150 most influential list missed the mark — twice
Re: “The 150 most notable people in Colorado history,” July 28 news story
I enjoyed reading your list of the 150 most notable people in Colorado History, but was dismayed that you left out Willard Libby, who was born in my hometown of Parachute; he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of Carbon-14 Dating. How did you miss that one?
Russel Murray, Broomfield
Your list of 150 notable Coloradans was well considered except for one entry – John Evans. The fact that he founded what became the University of Denver and brought the Union Pacific Railroad to Denver ought not to provide absolution for his role in the murder of 28 unarmed Native American men along with 105 women and children at Sand Creek. He was, and I use this phrase advisedly, a genocidal racist. If his name was removed from a mountain, perhaps you should consider removing it from your list as well.
Guy Wroble, Denver
Everyone, including Bernie Sanders, has got to get on the same socialism page
Re: “We should all learn about democratic socialism,” July 18 letter to the editor.
The intention of the letter is correct but still inaccurate in defining democratic socialism. There are enormous differences in the terms: communism, democratic socialism and social democracy, and most of us, including Bernie Sanders, need to be on the same page. I suggest we all use the original definitions for uniformity and clarity.
Communism, in the classical sense, seeks to replace capitalism entirely and has often led in practice to one-party authoritarian states.
Democratic socialism shares some goals of socialism but insists on achieving them through democratic elections and protecting civil liberties, with a varying range of how much of capitalism should remain.
Social democracy accepts capitalism but seeks to tame its excesses and provide strong safety nets like universal health care, worker protections, and public services. The Nordic countries fit here and are the happiest people in the world.
These are basic definitions, and it is paramount that we and Bernie study the longer, detailed definitions and come to a mutual understanding of the differences.
David King, Erie
As a proud Democrat, I’ve been taunted lately in the “owning a lib” manner, asking what I think of Zohran Mamdani and the emerging social democratic candidates. My easy, unintimidated response is “do you mean as compared to Donald Trump?”
Mamdani and others exemplify commitment to a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” They may be guilty of overzealousness to provide affordable childcare, healthcare, and housing opportunities to fellow Americans, social justice here and throughout the world, and inspiring young people to get involved and vote. How horrible is that?
But, we Democrats can confidently ask our friends about their willingness to ignore everything they see and ignore: election denial and sowing lies to build distrust in our election process, horrific expenses of an unnecessary war and disruption of the peace process in the Middle East, the cost of ICE agents flooding cities targeting immigrants and intimidating citizens, and Trump and his family gaining tremendous wealth in a deeply questionable manner.
Republicans are preparing to use McCarthy-era communism rhetoric to demean this new breed of Democrats who care so much more about fellow Americans than Donald Trump.
Our country was created to be democratic, and our form of capitalism needs to include all citizens who proudly support the social programs for so many, in so many ways. I’m a very proud, wealthy and well-educated, 76-year-old Democratic Socialist.
Mark Zaitz, Highlands Ranch
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