Letters to the editor: March 4, 2010

Christians share good news for a reason

Some people have been critical of Christian organizations that went to Haiti to help those suffering from the affects of the earthquake that also wanted to help people out in spiritual ways. But Christian organizations that do this do so because they believe that meeting people’s spiritual needs is just as important as meeting their physical ones.
Christians believe that eternity exists and that what a person gains in this life has little value if in the end they forfeit eternal life. Christians also believe that the gift of eternal life is available to anyone willing to put their faith in the path Jesus provided to it.
This ought to be good news to those who have little understanding of eternity or have no assurance of where they will spend it. Asking Christians to stop sharing this good news would be like asking a doctor to quit talking about a cure for a potentially fatal disease just because some people don’t want to hear how sick they are.
In an area as diverse and tolerant as Boulder, we should encourage people to share what they believe to be true even if we disagree with their ideas or their intent instead of asking them to be silent about their beliefs or their faith.
Dick Lentz,  Niwot

Don’t buy into climate change denialism
Climate change denialists have been spreading misinformation regarding global climate change. For the sake of brevity I’ll address just two of the bogus claims they’ve been making.
First, the infamous “hockey stick” graph was vindicated years ago in a thorough examination by a panel of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences. A PDF copy of the NAS Report can be downloaded for no charge at: nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11676. A shorter, simpler version titled “Dummies guide to the latest ‘Hockey Stick’ controversy” is available at realclimate.org.
Second, the allegation that Phil Jones, recent head of the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom admitted in an interview with the BBC that “there has been no global warming over the past 15 years” was a distortion by the Daily Mail of what Jones actually said. Jones has clarified what he said and you can read it at uea.ac.uk/mac/comm/media/press/CRUstatements/guardianstatement
Climate change is a dynamic and complex issue. We must hold mainstream media to a high standard of accurately reporting science to the public, while at the same time exposing false claims and distortions made by anti-science individuals, politicians, and organizations.
A well-informed and educated citizenry is the best defense against the effects of both climate change and those who would deny its existence. To learn first-hand what the various studies, reports, and individual scientists really have to say about climate change, visit these Web sites: columbia.edu; climateprogress.org; and realclimate.org/.

Robert D. Pilkey,  Retired meteorologist
Longmont

Check out what you read in media

I usually write about issues that don’t make sense to me. But lately, every time I warm up to something, another issue comes along that seems more worthy.
First, a terrorist gets on a Delta flight to Detroit wearing more red flags than a Russian parade, and a pack of explosives. After he is foiled, the chief of U.S. Homeland Security claims that “the system works.” If the system includes stopping the terrorists by private citizens, she’s right on! Why do we have to spend billions of dollars on the rest of the system?
“Medical” marijuana. An entrepreneur brags on TV about his humoungous garden in his basement, and how he plans to make hundreds of thousands of dollars growing pot. When he is busted by the DEA, the DEA is called a “Nazi” organization. Marijuana is not “medical” and most users apparently don’t need it for medical problems. Most “patients” are men between the age of 25 to 34.
Heaven Fest. Now the naysayers have gained the support of the Boulder County Audubon Society to oppose this event. It seems that Union Reservoir is a major nesting area for endangered birds. No mention is made of the species. Bald eagles have their own protection, so exactly what critters are they talking about? I’m not suggesting that the naysayers are anti-religion, but if they are, they should ‘fess up.
Finally, in an op-ed in a local newspaper, Hunter Lovins writes, “Veterans Green Jobs is employing hundreds of Colorado’s veterans improving energy efficiency the San Luis Valley.” A quick scan of the Veterans Green Jobs Web site indicates they currently have openings for 20 veterans, and that the “improving energy efficiency” involves only 240 homes. What else in that article do you think might be overstated?
I encourage all readers to challenge what the see or hear in the media, including this letter. Just because you see something in print, see it on TV, or hear it on talk radio, it’s not necessarily true.

John L. Fenstermaker, Sr.,  Longmont

Subdivisions should pay for roads

In the recent approval of the update to the transportation element of the Boulder County Master Plan, the county reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable goals. With the update, the county has visionary plans to increase trail networks, improve transit options, and reduce single occupant vehicle usage.
Plans such as these need funds, while offering benefits to all residents through reduced congestion and vehicular emissions and improved mobility access for all. The county found overwhelming support for the master plan update.
However, the Niwot Community Association is hoping that county funds will be directed instead to paving subdivision roads. Many of these roads are dead ends and cul-de-sacs, which only serve the residents of these areas.
If the county were to have sole responsibility for road rehabilitation, it would have no funds remaining to build trails that would link our communities. Money would not be available to continue to enhance transit services as with the recent upgrade to service on the Bolt bus and offer improved Access-a-Ride services.
The Boulder County plan states that “Local access roadways … shall be rehabilitated through special assessments or other funding mechanisms. Primary funding responsibilities shall be assigned to the users benefiting from these improvements.”
Residents who see the benefit from road paving and maintenance should bear the burden of road rehabilitation from which they will benefit.
While I agree with the NCA that the county should place a high priority on “maintaining the public infrastructure,” roads which were built by developers, not the county or state, and which do not serve a sizable portion of the public are not, as such, public infrastructure.

Elaine C. Erb Community Cycles Advocacy Committee
Niwot
‘Gridlock’ is how it’s supposed to work

The present health-care debate is not, as some claim, the “face of gridlock.” Rather it is the “face of Constitutional wisdom.”
Sadly, too many don’t understand the fundamental construct of our form of government so ingeniously conceived by our Founding Fathers. The framers considered stability to be the bedrock of good government and they achieved this stability by generally requiring a high level of consensus in support of government action.
Accordingly, the Constitution deliberately makes achieving “legislative accomplishments” difficult. As every school child was once taught, all federal laws not only must be first agreed to by both houses of Congress, which are themselves fundamentally different institutions with different constituencies, powers and interests. In addition, federal legislation must be acceptable to the president, or both houses must override his veto by a two-thirds majority.
Note the hurdle after hurdle. Such stringent requirements mean that the vast majority of legislative proposals never become law for the very reason that the necessary consensus is so often elusive. Thus the government established by the U.S. Constitution as well as the document itself is conservative. Its default is the status quo, unless and until the advocates of change can secure a sufficient consensus to support their idea.
When both sides are so entrenched in their beliefs as not to compromise, this should be a clear signal something is very wrong with the legislation. Gridlock is only the visible symptom of this. All of this may well mean that change is postponed or permanently thwarted. But that is the price of the remarkable stability of the government we have. In the present instance Republicans and the majority of public opinion are for “health care reform” but not for “government health care.” This is a key difference worthy of the Constitution’s default position.

R. Eggers,  Niwot

Take 10 minutes to complete census

Every 10 years, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution and beginning in 1790, the U.S. Census Bureau starts the next census. Census data are used for determining boundaries for state, local, and congressional districts as well as distribution of federal funds for the next 10 years. Planners for new schools, public facilities, hospitals, malls, and highways use census results.
The census is a record of who lives in Colorado more than six months out of the year. No citizenship question is asked. By law the Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s responses with anyone, including other federal agencies. The mail-in census form is easy to complete — 10 questions, 10 minutes. Households are asked to provide key demographic information including whether a housing unit is rented or owned, the address of the residence, names of household members, their gender, ages and races.
In this time of a statewide budget crunch, an accurate count is so important to the whole state. Don’t let Colorado be under represented. Mail your census form on or before April 1.

Rose Mary Highman,  President
League of Women Voters of Boulder County
Health care is a moral right in most nations

Reading recent political commentaries, one realizes there were two different health-care summits in Washington, D.C. recently.
In one, President Obama was smashing in managing the cantankerous group, and negotiations included intelligent contributions from the minority party. In the other summit there were no intelligent contributions by Republicans and Democrats will have to force legislation through Congress.
I did not watch the summit but surmise little progress was made in agreeing to compromise. Reading the differing accounts did bring up this question: Does anyone back there remember what “there” is? I readily admit I don’t know how to get “there,” that’s why we elect representatives. But I do know what the goal is. And a huge majority of Americans also knows.
But the rancorous cacophony among belligerent politicians and interest groups diverts discussion from the goal. I believe there is a simple reason: our representatives have health-care insurance paid for by us. They can pick from the best offerings and switch easily without fear of pre-existing conditions. Getting there is not a problem because they are already there.
Health-insurance companies cherry-pick healthy customers and deny claims to shore up profits. They are already there.
According to T. R. Reid in “The Healing of America,” national health systems in countries around the world recognize the moral right to health care. Not us. There are no bankruptcies in those countries due to health-care costs. We have 700,000 a year. Insurance companies in those countries are nonprofits. Ours make 20 cents on the dollar.
Health care is a moral right. It is not a benefit or entitlement. Doctors swear an oath to provide health care. Profit-motivated corporations do not. We are the richest country in the world — we are experiencing a national disgrace and we lack moral imagination and courage.
Bill Ellis,  Longmont
Bottom-line obsession hurting us all

I am not surprised by a recent poll that found confidence in higher education declining.
We have become obsessed with the bottom line. It has permeated virtually every sector in our society. It is found in many parts of government as well as higher education. It is now found in some religious institutions, which emphasize getting rich rather than behaving ethically and helping the poor.
It assumes that every value or service provided by a given organization can be reduced to profit-and-loss accounting. This mindset has had negative impacts in the business sector as well. Consider Toyota, which sacrificed quality in its pursuit of profits.
Tony Umile,  Longmont
Pelosi, Reid not showing leadership
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was asked to self-grade her performance during the past year. None too surprising, she awarded herself an “A.” Had Pelosi sought outside assessment of her performance to date by the American populace it’s doubtful that she would have received that grade.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a grade lower than “F” and giving her an incomplete is being too kind. She and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid should both resign for their cumulative lack of leadership.

RC Lloyd,  Longmont