us who drive distracted do not think it is dangerous when we do it. Think about it, donāt you believe that you are a better driver than others?
Trying to tell a driver who has āsuccessfullyā texted while driving that it is dangerous is a non-starter. But there are approaches that are proving successful in getting inveterate distracted drivers to put their phones down.
Even if we drive distracted, we still worry about other distracted drivers.
Imagine you are driving, and a distracted driver runs a red light, crashing into your car. You survive, but a family member is killed. Had you been paying attention, you would have been able to avoid the crash. I know several drivers who lost children or spouses under these circumstances. Like them, you would be tormented by the realization that your actions contributed to the death of a loved one. Putting down our phones to keep ourselves and those we care about safe is just one of many new approaches to reducing distracted driving.
July 17th was the 12th anniversary of my daughter Caseyās death. She was killed by a distracted driver. I changed the way I drive because my daughter was killed by a distracted driver, not because I thought what I was doing was dangerous.
Unless we change the way we talk about distracted driving, families will continue to lose loved ones.
Joel Feldman, Nederland
Editorās note: Feldman is an attorney and co-founder of EndDD.org (End Distracted Driving). He has given more than 800 presentations to about 225,000 students and adults since Caseyās death. He can be reached at info@EndDD.org
My teen is not OK
During winter break 2019, my daughter was excited. She had just gotten a lead in the school play, had a new group of friends, was getting straight As, and, in March, would turn 13 on a dream trip to Europe. Life was grand.
Then the virus hit and we locked down. She actually liked and thrived schooling at home. When they finally gave the option to return to school, it was two days a week, but there were masks and social distancing and it was stressful.
She became anxious about school, and then one day the nurse called. She never made it through another day of school, crippled by anxiety.
We figured once school was over, things would improve. They got worse. She stopped sleeping and eating, afraid she would throw up. She would not hang out with her friends or hardly leave her room.
My daughter is depressed and anxious. She was fine a year ago. We are giving her a lot of love and space. Being a teenager is hard enough. This has made it impossible.
She wanted to be an actress, was excited to start high school and had a growing group of friends. Now, it is all gone. Just as she was ready to spread her wings, she got clipped.
This will have long-lasting effects on a generation of teens — who missed out on being teens.
It breaks my heart to see her suffer through this, and I know we are not alone.
Eric Paul, Lakewood
Marjorie Taylor Greene comes to Colorado
Re: āThe El Paso County GOP clearly has zero standards,ā July 25 commentary
Many Republicans are frustrated with the choice of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene as the guest speaker to our annual fundraising dinner. The closely held secret came as a shock to me and other Republicans here in El Paso. I received multiple emails, texts, and phone calls from Republicans (many elected) who think Greene is antithetical to what it means to be a Republican and the thoughtful, pragmatic, and intelligent people of our party and Colorado.
I am hopeful Greene will bring logical, sound, and mature civil discourse about policy to the supper table. The fact is, many Republicans are turned off by the hyper-antagonism that has gripped the party. It has caused Republicans to leave and become unaffiliated and not vote for Republicans when the time comes. Self-importance, overbearing pride, and the belief that their point of view has to be shouted across the aisle is how some politicians work diligently to benefit themselves with their constituents and not the party or the people writ large. Hyper antagonism is killing our ability to elect Republicans and prevent the bad legislation from coming out of our state Capitol. We can do better.
Our party will not succeed until some leaders let go of this affliction. I am hopeful that Greene has started a path to recovery with her apologies. It would be good for the country, too, if the Democrats were to find the moral courage to equally rebuke the unabashedly un-American speeches from Rep. Ilhan Omar. Then, maybe, we could all start to be Americans again.
Karl Schneider, Colorado Springs
Editorās note: Schneider is the vice-chair for the El Paso County Republican Party
How much lower can the El Paso County GOP go, inviting Q conspiracist Marjorie Taylor Greene to next monthās Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser? Are they really trying to self-destruct?
Nancy Rife, Wheat Ridge
Ian Silverii is a paragon of progressive hatred masked as virtue. He opens his column by declaring that Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is āthe deplorable Holocaust trivializer, ābig lieā enthusiast, anti-Semitic, and anti-Muslim, racist elected to Congress in 2020.ā He could have stopped at āRepublican,ā and readers who have read his drivel would know what he meant.
Greene has made some controversial statements, but to say she is āone of the vilest human beings to ever walk the halls of Congressā shows both Silveriiās ignorance of history and his childish fear of others that do not talk and think in his banalities. Silverii vilifies Greene because she supports gun rights, questions masks and lockdowns, and opposes believers in Sharia law governing our free country.
Progressive ideology is being tested and failing miserably. Crime and, relatedly, a divided and hyper-partisan populace fueled by Silverii and his ilk are at historic levels. Instead of defending progressive policies like freeing criminals, defunding police, and punishing law-abiding gun owners, Silverii calls people names to make sure we know that he is not a āvile human being.ā I do not believe he is, but his policies, hatreds, and misguided fears are.
Stephen C. McKenna, Greenwood Village
No climate crisis ārecessā
During this August recess, as our senators and congresspeople come home from D.C., we should all ask that they look around and see the ways climate change is impacting our community and country. We need to solve the climate emergency, not just put another bandage on it. We can accelerate and increase our actions to eliminate carbon pollution, restore thriving nature, and prioritize solutions that are fair to all our neighbors. Each of us needs to take steps to eliminate all fossil fuel pollution in our homes, workplaces and communities through systemic change. I personally have committed to cutting my climate pollution in half by signing onto MomentUs. Please join me yourself, and urge our policymakers to do the same.
Ashley Lane, Thornton
E-bike riders shouldnāt be shamed on trails
To the biking community: If I were to pass you on a bike path in my electric wheelchair, would you yell ācheater chairā? Of course not, you say.
Why, then, do I, a 72-year-old veteran with a 50% disability, and many of my senior e-bike friends constantly hear ācheater bikeā shouted at us when we pass you on an uphill stretch?
Rather than cater to a fragile ego, embrace your good fortune that your young, strong body doesnāt need an electric bike … yet.
Your excuses on why we should not be allowed on regular mountain bike trails are reminiscent of when snowboards first showed up. āThey canāt negotiate lift lines; they canāt get on the chairlift; they scrape off the powder,ā etc. Now for e-bikes, it is: āthey climb up trails they canāt get down; they go too far back and run out of battery,ā etc.
So why were snowboarders finally allowed? The ski companies realized they could make a lot of money; also, the excuses were really bogus.
The same is true for e-bikes. The seniors may not be able to be out there helping you build new trails, but we sure can contribute with our wallets — big time. Embrace us; we are a valuable resource and fun comrades in a mutual sport if you give us a chance.
Gary Pax, Carbondale
DIA waiting area needs to provide for nature breaks
Picking up a friend recently at Denver International Airport, I needed to use the restroom facilities while in the cell phone lot after my 40-minute drive from Parker. I wasnāt hungry or thirsty; I just needed to use the facilities. To my surprise, there were signs on the doors saying, āno public restrooms,ā and ārestrooms for paying customers only.ā When I walked into the womenās restroom, there was a 6ā tall sign, saying ārestrooms for paying customers only.ā
Before the cell lot facilities were completed, there were portable restrooms at the cell lot because any reasonable person would understand that when you build an airport a minimum of a half-hour from anywhere, people might need to use a restroom while they wait for often delayed flights. There are no other options anywhere nearby.
I looked around for portable restrooms when we were leaving to see if I had missed them on my way in, but I hadnāt. There were none.
What a terrible first impression of DIA! The airport should provide freestanding restrooms at the cell lot, letting people bypass the food court and super unfriendly signage put up by the vendors. Or, a better idea would be for the vendors to take down the signs, realizing that many people who come inside to use the bathrooms will also purchase something just because it strikes their fancy.
Isnāt the cell lot on city property? DIA needs to renegotiate contracts with these vendors. It would be better to have no bathrooms than these signs!
Valorie Hipsher, Parker
Fix the mistaken changes to gun laws
Re: āMore felons can legally own guns under Polisā law,ā July 25 commentary
The legal inconsistencies cited by George Brauchler in his recent column make it appear that the law was enacted with little analysis, thought, or even awareness. We need our governor and legislature to correct that mistake immediately.
Katherine Millett, Denver
To George Brauchler: In your commentary, I object to your use of the following adjectives: ātone-deafā politicians, āoffender-friendlyā governor, Polisā Progressive āperniciousā pen, and āanti-public safetyā politicians. Those designated adjectives are, in my opinion, derogatory, inflammatory, and divisive; such words detract from civil discourse and impede progress.
Brauchler, you describe recent bills enacted by our Colorado legislature and governor as āthis schizophrenic approach.ā What do you mean?
Schizophrenia is a major, complex illness of inexplicable cause; it renders many, even when treated with current therapies, disabled. The quoted phrase is confusing and disrespectful of many of our fellow citizens who, unable to obtain adequate treatment, are homeless or incarcerated in our jails. Please reexamine your use of adjectives in your written language.
Jean Trester, Centennial
I read with great interest what George Brauchler wrote about the latest gun laws and legislation that Gov. Jared Polis recently signed into law.
It prompts me to ask two questions of Polis and his āprogressivesā. First, when you dreamed up these new āreformsā just where did you have your head?
Second, what other wild ideas do you have for us in the future? The only logical thing I can think of what you did is requiring owners to report thefts of their firearms to the authorities. Any responsible person would do this without being told. This same responsible person would also take measures to ensure the safe storage of their firearms.
Keep us posted, George. At least someone is out there that can let us know what or government/legislation is up to.
Gregg Womeldorff, Franktown
Coloradoās air quality is getting better but room to improve
Re: āOzone soars to 48% above federal limit,ā July 24 news story
I find this flap over ozone to be seriously faulty. Iām in San Luis valley, and weāve had plenty of smoke from Oregon, Arizona, California and New Mexico. Those temporary events are not caused by people in Denver metro.
But that does not stop āregulatorsā from blaming city area residents, though obviously the source for the sudden spike is not local vehicle use, but smoke from other states, reported to have gone to East Coast as well.
Frankly, the entire fuss appears to be dishonest, as the real source — that all know ā is being ignored, given minimal admissions of real cause. EPA has no right to downgrade Front Range because of awful fires far away. That¶¶Ņõap a misuse, maybe an abuse, of power. If Denver or state officials have any spine, they need to object loud and clear.
Margy Robertson, Monte Vista
While Front Range ozone levels continually bear monitoring, can we do without the blatant enviro-alarmism of Denver Post writer Bruce Finley?
The story headline itself is flawed in that the federal ozone health limit of 70 parts per billion is an 8-hour average, not a momentary spike at a local monitoring station that would be 48% above 70 parts per billion. Also, the story focuses on Front Range ozone levels, not āColorado.ā
It is noted that this year, average ozone levels at all 16 of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment¶¶Ņõap air-quality measuring stations along the Front Range have topped 72 parts per billion. But this is a minuscule 2 ppb above the at-risk groups health limit of 70 ppb and hardly triggers dire warnings. Keep in mind the federal ozone health limit was once 80 ppb, then 75 ppb and now it¶¶Ņõap been lowered to a very strict 70 ppb by the EPA.
To put Front Range ozone levels into perspective, Denver recorded an all-time high 8-hour average of 310 ppb in 1972. Since the notorious brown cloud era, local officials have made tremendous progress toward controlling dangerous levels of air pollution through appropriate industrial regulations and vehicle emissions testing. Let¶¶Ņõap keep it that way, minus the over-the-top media alarmism.
Dave Larison, Longmont
Bruce Finleyās piece on the ozone issue for Colorado sheds light on the growing threat of ozone. There is another factor that receives little attention, mostly because the public is largely unaware of what exists in the skies above us — lead!
Lead was prohibited in paint in 1978 and from the gas in our cars in 1996. But there remains a significant source of lead in the skies above us: it is in the aviation gas that smaller, piston engine planes use. And, if you live anywhere near Rocky Mountain Metro Airport (RMMA), there is a huge source of this lead dust raining down on your home, schools, playgrounds and open space every day.
RMMA is owned and operated by Jefferson County, but the impact of this facility affects all of us. Tenants include five flight schools with nearly 200 piston engine planes flying overhead daily; the airport derives income from them and other small plane owners through the sale of leaded aviation gas.
RMMA increased overall flights between 2018 and 2020 by 11%. Flight schools burning lead gas account for hundreds of those flights every day. Now Jeffco is preparing to finalize a new master plan to grow its operations even more with a minimum of public input and without any study of the environmental impact this will have on the surrounding communities in Jefferson, Broomfield and Boulder counties. Even if the noise does not bother you, the air pollution and lead dust should be concerns for all.
Charlene Willey, Westminster
Fear of the unvaccinated
Re: āThe silence-brigade doesnāt like Boebert¶¶Ņõap vaccine questions,ā July 29 commentary
Regarding Randy Corporanās quote, āIāve never understood why fully vaccinated people fear the unvaxxed …ā Well, Randy, according to science (and I hope you put some stake in science), it¶¶Ņõap the unvaccinated who are breeding these variants like Delta.
My understanding is that is what happened in India, and now it¶¶Ņõap here full force. Given there is no previous experience with how we vaccinated people will be protected against these COVID variants, we feel somewhat at risk of more mutations and more sickness thriving in our communities from the unvaccinated who have no real good excuse to forego two simple shots.
Also, consider the cost of treating everyone ending up in hospitals now with the Delta variant, who are primarily the unvaccinated. Donāt we all have to shoulder those costs reflected in our insurance rates? And what about potential overflowing hospital wards and exhausted health care workers dropping out of the profession?
Janet Carabello, Fort Collins
Denver needs maintenance not a new arena
Re: āHancock proposes new arena,ā July 27 news story
No matter how much money is raised by Denver, the streets and medians, beyond downtown look like a rundown community. Denver puts no priority on maintaining what they have. The real test of an organization and leadership is how they maintain, enhance and value what they already have in place. Denver and the leadership team want to continue to build with complete disregard for maintaining the existing infrastructure.
Denver looks awful.
William F. Sievers, Greenwood Village
Border wall was not much of Trumpās doing
Re: āHow we can heal the scar left by Trumpās border wall,ā July 24 commentary
The article goes into great detail about the wall and its impact on the environment. All of these are good arguments and should be thoughtfully considered going forward. However, I do take issue with the idea that all of this is former President Donald Trumpās doing.
Christopher Giles, writing for BBC Reality Check, reports that only 47 miles of primary wall (and another 33 miles of secondary wall to reinforce the initial barrier) has been added where no wall existed before. So if we have been āscarredā by the Trump wall, perhaps a Band-Aid can correct it. The remainder of the 452 miles of wall were built and maintained by previous administrations, and not all of them Republican. Maybe it¶¶Ņõap time we redirect our attention away from who did it and focus on what needs to be done.
Joe Pickard, Littleton
Capitol officers need to be heard and respected by all
Re: ā āIām going to dieā — officers testify about insurrection,ā July 28 news story
You either support the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law or you donāt. I stand with the heroic officers of the Capitol Police.
Rachel Weiner, Dillon
Editorās note: Weiner is a police officer.
Watching the reports on the House panelās first day of testimony in its investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, I was moved both to tears and anger. Tears, in listening to the gut-wrenching, horrific stories of the four officers. I wanted to reach out and hug them and all of their fellow officers and thank them for their service. Anger, in that an institution as august as Congress can harbor individuals as small-minded and delusional as those who, in the face of the evidence, can deny what we all saw on live television.
I want to take those individuals, sit them in front of TV with their eyes forced open Ć la āA Clockwork Orange,ā have them watch the testimony and videos, and say to them: āNow tell us that this was just a routine tourist visit or that the riotous crowd was loving and full of hugs and kisses.ā
Frankly I donāt think those individuals have the guts. Instead, they bury their heads in the sand and hide behind their cowardly excuses that they canāt watch the hearings because theyāre ātoo busyā or āstuck in meetings.ā It makes me ashamed.
Paul Chessin, Denver
Know what¶¶Ņõap good for you
As I mounted the machine gun in the back of the Jeep in summer 1969 in Cu Chi, Vietnam, to spend another day āout there, among āem,ā no one had to tell me to wear a helmet or a flak jacket, which I always thought should be a little thicker.
When offered or told anything that might make me safer, I paid attention. Still do! Vaccinations as a soldier? Twenty-two of them in two days. Again, no choice! Kinda like the polio vaccine in the mid-1950s. Now people think they have a right to put me in danger because they wonāt wear a mask in public?
Steve Fickler, Wheat Ridge
Help to reduce your footprint
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Forty percent of U.S. carbon emissions come from basic household activities: electricity use, home heating, transportation, food and waste. With the influx of forest fires, pollution, and drought in Colorado, it is critical that we focus our attention on sustainability.
Community Climate Solutions has a free platform that allows you to calculate your household carbon footprint, learn how to reduce your impact, take advantage of local rebates, and make your home more sustainable. Share your progress with friends and family, and encourage them to join you in the challenge! It¶¶Ņõap time to invest in the planet.
Join the movement by going to brightaction.app
Willa Broderick, Denver
Denying coverage is a bad precedent
Re: āAnger at the unwilling to vaccinate,ā July 23 letter to the editor
Regarding the letter writerās proposal to raise health insurance premiums for the unvaccinated, I say, āfair enough.ā However, if we do that, we should also raise premiums for smokers with lung cancer, people with diabetes who eat poor diets, and motorcyclists who refuse to wear helmets. This will be a slippery slope indeed.
Linnea Straubinger, Lakewood
Capitol oļ¬cersā testimony aļ¬rms need for Jan. 6 probe
At the end of the insurrection testimony by four of the officers defending our Capitol on Jan. 6, two moments — among so many by these brave Americans ā summed up the necessity for the investigation.
First is the realization from the videos showing that the gullible insurrectionists passionately believed what they were shouting — that the election was stolen.
A second moment was one officerās analogy that not only do we prosecute hit men, but
also those that hire — motivate ā the criminals.
A hit man is motivated by money. In the insurrection, the ignorant perpetrators were incentivized by āthe big lieā and incited to commit illegal action by one or more persons in positions of authority.
Confirm what we all know and prosecute the instigator as well as the āhit men.ā
David King, Erie
Roads should bring us together, not divide us
Re: āColoradoās Black Caucus is concerned about redistricting maps,ā July 23 commentary
The roads in Denver are much more than simple ways for us to get from one place to another. Roads are social hubs, like Colfax Avenue, that support local businesses and unite neighborhoods into communities. However, Denverās roads may soon be used to break up communities and disenfranchise residents with shared interests.
The proposed redistricting plan uses commercial roads as district borders with a blind disregard to the ways those roads unite neighborhoods. For instance, in the proposed plan, multiple current districts are divided along Colfax Avenue. This makes zero sense as Colfax is a cultural hub uniting neighborhoods together into communities with shared interests.
An examination of a single house district, HD8, provides a useful example for how the proposed redistricting plan uses roads to divide communities. HD8 currently connects the Five Points, City Park, and Park Hill neighborhoods together. These vibrant neighborhoods share similar interests and have traditionally been politically connected. The proposed redistricting plan carves up HD8 along Colfax and Colorado Boulevard, breaking apart neighborhoods united by places of interest and splitting multiple historically Black neighborhoods from one political district into three.
These straight-line boundaries may look nice on paper, but in the real world these boundaries divide real communities that have shared interests.
I believe that the people putting in the hard work of redistricting Colorado are doing incredibly difficult and important work in good faith. But the reasons why neighborhoods should be kept together in shared political districts are much more important than the roads that make straight lines on our maps.
Ezra Lencer, Denver
We are a nation addicted to partisanism
Partisanism is the disease killing America. Propaganda and prejudices are the carriers of the disease.
Partisanism has metastasized into all areas of America (not just the government).
Politicians and the media practice, promote, and glamorize it.
Cigarettes in America were once considered glamorous and accepted by America long after they were known to have serious deleterious health effects. America was heavily addicted.
It has been a long slow evolution away from cigarettes, and weāre not there yet, but all know the damage done by smoking.
Partisanism is an existential threat to America. Many of the diseases of American government and in our communities are caused by
it. Much like cigarettes, the deleterious effects of partisanism evolve over time. We are
addicted to partisanism. We must snuff it out if we ever expect to have a healthy, vibrant America.
The first step is to publicly acknowledge the dangers of partisanism and then fight it everywhere it rears its ugly head.
We must all recognize this threat to America.
I ask you to use your voice to help rid America of partisanism before it kills America.
Daniel G. Zang, Lakewood
One way or another, emissions are costing us
Re: āDems proposing border tax over … emissions,ā July 20 news story
The article about a border tax on climate-warming greenhouse gases makes it clear: Slowing climate change is going to drive costs up. Will keeping a few glaciers around be worth a border tax? Would slightly smaller forest fires be worth a tax? If it were up to me, I would ask that we all bear the burden of higher costs imparted by a coal, oil and gas tax that should slow climate change. One thing is clear: With or without a greenhouse gas emissions tax, climate change is going to impart significant costs on all of us.
Robert Brayden, Golden
Thankful for armchair travel
Re: āTime traveling in Coloradoās Cataract Canyon,ā July 25 features story
Thank you, Joshua Berman, for the fun article about traveling with your daughter through Cataract Canyon. Iāve missed your travel articles during the pandemic. Your youngsters must have some enjoyable experiences they wonāt forget. Keep it up. It¶¶Ņõap fun and exciting for the readers!
Karen Hombs, Lakewood
It¶¶Ņõap time for green revolution
Re: āHaaland should account for ban on new oil and gas leases,ā July 22 commentary
When we look at the wildfires and historic drought conditions in Colorado, we see these disasters are largely due to climate change and our insatiable appetite for fossil fuels. It is time to end the madness. Destroying the Colorado landscape to support our energy addiction is not a good solution.
Kathleen Sgamma, president of Western Energy Alliance, and her organization need to take a longer look at where we are going as a state, country, and world community.
Enough is enough. I look out my front door and see multiple drilling sites — many of which simply leak methane but have not been formally retired (and likely never will be). The time for a green revolution is now ā just say no to the people that want to ravage our lands ā and say yes to implementing a carbon price and ending our addiction to fossil fuels. Do it for your children and your grandchildren ā and do it now before it is too late.
Scott Simmons, Windsor
Not invested for the politics
Re: āInvest in companies, not their political causes,ā July 26 letter to the editor
Short of financing the Taliban, civic violence or destruction of the Liberty Bell, I have no concerns where, how or if my portfolio of companies wish to exercise their civic duties, political interests and social responsibilities. They can throw their support into Rep. Lauren Boebert, harvesting the moon for cheese and Florida swampland for all I care.
If I am in the minority, so be it. I have better things to do with my life than to read the prospectus and quarterly financials of every company with which I invest.
Gary Rauchenecker, Golden
Invest in companies, not their political causes
What if you supported a candidate, only to find out later that you are a stockholder of company that is contributing to the opposing candidate? You would likely be pretty upset.
The money that the company is contributing is not the CEOās money, nor the board of directorās money, and not even the employeesā money. It¶¶Ņõap the shareholdersā money! Most shareholders have no idea how much and where their money is being sent.
We need Congress to pass a āShareholderās Bill of Rightsā that, similar to TABOR, would require companies to inform all shareholders of the planned contributions to candidates, political parties and PACs and obtain the consent of the shareholders. This would provide sunshine on the ādark moneyā that is flooding our politics.
People that have funds in 401ks, IRAs, etc., should also be able to approve or veto contributions through their fund.
If companies consider obtaining consent an onerous task, too bad! It¶¶Ņõap not their money.
William A. Deibel, Thornton
Paying for growth
Re: āPanel OKs $20M in incentives,ā July 16 news story
So Colorado is offering to pay $20 million to bring additional population to join those of us already living here. Do they think that more people will help solve the fact that we are in a severe drought and will make more water available? Will greater population help ease our traffic congestion, skyrocketing housing prices or number of homeless? How will more people in the fire-prone arid southwest help with that problem? What about our air pollution already exceeding air quality standards? Do we really want to see more crowding on our public lands and more housing being built into the urban/wild lands interface?
The belief that economic benefits will trickle down has been disproven for the past 40 years, but I guess that hope springs eternal. A more valid belief is that when you are in a hole, the smartest thing to do is to stop digging. And the human-caused climate crisis should tell us that human population overshoot has us in a pretty deep hole.
Don Thompson, Alamosa
Tobacco should pay more
Re: āColorado joins historic $26 billion settlement,ā July 22 news story
Well and good pharmaceutical giants are forced to make a monetary admission (which they will pass on to consumers) of their guilt in promoting opioid addiction and death. Meanwhile, the tobacco industry continues to slyly tiptoe, largely unscathed, through its awareness of the addictive power of its nicotine products, which have ruined the lives of far more people than opiates have.
Robert Porath, Boulder
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