Give Dems your vote in November
Dear Editor:
It sure was nice to take a break from politics with the Pro Cycling Challenge, but now, I’m sorry to bring us all back to reality, the next cycle will be of a very different nature. From now until November, it is back to politics and the election. It’s not likely to be pretty. A lot is at stake as our economy is still in the tank and people are struggling. Our environment, too, is also taking a hit. And sadly, many are tuning out.
Dear Editor:
It sure was nice to take a break from politics with the Pro Cycling Challenge, but now, I’m sorry to bring us all back to reality, the next cycle will be of a very different nature. From now until November, it is back to politics and the election. It’s not likely to be pretty. A lot is at stake as our economy is still in the tank and people are struggling. Our environment, too, is also taking a hit. And sadly, many are tuning out.
But this is precisely the time we need to tune in, do research, talk to co-workers, friends and neighbors (and strangers) and hear differing viewpoints. Better yet, try to meet the candidates, visit their websites, or talk to the people who know them. Challenge yourself to listen and learn and think critically about whom to elect because it matters – a lot.
I am an activist precisely because of what is at stake. I have always taken politics personally. I believe serving the public as an elected official is an honor, a job that should be respected and carried out with integrity and in the interest of, in the words of the founder of the Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot, “the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run.” I take personally politicians’ votes against the environment, public health, equality – all things I believe should be human rights; education, health care, clean water, air to breathe – yes, provided by government. Instead, increasingly, these values are compromised by greed, corruption and the undue influence of minority interests.
I believe in a role for government and its ability to make a positive difference in our lives – of, by and for the people, right? We’ve strayed quite a bit from there as of late, and it is particularly alarming when it happens at the local level where we are supposed to have more influence. At the county level, we only need to revisit the Comprehensive Plan and the nonsense “leadership” of commissioners Hotter and Lieb dumping $750k of taxpayer money, and thousands of hours of citizen volunteer time down the drain. Representative government? I think not.
Gwen Lachelt and Julie Westendorff can do better.4 Remember, it takes two progressive thinkers who have a solid history of accomplishments working with a diversity of people to keep a majority on the Board of County Commissioners. These two will work to restore the public trust so badly broken last winter. As one example, they will work to establish planning guidelines for our county that will enhance conditions for long-term business investment currently lacking in the absence of a comprehensive plan.
If “Less Government Equals More Freedom” means anything to you, then you’ll vote for the other guy. Me? I’m voting for Mike McLachlan, who as a 38-year resident of Durango, a veteran, an accomplished attorney and civic leader is a common-sense man who cares about people, jobs, the economy, education, the environment, women’s health, labor rights and more. My bet is that Mike, as a state legislator, would work for sensible government regulation of the insurance industry, for example, that would help people keep in their pocket hundreds of dollars in out-of-control premium increases. (Note: An important role of government is consumer protection. My homeowners insurance has gone up steadily each year from $461 in 2005 to $825 in 2011 and now $1,260 in 2012 – thanks SAFECO – due to the first claim ever this year in the seven I’ve had the policy). Do I find more freedom in an unregulated marketplace? Hardly. For me it equals fewer expenditures locally.
Yep, you can bet that Sal Pace and Barack Obama also have my vote for Congress and President. The alternatives are too extreme. Scott Tipton does not care about problem-solving. He does not move to the center to work across the aisle. He is fixed on a Tea Party ideology that hardly represents most in his district. We need problem-solving, not posturing. We need elected officials who care more about people and the planet than positions. We need to have changes in Congress so President Obama in a second term can fulfill his first term promises unobstructed.
It didn’t always come down to party lines, but it does now. Democrats are working hard to keep dollars in people’s pockets instead of concentrating wealth elsewhere. Will someone please tell the GOP that trickle down does not work? Democrats are also providing health care to the most vulnerable in our society – youth and seniors (thanks President Obama), and recognize the inextricable link between the health of our environment and global economic well-being. November 6? Vote a straight ticket – Democrats all the way! Thank you.
– Sincerely, Ellen Stein, Durango
– Sincerely, Ellen Stein, Durango
Get up to speed on Sal Pace
To the Editor:
“This land is your land; this land is my land, from California, to the New York Island ... .”
To the Editor:
“This land is your land; this land is my land, from California, to the New York Island ... .”
In 1940, Woody Guthrie penned these words, set them to an old gospel song, and created a hymn to the dreams of the ordinary man. This vision of a verdant land in which we share the bounty and the sacrifice, living as a community, touches us all in our heart’s core.
Now compare the vision of Scott Tipton, evidenced by his voting record. His very first vote was to defund virtually our every effort to help our less fortunate neighbors. For example, health care and nutrition for poor women and children, after school and child care, substance abuse and mental health programs, community health clinics and nutrition assistance for low income pregnant women.
Other defunding votes included Public Radio, NOAA and NASA. Meanwhile, he has voted 18 times to protect the $5 billion in subsidies to big oil, the world’s wealthiest and most profitable companies.
He has voted 134 times against programs and funding to protect clean air and water, and 98 times to weaken the agency responsible for the protection of the air we breathe and the water we drink. And particularly ignominious is his sponsorship of HR 1581, the complete give-away of our roadless forests, from which come that clean air and water, to industry. Three times he has voted for the Ryan Budget, which converts Medicare into a voucher system, deeply cuts health services for the poor, gives huge tax cuts to the very wealthy, and has been declared immoral by the Council of Catholic Bishops. Robin Hood in reverse is not what Jesus taught.
Fortunately, we have a bright young alternative; his name is Sal Pace. Sal is a moderate, with a well-deserved reputation of working across the aisle in our State House. And most refreshing is his promise to replace petrified ideology with moderation and rational thought. I urge you to become acquainted with him at www.paceforcolorado.com.
– Christopher Isensee, Durango
– Christopher Isensee, Durango
Of Spandex parades and granola bars
To the editor,
It’s that time of year again, when the streets rumble with those iron horses coming to town from all across the USA. Thousands of them! A few stands on the corner sold Harley stuff, gas stations had bikes lined up. This was such an inconvenience and maybe even intimidating to some to be overrun with this type of crowd.
To the editor,
It’s that time of year again, when the streets rumble with those iron horses coming to town from all across the USA. Thousands of them! A few stands on the corner sold Harley stuff, gas stations had bikes lined up. This was such an inconvenience and maybe even intimidating to some to be overrun with this type of crowd.
But wait, wasn’t it last month that we were overrun with bikers, too? I have noticed a big difference in apparel though! From what I read in local news, we spent around $500,000 to host that event with the expectations of generating revenue through sales and such, I also read that the local businesses were very disappointed with their sales receipts for the weekend. Well maybe that didn’t work out like they thought, but we sure got a lot of bikers in town!
This all gets me thinking about local politics! Wasn’t it only a few years ago the Four Corners Rally had troubles? Something about the promoters? I remember that they needed a place to hold this rally, and if memory serves me correctly, the city of Durango would not allow this event – for reasons unknown to me – much less spend $500,000 to host it. So as things worked out, after a few year, it was back in Ignacio, along with Mancos, not that Durango didn’t get a part of the revenue generated. But the center of activity is not on main street Durango, nor do they close main street or for that matter Hwy 550 to Silverton or any other road.
So I wonder what is the reasoning in all of this. And say what you will – but it seems obvious, this is not the type of crowd Durango wants, we prefer spandex over leather! Why would we want to fill up our streets, motels, restaurants, gift shops, bars, the train with this crowd? Now I’m not a biker nor am I a big advocate of riding down the road with nothing but air between you and the pavement, but I do know a few of the local bikers. Did you know that a lot of those bikes cost more than your car? So who is this crowd exactly? Well walk down main street, and you will see the same crowd. Doctors, lawyers, businessmen, business owners, mechanics, construction workers, etc. There are always exceptions, but mostly blue collar to professionals, and in the event of any disturbance we have a police force and a jail that rivals that of Ignacio possibly even Sturgis!
Lets look at the revenue possibilities. An estimated 15,000 to 30,000 visitors, each stays two days, each spends $200 per day for food and lodging, an additional $50 per day in misc. Am I being too conservative? This totals $3,750,000 - $7,500,000 for local businesses and city tax at 7.9 percent totals $290,000 to $590,000. Maybe we could plow snow this winter!
I’m no expert, but I wonder what our direction really is, what do our local business owners really need in this economy? There are many places less suited to promote events and have no more to offer than Durango, and somehow they do. Examples: Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, rock and country jam in Grand Junction, Sturgis, and have you ever been to Silverton on the 4th of July? Why do we limit ourselves to investing in spandex parades that seem to sell a lot of granola bars and turn away from leather, steak and lobster sales?
- Randy Klingenberg, Durango
Young people are one of our country’s most vulnerable populations, as well as being one of our most vital. Recently, I was fortunate enough to work with the organization Colorado Counts to administer the Vulnerability Index survey to assess risk factors among Durango’s homeless population. The stark reality is that for the vast majority of young homeless people, their present situation is no fault of their own.
The need to fight homelessness, especially among our young population, is a rare issue that can unite everyone in a community. It is a common goal that unites even our usually squabbling State Legislature, 64-1. Rep. Brown, with his radical ideology, was the only representative who voted against this bill, which would have served the best interests of our community. Rep. Brown failed his constituency.
Throughout his political career, J. Paul Brown has not represented the interests of our district, our state, or our country. He has put his own beliefs and interests before those of the people he represents. I urge you to ensure that the most vulnerable in our society are protected and vote to defeat J.
Say ‘yes’ to youth, no to J. Paul
To the editor,
If, as the famous saying goes, a community should be judged on how it cares for its most vulnerable members, J. Paul Brown’s vote against protecting homeless youth surely demonstrates how he wants ours to be viewed. Rep. Brown was the only Colorado state representative, out of 65, to vote no on HB11-1079, a measure to reduce youth homelessness.
To the editor,
If, as the famous saying goes, a community should be judged on how it cares for its most vulnerable members, J. Paul Brown’s vote against protecting homeless youth surely demonstrates how he wants ours to be viewed. Rep. Brown was the only Colorado state representative, out of 65, to vote no on HB11-1079, a measure to reduce youth homelessness.
Young people are one of our country’s most vulnerable populations, as well as being one of our most vital. Recently, I was fortunate enough to work with the organization Colorado Counts to administer the Vulnerability Index survey to assess risk factors among Durango’s homeless population. The stark reality is that for the vast majority of young homeless people, their present situation is no fault of their own.
The need to fight homelessness, especially among our young population, is a rare issue that can unite everyone in a community. It is a common goal that unites even our usually squabbling State Legislature, 64-1. Rep. Brown, with his radical ideology, was the only representative who voted against this bill, which would have served the best interests of our community. Rep. Brown failed his constituency.
Throughout his political career, J. Paul Brown has not represented the interests of our district, our state, or our country. He has put his own beliefs and interests before those of the people he represents. I urge you to ensure that the most vulnerable in our society are protected and vote to defeat J.
Paul Brown this November to restore common sense to House District 59.
– Ben Marvin-Vanderryn, Durango
We owe a debt to organized labor
To the editor,
Enjoy your Labor Day holiday? The reason we celebrate Labor Day is largely because of the contributions made by unions to the betterment of America’s workers. The idea of a Labor Day holiday itself was conceived and promoted by labor organizations.
To the editor,
Enjoy your Labor Day holiday? The reason we celebrate Labor Day is largely because of the contributions made by unions to the betterment of America’s workers. The idea of a Labor Day holiday itself was conceived and promoted by labor organizations.
The numerous beneficial influences of organized labor cannot be ignored. Most of the benefits workers now enjoy are directly attributable to unions. To cite but a few: the 40-hr. work week; paid holidays and vacations; sick leave; grievance procedures, collective bargaining and generally superior wages.
Unfortunately, succeeding generations have come to take those benefits for granted. Most of those benefits came about because of unions and soon became the norm for union and many non-union workers as well.
All American workers owe a debt of gratitude to organized labor for its achievements.
– Paul G. Jaehnert, Vadnais Hts., Minn.