Oneās religious exemption can be harmful to others
Re: āFreedom of religion is freedom to say ānoā to vaccines,” Sept. 19 commentary
I strongly disagree with Noah Feldman. Feldman states that āthe federal statutes that enable exemptions are not only legally binding, but morally correct.ā The first, if true, would be fact, but adding āmorally correctā as if that is also fact is egregious. That is obviously opinion.
My opinion is the opposite. If we had, had a federal mandate for everyone eligible by age and health to get vaccinated as soon as possible, we could have meaningfully limited the pandemic, thus saving thousands and thousands of lives, livelihoods, and businesses and prevented many long-term health problems.
I believe the federal government, to serve the greater good, had a compelling interest in doing so. This, I believe, would have been the more morally defensible position.
It appears that Feldman has more faith in human conscience than I have. Iām pretty sure that the inquisitors, crusaders, terrorists and assassins have behaved according to the dictates of their consciences.
We are frequently reminded that while we have complete freedom of belief, there must be limits on freedom of behavior.
If you yell fire in a crowded theater there had better be a fire. It seems to me that we Americans emphasize freedom so much that we forget that freedoms come with responsibilities to our nation and to our fellow citizens.
Robert Hussey, Denver
Dear Mr. Feldman,
In your commentary on religious freedom, you assert that the āfinal judgeā regarding COVID-19 vaccination is the believerās conscience. For myself and millions of other complying citizens, the final judgment on vaccination rests with how many unsuspecting people the religious believer āfreelyā infected with this deadly, but preventable, virus. The freedom you propose for true believers means oppression, a form of assault, for the rest of us.
Christine Ford, Denver
If saying ānoā to vaccines just impacted the ānoā sayer, Bloomberg columnist Feldman would be on firm ground, but it doesnāt. A reported some 95% of those who currently get hospitalized or die from COVID-19 are unvaccinated.
I remember the polio epidemics, the iron lungs and the crippling. We did not know what caused polio, but we know what is causing this pandemic and how to stop it. Religion is not a justification for going to a party and shooting people, and it is not a justification for endangering people with COVID-19.
Gary Hall, Denver
Freedom of religion is the freedom to say ānoā to selective service, or indeed, any military service.
On closer examination, the right course is actually for employers and the government to defer to individualsā claims of religious exemption.
Your man Noah Feldman makes a great case for allowing anyone to object to a draft on the basis of āreligious freedom.ā Substitute āthe draftā for āvaccinationā in his commentary the very few times āvaccinationā occurs, and youāve got the workings of a good argument for Amish, Quakers, Mennonites and everyone else. I would also remind you of the gay wedding cake bigotry that was motivated by āfreedom of religion.ā
The basis of his argument means that we as a society should also tolerate bigotry, prejudice and chauvinism as long as these insults arrive with a thin veneer of freedom of religion.
Bruce Ediger, Severance
Analyzing loopholes and the meaning of āfair shareā
Re: āFair share,ā Sept. 19 commentary
In Megan Schraderās commentary, she states that āthe super-rich use clever accounting tricks to avoid and evade their taxes.ā I will always remember that some 50 years ago while I was earning my degree in accounting at the University of Colorado, a tax accounting professor gave out some wise advice. He said you can avoid taxes all day long; in fact, you are a fool if you donāt. However, if you decide to evade taxes, you may very well end up in jail.
The Internal Revenue Service has a whistle blowerās program whereby they offer rewards for information leading to the prosecution of tax evaders. If Schrader has such tax evasion information on these super-rich individuals she should turn them in to the Internal Revenue Service. She might earn a nice little reward!
Daniel J. Stewart, Lakewood
Megan Schrader demonizes very wealthy people for using all of the ways and āloopholesā available to them to reduce their taxes. These are available to those of us who are a lot less wealthy as well. āFair shareā is an arbitrary and subjective term often kicked about by liberals when trying to decide what they think wealthy people should pay in taxes.
So, Schrader, perhaps your next article might explore what percentage of all income taxes collected that the top 1% pay. You could also touch on the thousands of jobs created by the rich guys and how much they contribute to charitable causes.
Bob Bamford, Aurora
Upholding Christian morals is not about hate
Re: āDenounce your hate Valor Christian,ā Sept. 19 commentary
I believe that most citizens, Christian and otherwise, believe that the Ls, Gs, Bs, Ts and Qs all deserve the right to earn a living without being stigmatized by the fact of who they are. However, no less deserving of equal rights is a privately funded school like Valor Christian, whose very name advertises to all who choose to work there that they can expect to be held to all of the conditions as outlined in their work agreement. The Valor students who walked out of school in protest should know that this is not an issue of VC being hateful, as Mimi Madrid states in her opinion piece. It¶¶Ņõap about living up to the commitments one makes in life.
Denny Cannon, Littleton
Mimi Madrid showed her ignorance and her disdain for traditional Christians in her column. She accuses Valor Christian of āhateā towards those who are gay because Valor adheres to the sexual ethics that the Bible teaches. Millions of serious Christians have believed these same things for nearly 2,000 years. Christians should not toss away their commitment to biblical sexual morality because it¶¶Ņõap no longer in vogue, and they should not be bullied with the dreaded label, āhate.ā Isnāt it possible to disagree with another personās ethical choices without hating them? Isnāt it reasonable for a Christian or other religious school to maintain its standards of belief and conduct for its own faculty and coaches?
She appeals to Jesus and his way of love. But read the New Testament accounts and you will find a Jesus who loves and associates with sinful people but never endorses their wrong behaviors; if anything, he calls them to turn away from wrongdoing. He loved sinners and hated their sin. His followers can do the same.
This is about faith, not hate. Madrid is free to disagree with that faith and the ethical norms that are part of it. But to cast the hate label and demand that others change in a way that is inconsistent with their beliefs ā that is, ironically, an expression of intolerance!
Richard Vroon, Centennial
Debating TABOR
Re: āTABOR refunds have stunted Coloradoās progress,ā Sept. 22 commentary
Senators Chris Hansen and Dominick Moreno crafted a column about the Taxpayerās Bill of Rights. But nothing could be further from the truth. TABOR benefits all Coloradans, and it¶¶Ņõap a model other states should use across the nation to increase taxpayer protections.
As Colorado families and small businesses work to recover from the pandemic, the tax relief TABOR offers will help. Even Gov. Jared Polis agrees. Recently he stated, āIām excited that Coloradans will get another income tax cut and refund that Coloradans can put toward bouncing back from the pandemic, a night out, or groceries.ā
During this challenging recovery from the pandemic, Coloradans can be grateful that we have a Taxpayerās Bill of Rights that will offer much-needed tax relief to struggling families and small businesses.
And suppose lawmakers genuinely believe that taxpayers should not have a voice on taxation levels as TABOR allows. In that case, I challenge them to refer a measure to the ballot and ask the voters to eliminate their right to vote on tax increases.
Jesse Mallory, Denver
People miss the fact that virtually all taxes come back to society in contracts with private companies, welfare initiatives, state employment, infrastructure.
We, the residents of the State of Colorado, have been short-changed by this regressive tax scheme for far too long!
TABOR is the major reason our schools and infrastructure are and have been underfunded for many years. We need that money to be used to properly fund schools, infrastructure and other projects statewide far more than we need a refund. Using that money for statewide projects will provide jobs, and the money spent by those people will improve the tax base across Colorado. Let¶¶Ņõap be proactive rather than regressive.
Mark Rawlins, Westminster
Polis priority? Politics
Re:Ā āWait, arenāt we supposed to ātrust the science?ā ā Sept. 23 letter to the editorĀ
It was never about the science with Gov. Jared Polis.Ā It was always pure politics.
When the COVID vaccine was first available earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that people over 75 years be vaccinated along with those with medical conditions that made them high-risk for serious illness or death.Ā What did Polis do?Ā Put those younger than 65 who were immunocompromised behind young, healthy teachers working at home (and even at a time when children were the least likely to get or spread COVID).Ā That meant that people under 65 with medical problems like cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart or liver disease had to wait longer to get the vaccine.
Why? Because teachers have a union that Polis wanted to support him in his next bid for governor.
The immunocompromised donāt have a union nor are they considered a voting bloc by Polis.
It¶¶Ņõap never been about science with Polis, always been about his personal political gain.
Cynthia Stone, Denver
Legislation would nullify our agriculture protections
Members of Congress from states that are home to industrial agricultural interests recently introduced the Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, which would prevent states and local jurisdictions from regulating the production or distribution of agricultural products.
If passed, this bill would allow people to seek an injunction against any state or local regulation about agricultural products that is stronger than the federal standard. Additionally, because of the billās broad definition of āagricultural products,ā this could include laws that protect food safety, animal welfare, environmental quality or farm workers.
Colorado passed legislation in 2008 that phased out inhumane gestation crates and veal crates. In 2020, our state legislature also passed House Bill 1343 that phased out both the use of restrictive battery cages for egg-laying hens as well as the in-state sale of products from these systems, ensuring inhumane products stay out of Colorado markets.
If enacted, the EATS Act would force states like Colorado to overturn similar farm animal protection laws, forcing citizens to ā against our will ā allow the sale of products from inhumane farms. For these reasons, I urge Rep. Jason Crow and Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper not to cosponsor the EATS Act and to vote ānoā if it comes up for consideration.
Coloradans are counting on our elected officials to uphold the laws we have in place to protect animals, people, and the environment.
Elaine Tharpe Knox, Centennial
Biden needs to act, now
Re: ā āWe have to make changes … nowā,ā Sept. 15 news story
Thank you, Denver Post for highlighting President Joe Bidenās visit to Coloradoās National Renewable Energy Laboratory. As a scientist, I wholeheartedly support NRELās sustained effort to develop cutting-edge wind, solar, and other clean-energy technologies that are crucial for addressing climate change.
And thankfully, Biden has pledged bold action on climate change. On Earth Day, he announced an ambitious goal to cut Americaās carbon pollution in half by 2030. While several climate policies are being considered by Congress, none are as quick and effective as a putting a price on carbon pollution.
That¶¶Ņõap why Iām delighted Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet have expressed support for a price on carbon. I urge them to continue voicing their support as Congress crafts climate policy in the impending reconciliation package.
Adam Reed, Longmont
During Bidenās visit to Colorado this week, he noted how climate-fueled disasters were going to cost the U.S. more than $100 billion this year and that our nation must speed up the transition to a clean energy economy if we are to have any hope of addressing the climate crisis. His words were right on target.
But now comes the hard part: taking the bold action necessary to make it happen.
I urge the president to follow up his visit to Colorado by releasing his administrationās proposals for oil and gas reforms ā something he promised on his first day in office. The Department of Interior has announced it would resume leasing in order to comply with a court order, but the recent proposal to lease more than 140,000 acres of public land in Colorado seems like a step backwards.
Aaron Kindle, Salida
Election reform is critical
Recently, a group of senators, including Sen. Joe Manchin, reintroduced a historic proposal called the Freedom to Vote Act that would give everyday Americans a voice and fix our democracy.
The Freedom to Vote Act includes several exciting pieces, many of which would be groundbreaking on their own. It would make it easier for all Americans to cast a ballot by setting Election Day as a national holiday, requiring two weeks of early voting, and allowing any registered voter to request an absentee ballot.
It would ban partisan gerrymandering, a form of corruption which both parties use to rig elections. Finally, it would curb the influence of big money in politics. These are all issues that the overwhelming majority of Americans, Trump and Biden voters alike, agree on. What¶¶Ņõap not to like?
But with states already starting to gerrymander voting districts that will be in place for the next decade, we have to act soon. I urge Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet to do everything in their power to get it through the Senate. We canāt let arcane Senate rules block the most important bill of our lifetimes.
Ross Sherman, Denver
Stressing the Colorado River
Re: āDenver lands in top 3 spot for hottest summer on record,ā Sept. 22 news story
The bill now being debated by Congress on infrastructure has serious consequences for Colorado. Many states do not have much exposure to climate change. Colorado has many. For example: As The Post has reported, the Colorado River is under stress. It has gone from a wild river to being a āfloat tripā too much of the year.
The water level at Lake Powell will soon be too low to generate electricity at the Glen Canyon Dam.
Denver had numerous air quality alerts this summer that were the result of ozone as well as forest fires.
Sen. Michael Bennet is respected on āboth sides of the aisle,ā and I have always found him responsive to ideas. Send him an email Denver. It is in our best interest to tackle climate change now.
Kevin Sampson, Denver
Restrict Las Vegas waterworks
The lack of water in our reservoirs has caused restrictions on farmers and ranchers, including reducing the fields being planted.
Blue Mesa Reservoir had its water level dropped to send more water to the parched Colorado River waterway.
Why has no one looked at restricting Las Vegasā wasteful use of water in a desert climate?
Bellagio sprays millions of gallons of water into a dry atmosphere where quite a bit of the water evaporates before it comes back down! Canals of water to imitate Venice, with too much exposed surface area evaporating water, at probably an alarming rate.
The Bellagio and other attractions should be asked (told) to conserve water by turning off the waterworks for a year or longer if needed.
There is no reason for those wasteful water attractions to continue when food growers and ranchers do not have enough water to grow crops.
Mark Stahl, Colorado Springs
A slaughter of inexcusable size
The ocean conservation group Sea Shepherd has exposed the recent immense slaughter of 1,400 dolphins by the barbaric and inhumane government and residents of the Faroe Islands, and the nation of Denmark is complicit in this slaughter by its inaction. 1,400 dolphins! And their reaction? Well, gee whiz, it was all a mistake. A mistake? Baloney. They got caught with their bloodied knives and spears in the act ā and now it is a āmistake?ā They were slaughtered for no reason other than to kill them for the pleasure of doing so. The Faroe Islanders are well off and not starving and do not need 1,400 dead dolphins for food. This is just an explosive continuation of the āGrindā where the residents in the Faroe Islands slaughter around 600 pilot whales for the same reason every year. The pleasure of this massive kill is masquerading with excuses about it being a part of their ācultural identity.ā Some identity. I would hope people who are horrified by this can comment to Denmark (which governs the Faroe Island affairs) expressing their outrage.
Ed Talbot, Arvada
An assault on ourselves
If I may, allow me to ponder why anyone who lives here in this beautiful land of ours, themselves secure and prosperous, are hell-bent on bringing this country to its knees. Most of us who are native grouch about something over time, but weāll fight to protect this home of ours to the death.
I served in two wars. No hero, but, along with millions of others, we protected this place which is yours and mine. So, the nation surrounded our Capitol with fencing to protect it from terrorists from here and abroad. So much grief on a daily basis.
I know, for me, this pandemic seemed under control for a short period. Now, because people refuse to embrace the science, each of us is in danger again.
Do you love this beautiful land and the people in your lives? If you do, then let it show. Other people from many nations would be glad to trade places.
Bruce Jacobsen, Denver
Misplaced border outrage
Re: āOfficials: All migrants are gone from camp along Texas border,ā Sept. 25 news story
President Joe Biden is outraged at the use of mounted border patrols to prevent migrants from illegally crossing into the United States. However, I have yet to hear his suggestions for how to turn back the migrants.
I suppose he would favor a wall of armed riot police with shields and truncheons. I am waiting for the president¶¶Ņõap suggestion. After all, enforcing the border law is his presidential responsibility.
Jim Lloyd, Lakewood
Seek right person to head ATF
Re: āWork on ending gun violence must move forward,ā Sept. 20 commentary
The firearm industry agrees with Lonnie and Sandy Phillipsā desire to āreduce gun violence.ā
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the firearm industry trade association, has supported qualified leaders nominated to fill the important role of director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in the past under presidents of both political parties. But David Chipman was wholly unqualified and his proposals, like those of President Joe Biden, are anything but serious attempts to reduce criminal misuse of firearms.
NSSF supports āReal Solutions for Safer Communitiesā and has long partnered with ATF to reduce criminal access to and misuse of firearms through proven firearm safety initiatives.
These include the Donāt Lie for the Other Guy public awareness campaign to educate and reduce illegal firearm straw purchases, Operation Secure Store to assist firearm retailers to better secure inventory to deter break-ins and thefts, as well as the FixNICS campaign to improve the FBIās background checks.
This effort led to a 270% increase in the number of submitted adjudicated mental health records to the FBIās National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), ensuring individuals who shouldnāt be allowed to purchase a firearm canāt.
We will continue our efforts and continue supporting qualified, unbiased Senate-confirmed individuals to lead ATF.
Lawrence G. Keane, Washington, D.C.
Editorās note: Keane is senior vice president and general counsel for government affairs at the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
And what about jet fuel?
Re: āDIA to get out of oil, gas,ā Sept. 27 news story
You know you are living amongst a confederacy of dunces when our leaders, wanting to create āone of the greenest airports in the world,ā shuts down its oil and gas wells.
Do they think those jets run on fruit juice? Perhaps they believe a few extra-large lithium batteries can get those planes off the runway and power all those people to their destination.
Monte Naylor, Denver
Overstating increased risk
Re: āNo mandates, higher rates,ā Sept. 24 news story
The front-page headline and article stresses that higher infection rates for school-age children are directly associated with the lack of mask mandates in schools.
āCoronavirus cases among school-aged children between 6 and 17 hover around 300 cases per 100,000 people in school districts that do not require masks, while that number is closer to 250 per 100,000 in districts that require masks, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmental data. ā
If The Post had taken a minute and evaluated the numbers more closely, the article would not have been front-page material. Three hundred cases per 100,000 people is 0.3%, 250 cases per 100,000 is 0.25%. Strictly speaking the numbers are higher; however, this data does not show a statistically significantly higher rate and should have been noted as such.
Perhaps The Post could have researched some data regarding the negative impact masks have on learning in K-12. That would have provided a real opportunity to evaluate the impact of mask mandates on our students.
It¶¶Ņõap time to get back to the basics of reporting the honest, factual pros and cons of issues and let your readers make up their own minds.
Lisa Adams, Parker
Perhaps a new motto
Re: āDenver Vaccine Mandate: Seven police officers sue city,ā Sept. 25 news story
So much for āTo Serve and Protect.ā
Louis Pappageorge, Denver
Delaying event smart
Re: āLafayetteās Oatmeal Festival again postponed,ā Sept. 27 news story
Kudos to the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce for listening to medical experts, following science and postponing the Oatmeal Festival until January.
With kids under 12 still not able to be vaccinated and indoor mask requirements in Boulder County, good to see they are taking the health of their community seriously and wisely waiting to have their event.
To hold the event now while virus is so prevalent, all are at risk, including children, teachers and older community members. If we follow the 3 Cās to avoid crowds, be in circulating air (inside) and avoid close talking, we would all be safer.
Hopefully by January when the Chamber is planning to hold the fun event, the community will be able to attend safely and still have a great time at this annual event.
Cheryl Brungardt, Wheat Ridge
Donāt default on our debt
It¶¶Ņõap time for a change. No longer can we allow politics to run our country. The Senate must take control and pass those spending bills, so America doesnāt default on its debt. It canāt ignore the promises made to those people
suffering from the aftermath of natural disasters or fear their countries overrun with terrorism.
Call or email your senators now and tell them they need to support the spending plans so we can continue to run our country as a responsible world leader should be run. Americans are counting on you.
Anita Fricklas, Centennial
Enough political theater! Debates about future child care subsidies and dental care for seniors have nothing to do with the government¶¶Ņõap obligation to pay for what it has bought in the past. I canāt declare a ādebt limitā and renege on my mortgage and water bill ā neither can the government. The president should simply declare that the concept of a ādebt limitā is a legal fiction. The Fourteenth Amendment to the constitution states, āThe validity of the public debt of the United States … shall not be questioned,ā and we have a moral and legal obligation to pay what we owe. Senators must fulfill their duty to the Constitution and do the right thing by our contractors and employees by having the government continue to pay its bills.
Ray Harlan, Aurora
Bidenās lies
Re: āGeneral says war strategic failure,ā Sept. 29 news story
Most people donāt have the luxury of watching television during the day, so let me tell you about the Senate hearing addressing the disastrous withdraw in Afghanistan. When questioned by Sen. Tom Cotton, both Gen. Mark Milley and Gen. Frank McKenzie said they told President Joe Biden to leave a military force of 2,500 to 3,500 in Afghanistan.
In an interview with George Stephanopoulos in August, President Biden said no commanders recommended leaving a military force in place. Biden also said we would not leave Americans behind, another lie as we are still trying to get our people out.
What we have here is a president that has created the biggest disaster in American history. He lied to the American people and he continues to lie about the border being closed.
Doug Strohl, Elizabeth
Boosted
My wife and I got a booster shot Monday; it took an investment of twenty minutes and some gas. And you know what? We woke up today with the same freedoms of choice and liberties of being an American as weāve had all along. Plus, we feel less stressed over possibly burdening our health care system and using
up a hospital bed so desperately needed by others.
Gary Rauchenecker, Golden
