Daily Camera: Letters to the Editor

Reed Bailey’s opinion: “Is Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge safe?” entirely misses the point, by belaboring the subject of background radiation and deflecting attention from the real risk.  The scientists and physicians who have repeatedly warned the public about this hazard are concerned right now that Jefferson Parkway construction along the Refuge eastern edge would raise plutonium-contaminated dust which would enter the lungs of workers and nearby residents.   A host of official studies shows that direct impact of tiny plutonium particles onto internal tissue causes cancer, a point that Mr. Bailey cannot honestly deny.  Readers will of course consider the source of the argument “It’s safe enough” from a former employee of that notorious operation.

US Fish and Wildlife, in charge of the Refuge, officially admits residual plutonium on site means that the Refuge is “not….. pristine” (USFW letter 10/21/2003). My own DOE contract work showed astronomical numbers of radionuclide particles deposited there, and DOE-contractor Rockwell admitted at the State Capitol (9/30/1987) that they routinely emitted tiny airborne plutonium particles for decades.  The entire Rocky Flats Refuge was dusted with respirable plutonium: beware!

Harvey Nichols, Ph.D.,
Emeritus Professor of Biology
Boulder

Kathleen Branch writes in her letter to the editor (2/9/2012) that “contraception is cheap and attainable anywhere,” and “Those who want sterilization or morning-after pills etc. can easily pay for that aspect on their insurance and not require the Catholic-based organization to pay for it for them.” I don’t think she realizes the typical female employee of these large hospitals is a near-minimum wage staffer who makes too much for sliding-scale based reproductive services and that taking that additional amount out of their pay to cover this in their insurance is an unfair burden on those least able to afford it.

But the larger problem with her posting was the analogy: “How would Ms. Bayer feel if the federal government decided that Jewish and Muslim groups (schools, hospitals, etc.) must provide pork products free to everyone?”   I won’t correct her confusion about religion and pork products, but a better analogy would be if a group supporting Scientology (or any religion that has beliefs related to medical care) purchased a school/hospital/etc. and then claimed that the organization’s religious values precluded them from offering insurance for medical services related to any illness. If granted this “waiver” like the Catholic organizations want, a devout Catholic or Muslim or Jewish person working for that organization would not receive health care or would have to “easily pay for that aspect” or would have to go to one of those magical places that are “available anywhere.”

To claim “This is not about women’s health it is about the federal government interfering with religious doctrine” is a weak argument because this is actually a case of the federal government wanting to keep church and state separated and have all entities operate under the same laws.

One thing that seems to be going unnoticed in this whole discussion is the fact that if we had universal health care for all (like the 9 countries ahead of the U.S. on the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom http://www.heritage.org/index/ranking) we would not be worrying about a Catholic-run institution (or Jewish or Muslim or Scientologist) having to offer something that conflicts with their religious beliefs.

Shannon D. Smith
Boulder

So Colorado GOP caucus…Santorum…really?!  He’s about a close to getting a Christian Ayatollah as we could get in this country.  If we had a Muslim running for office supporting Sharia law, other than the religious foundation would that be so different?  Is that really what you want?

Now granted, it’s not like you Republicans have that much better to choose from.  Bear in mind I’m a bona fide Boulder Progressive Liberal guy, but Ron Paul?  Even the libertarians I know think he’s way off kilter.  Mitt Romney?  Which Mitt Romney?  He’s flip-flopped on so many topics so many times he looks more like a flounder out of water.  And Newt?  That’s a hoot.  After all the attacks on Bill Clinton you’d pick someone with his, um, propensities?  If he’s the GOP nominee we might as well get the impeachment hearings set up now.

Maybe you should have gone with Stephen Colbert while you had the chance?

Paul Alter
Boulder

In the sixties the cry was about not electing JFK because he was a Catholic. Now it’s “no Romney because he’s a Mormon.” And, according to that ever reliable FauxNews, “no Obama because he’s a Muslim.” Shouldn’t the guidance of the ship of state be in the hands of someone possessing leadership, vision, forward thinking and what’s best for the country skills instead of where they attend church? Or perhaps instead of selecting a future US President the next election will decide a Pope, Bishop, Mullah or even a dark horse third party candidate in the form of a reincarnated Buddha!

RC Lloyd
Longmont

Can someone please answer a simple question for me? How is the US supposed to rationally deal with a country like Iran using modern diplomatic methods? I just read a story which describes a member of the Iranian President’s inner-circle as currently “facing sorcery charges”. That’s right sorcery. I’m not sure what the most amazing word in that sentence is: sorcery or currently. Is it possible that there wasn’t enough evidence to make the alchemy charge stick? What was this guy conjuring up anyway, a ray of hope?

One can only wonder what the penalty is for a sorcery conviction in Iran. To me it hardly seems like a stretch to imagine some guy dressed like one of the Forty Thieves boiling a giant vat of oil in preparation for the sentencing as we speak. My God Iran wake up, Hammurabi thinks your penal codes are outdated. Hell, the North Koreans look like forward-thinking visionaries by comparison.

It boggles the mind to think that a country that still charges people with sorcery sits on the cusp of possessing nuclear weapons. It’s kind of like the judges at the Salem witch trials having access to well…nuclear weapons. It does seem rather ironic though that one of the limitations they’re currently dealing with is the development of an actual delivery system for the warheads. Um hello, they do realize that that guy down the street sells magic carpets right?

David Maheu
Berthoud

Editor:

Boy was Russ Rauhauser right about the problematic flashing light crossings!
Another problem is that when somebody presses the button, gets a flashing light and walks across,  sometimes a second person uses that same flashing light to try to cross.  Often the light  goes off,  or a driver who stopped for the first crosser doesn’t see the second person and starts to go.
There are just too many dangers inherent in this type of crossing -  i hope the city traffic engineers can come up with something better.

Nina Judd
Boulder

I realize of course, that referring to those complicit with injustice as “Nazis” is over the top, inappropriate, and a turn off, so please understand that should I refer to each and every member of the Boulder City Council as such, it’s all in good fun, a la Seinfeld’s “soup Nazi.”

Taking away a citizen’s right to a jury trial, as the city council has done, is not particularly amusing however, but expected I suppose, by a city that has lost its soul.

Doug Richards
Eldorado Springs

Your paper should be ashamed of itself for outsourcing your production/graphic workers to India and Indonesia.  No, the Daily Camera is not like the automobile business.  Your customers are local as should be your employees.  As a result of your action, I will probably terminate my subscription and “outsource” to the internet.

Don Koplen
Boulder

While I am obviously sorry for all losses suffered as a result of the Fourmile Fire, I have to question the need for legislative action due to those folks who found themselves underinsured, as proposed by Rep. Claire Levy.

I don’t understand why someone would make thousands of dollars of improvements to their home and not think to increase their insurance coverage.  In a typical market one might also want to increase coverage based on increased market value.  Obviously it’s nice to have the lower premium for lower coverage, until the catastrophic loss occurs.

We don’t need more government involvement in this country.  People complain about government control, yet can’t seem to take responsibility for their own lives.  There is nothing preventing a person from reviewing their home owner’s insurance with their insurance agent now and the onus should not be on the insurance agent.

Richard Simpson
Louisville

I too share Terry Crook’s sadness over the tragic and senseless murder of Todd Walker by Kevin McGregor.  I would like to point out  that there are existing laws against felons purchasing firearms but unfortunately criminals don’t follow laws and  can obtains weapons, drugs, cars, identities, etc.  any number of ways. How Mr. McGregor obtained his weapon should be looked into. I strongly  believe that   law abiding citizens should have the right to purchase a firearm if they so desire.  Lastly, it seems to me that if someone is pointing a gun at you and asks for money, you don’t ask question, you  just handover your wallet.  Even  if Mr. Walker or the female friend that was with him that night had a concealed weapon permit and was carrying, you don’t argue with a man pointing a gun at you.

Scott Schmidt
Boulder

There seems to be socialism for capitalists, but everyone else gets capitalism.  The rich get richer, and the taxpayer pays more than their share.

If an institution is too big to fail, it is time we break them up.  Big Banks get a government guarantee while allowing them to take chances in speculation.  All the money Bush gave the Banks and then Obama has restored their strength, but what we didn’t realize, was that Industry is now rising up, defeating any chance to defeat them.  Now more than ever it is time to restructure the industry.

We need meaningful reform not hollow regulation.  Our tax dollars gifted them back to health, but the problem is bigger than ever.

Taxes are the price we all pay for roads and public infrastructure.  The rich and mega corporations have legislated themselves into paying no taxes.  It is time they stop mooching off the taxpayer and begin paying their fair share.

Crony capitalism is not a free market.  They have plundered the public’s money by speculative behavior that is fatally corrupted because of their political influence.

Fear prompted congress to give the Mega banks a blank check.  What we have now created, is cancer capitalism, where new ways to make easy money off of our government is the norm.  It is time for thoughtful choices to replace fear.

We the people can stop the orgy of greed by not supporting candidates’ who take Pac money.  The huge profits they take are our tax dollars!  Government by the 1% is not accidental.  There is deliberate public policy which translates into the more you make, the less you pay in taxes.

We must pressure congress to restore our checks and balances which will fairly benefit the majority.

Ruth A. Remple
Longmont

In his letter of February 4, “CU body did the right thing“, Michael Rabb seems to be all giddy that the CU students rejected support of Israel, the one nation in that area friendly to the US, in favor of the fanatically hostile Palestinians. They’re the people who chose as their leadership the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, and are dedicated to the annihilation of Israel. They’re the same Palestinians who, given the Gaza Strip in 2005 without preconditions, began immediately exploiting their new strategic position with random shelling and rocket attacks on surrounding Israeli towns, which has continued since.

The CU sympathizers condemn Israeli occupation of the West Bank, forgetting that it began in ’67, after Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon amassed their armies along the Israeli border to carry out their annihilistic threats. But these aggressors were defeated by Israel alone in six days! After Israel subsequently gave back the captured Sanai for a peace agreement with Egypt, the Palestinians rejected every peaceful offer to trade land for peace with Israel, opting instead for continued terrorism at every turn. Yet it is the Israelis who are condemned for maintaining control of the West Bank for their own protection from their actively hostile neighbors?

Admittedly, the CU student support of Israel, or lack thereof, is a meaningless gesture and of little concern to Israel. So what if the CU students choose to support the terrorist side for their “human rights and social justice” concerns? I wonder how long it will be before there are similar sympathizer groups supporting the poor Taliban in Afghanistan or Hezbollah in Lebanon, or others of the numerous terrorist organizations openly dedicated to the extermination of Israel?

Don Lloyd
Boulder

This is to response to those who voted against in-state tuition of the Longmont Times-Call on line poll.

If people could get past personal prejudices and look at the bigger picture to allow undocumented students the opportunity to go to state colleges, universities, and higher education schools this would benefit state, and nation.

Let me explain, when a student goes for higher education this puts money into the economy it pays taxes, students buy supplies, books, and personal items needed for school which adds to the economy.
Someone who has achieved the task of graduating school, who does not have a police record, and wants to continue education to benefit not only themselves but would contribute to our state and country because they are educated and would enhance this country positively not negatively.

We have people in this state who want to be haters and not give the opportunity. They want the undocumented to pay 3 times the amount, so this in turn does no one any good because most people cannot afford to pay 3 times the amount. If you were to allow the undocumented pay in- state tuition this would bring money to this state.

Think about it, a student who would pay $6,000 a semester, $12,000 a year, but because the student is undocumented they are told no sorry $36,000 for you. So the student does not pay anything, where the $12,000 would have come into the state. It seems like a no brainer to me when you have New Mexico, Utah and Kansas and even big red state Nebraska among 13 states that do allow in-state tuition this is because they can see and know what an opportunity this is, it is a way to bring money and opportunity to their states.

Linda A. Marquez
Longmont

Nobody argues with Carole Bayer’s point on womens health, but that is not the issue; and she is missing the bigger point.

Keep in mind, contraception is cheap, and attainable anywhere. Those who want sterilization or morning after pills etc can easily pay for that aspect on their insurance, and not require the Catholic based organization to pay for it for them.

How would MsBayer feel if the Federal Government decided that Jewish and Muslim groups (schools, hospitals etc) MUST provide pork products free to everyone?

This is not about womens health, it is about the Federal Government interfering with religeous doctrine.

The bigger question is….where do we draw the line on keeping the Federal Government out of our daily lives.

Kathleen Branch
Boulder

I was not surprised to hear on the news this morning that Mitt Romney’s bus was involved in a “minor accident” yesterday while he was campaigning in Colorado.  I witnessed firsthand yesterday morning (2/7/2012) what could have been a major accident as I sat at the traffic light at highway 287 and Isabelle Road (a notoriously dangerous intersection in Boulder County).  The light turned green for myself and the 3 or 4 cars that were in line with me and we began to move into the intersection, all of a sudden without any hesitation Mitt Romney’s bus and his entourage of escort vehicles blew through the red light heading North on 287.  All the vehicles had flashing lights but no sirens at all and we were completely taken by surprise, thankfully the lead car in our line was not too far out into the intersection.  I found it interesting that part of Mr. Romney’s entourage included an ambulance, I wondered if this was for Mr. Romney’s protection or to deal with the poor souls who may be injured as a result of this irresponsible driving practice.  Clearly Mr. Romney not only “does not care about the poor” but he also has no concern for the rest of us out on the road who are obeying the rules.

Jackie Stipe
Lafayette

The Obama administration through the department of Health and Human Services recently announced that religious institutions would not be exempted from a ruling requiring they provide free birth control including sterilization.  This ruling directly opposes a fundamental Catholic doctrine as well as religious freedom.  The government department of Health and Human Services is not some nebulous entity.  HHS is an organization of people and is headed by Ms Kathleen Sebellius who was appointed by President Obama and serves at his pleasure.

It would be ludicrous to assume that Ms Sebellius acted independently.  Rather, she has the full and complete support of President Obama.  Change at the HHS must come from the very top of the administrative structure.  And, the top is President Obama, alone and with the responsibility.  The American bishops unhesitatingly supported President Obama and the Democrat party in 2008 and now should reconsider as there is a party which is based on freedom.  The voters, including Catholics and other concerned religious people, were deceived in 2008 and should, no must, correct this error.

Carl Schneider
Boulder

Congratulations on your investigation of the CU Law School’s profligate ways.  Five or six years too late, but, better late than never!  The first red flag should have been when students were asked to subsidize the new Wolf Law building with a $400 per year fee per student.  The second red flag should have been when one of the justifications for the new Wolf Law building was, “the students don’t have enough electrical outlets for their computers” – OH, REALLY!  It isn’t as though we have a shortage of lawyers!

The ARROGANT leaders of CU, among administrators and faculty, claim the “prestige benefit” of a law school.  Wow, such a deal.  With tenured professors spending all of 5 hours per week in classrooms, rather choosing to spend their time on UNMEASURED, UNAUDITED, UNQUANTIFIED “research”, one has to ask WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A STATE UNIVERSITY?

I commend “Change.edu” by Andrew S. Rosen to your reading list.  It quite succinctly describes the problems with not-for-profit higher education – leadership is confused about who its “customers” are.  The typical answers are quite self-serving by the administration AND faculty.  And why not, they have such a sweet deal!

It is an encouraging sign that the Board of Regents may be, even though belatedly, assuming some of its responsibilities.

Fortunately, the Daily Camera has done a very good job of informing the public of what is really happening at CU!

Don Sherwood
Boulder

I wish to thank the owner of Import Couchworks, Dave Mosely, and his staff: Jim, Charles and Rick for their plowing the sidewalk on the west side of 30th Street between Valmont Road and Mapleton every snow day.  The sidewalk is a pleasure to walk along.  There are many of us who are grateful!

Gretchen Williams
Boulder

The recent Safe Streets Boulder Report (Daily Camera 2/4/12) does nothing to inform us about which intersections and crosswalk types are safe or dangerous. Instead, it highlights the ineptness of Boulder’s transportation gurus, who are apparently clueless when it comes to interpreting their own data.

The problem with this particular study is that it compares raw numbers, unadjusted for traffic levels, numbers of intersections or crossings, or the mix of travel modes. Boulder’s traffic engineer, Bill Cowern, uses the data in completely unjustifiable ways to support preconceived notions about pedestrian and cycling safety.

For example, mid-block flashing crosswalks are described as among the safest in the city. That erroneous conclusion is based on the fact that only six percent of pedestrian collisions occur in them, compared with 37 percent at intersections. But the study leaves out important information on how many mid-block crossings there are and how many pedestrians cross at them compared to ordinary intersections. With those corrections, mid-block flashing crosswalks are revealed to be far more dangerous.

That finding is consistent with the 2010 study showing accident rate increases at specific locations after flashing crosswalks were installed. But Cowern dismisses the earlier study by suggesting there was a learning curve and claims flashing crosswalks are now statistically safer. Sorry, but the numbers say otherwise. In fact, the same report chart shows mid-block crossings with only signs accounted for three times fewer pedestrian and six times fewer bicycle collisions than ones with flashing lights, despite being more numerous. In other words, our traffic engineer got things exactly backwards.

Every citizen should support pedestrian and cyclist safety. But when an expensive experiment fails, we should expect our public employees to recognize and correct the problem, not misuse research to justify their mistakes.

David D. Wagner
Boulder

Thursday, Louisville will begin the process of reviewing the redevelopment of the Safeway lot. The store was for many years Louisville’s only grocery store. The owner and the City have worked since then to find a tenant, but not surprisingly given the economic downturn have failed to find any.

No one in Louisville likes to see valuable commercial property lie empty. We have repeatedly been forced to absorb the loss of valuable commercial tenants. In the last five years Louisville has lost Sam’s Club, Safeway, and recently Big Lots. It was therefore very exciting news to hear that a developer was working on a redevelopment proposal for the Safeway Lot.

Then came a proposal, which invited an emotional response on the part of residents. A month ago a flyer was circulated by residents, which criticized the City’s notification, the Planning Departments review, subsequent recommendation, and its reliance on the developers application to arrive at that decision.

Councilman Dalton has criticized this flyer and accused residents of “abusing city staff and saying they were in the developers pocket”. I can see his point, which is difficult to say since I helped write it, pay for it, and spent nights distributing it with many of my neighbors.

The bigger question is- “How did citizens, residents of the neighborhood, all who agree something ought to be done with the idle lot arrive at their conclusions?”. The fact is that most of my neighbors and I remained completely ignorant of this proposal until a week before the Planning Commissions meeting, and once we did were alarmed by it. As I told Mr. Dalton – My neighbors and I may have reacted emotionally, but if he lived less than 1000 feet from the development he might find that this proposal hits pretty close to home.

Aquiles La Grave
Louisville