eLetters - Latest Comments

Re: Include new board members in DPS decision

kathyhansen — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:32:32 -0000

I absolutely agree that the method being used is intended to thwart the election process whereby newly elected members are to make those decisions instead of the existing board.
I also feel this is a failure on the part of legal counsel to properly explain the process and the principles upon which it is supposed to work.
To me it seems very threatening that schoolchildren are being (it's hoped anyway) taught the foundations of a process that this public entity itself does not honor.

Re: Include new board members in DPS decision

twitter-14693998 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:11:44 -0000

Ladies, I couldn't agree with you more. I had the same thought, and earlier this week, I asked current board member Jill Conrad if she would support a measure to allow us new board members to decide on these issues, since we're the ones that have to implement them (exactly as you said). She unequivocally said no.

Re: Examining the government’s new mammogram guidelines: 4 letters

elephanttotemgirl — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:00:09 -0000

I'm sorry, Felice Sage, but you are a fool. You must be 1 of a handful of people across the country who do not understand these new guidelines are only the first step in "health care for all". It's called RATIONING. Oh, maybe a few more women will get the mammograms, but probably not in time to save their lives, or avoid much more costly procedures for cancer that, if caught early, is relatively easy/cheaper to treat.

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

asawatcher — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:58:47 -0000

Actually, the problem that bellle has is a denial of the very cornerstone of the foundation of religion: “faith”.
If bellle had faith, then he/she wouldn’t need to insist on the “fact”, for example, that there is only one god, wouldn’t tell us that there is only one god, and wouldn’t need to impugn our intelligence when we suggest that there might be more than one, or a different one, or none at all.
bellle has abandoned faith, or, perhaps has never possessed faith. If a person “knows” something, it is unnecessary to exercise faith. Once a person admits to having “faith” in the existence of a god, then the certainty that bellle exhibits here becomes absurd. When a person of faith no longer recognizes that what is necessary for their religion to be sustained is the nurture of faith, the result is fanaticism, and we can all see the recent world wide results of that.

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

theoldgrouch — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:49:26 -0000

In reply to Adodge - if the censors permit.

It is true that the phrase, "wall of separation between Church and State" is found in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to Congress, to begin with. What you do not tell us, however, is the simple fact that this phrase, WORD FOR WORD, is incorporated into the first decision on the matter, brought as a case before the United States Supreme Court. And, further, you do not tell is that, in consequence, this phrase has become the basic position of ALL our Courts for over 200 years.

NO Court in the United States can entertain matters concerning the "exercise of religion" - i.e., whether or not anyone is a "Member in Good Standing", whether or not this or that part of ANY belief, or expression of such belief, is "right or wrong", etc. And, most particularly, NO Court in the United States can compel anyone to belong to, attend, or support in any way whatsoever any form of organized religion, or Church; NOR can the Courts punish anyone, by any means whatsoever, for refusing to belong to, attend, or support organized religion, or Churches.

This, in essence is the structure of both "freedom OF religion" and "freedom FROM religion". And, it is based upon Jefferson's letter of explanation, written to Congress in response to the question concerning what the First Amendment was/is supposed to mean.

Vide: CASES ON CHURCH AND STATE IN THE UNITED STATES, A Harvard Casebook, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., (Publication dates in the 1960's); and John F. Wilson and Donald Drakeman, CHURCH AND STATE IN AMERICAN HISTORY, MJF Books, New York, NY, 2003.

I also suggest you read Jefferson's own words concerning his position on the matter, as well as something of the history on his being the writer of the Religious Freedom Act in Virginia.

History, sir, is not "trash talk". History is the record of how things actually were at the time, and in the place. And it is not up to people today to attempt to "interpret" history as it "ought to have been", according to their own prejudices, or outright ignorance.

Perhpas you will quote your sources for your asserted percentages of reasons for abortion; which, without either documentation or substantiation, are, themselves, nothing more than "trash talk" from those opposed to a woman's rights. Debate and discussion are, always, founded on demonstrable facts, from legitimate sources. (Or, at least, they were, once upon a time, when the old Rocky Mountain News had an Internet blog, whatever be the position of the censors here.)

Re: Caring for students means supporting teachers

alan9074 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:12:52 -0000

You guys want government to run your school system, and now you're complaining? What did you expect? Maybe you should consider the possibility of going back to what gave us the highest literacy rate in this country's history, and go back to an all-private, non-government schools?

Before the advent of government schools, you know, when we had those one-room schoolhouses in each LOCAL neighborhood, we had the highest literacy rates we ever had as a nation. Then we let government start running the schools, and look at the mess we have now.

By the way, could I have my money back please? I'm sick of paying YOU to teach OTHER people's children.

Re: Sarah Palin on target

Buddy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:48:39 -0000

In a sense you were, you obviously voted for Barrak Obama.

Re: Examining the government’s new mammogram guidelines: 4 letters

lcdrmandingonamvet — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:12:29 -0000

"Mammy-flap" is just another GOP divisive act, because they hate women. I served in the U.S.S. Gato (SSN-615), U.S.S. Baton Rouge (SSN-689), and U.S.S. Henry Clay (SSBN-625), and all 3 WERE nuclear powered submarines.

I've had my fill of the GOP America-haters, women-haters, John Birch "tea-baggers", Obama-birthers, commie-siders, draftdodgers, Benedict Arnolds, etc. The Colorado GOP is SWIFTI-TIZING Stephanie Villafuerte (prospective Denver Depurt USAG), just like they emeotionally raped SCOTUS Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Back to the birth-certificate". I want see SCott McInnis' military draft deferment papers. They are probably hid the same vault that holds Obama's birth-certificate-passport, the purjured, falsified, and forged GWB military discharge papers, and the congressional page draft deferment, GHWB gave to Bill Owens. Maybe Bill Ritter will retrieve McInnis' draft deferment papers. Lord only knows, this country is suffering from so many elected GOP felons (Lamborn, Shelby, Sessions, McConnell, Boehner, Bishops Mitt & Hatch-crooner, Coburn (ENSWINES palymate), "You Lie", Grassley, Kyl, Etc. President Carter (my fellow submariner)! Sir! You pardoned far too many GOP draftdodging felons. Carter & GOP = BFF!
Your Coffman Plantation resident

Re: Sarah Palin on target

phornbein — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:44:14 -0000

Come to think of it, I could be talked into voting for Tina Fey...

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

phornbein — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:38:59 -0000

I won't speak for atheists. Your absolutely right about openings with prayer, etc. But these prayers are non-denominational. And the Founding Fathers all mention providence and god (but not Christ or Jesus); and, I quote myself, "They also took pains to insure that there never is a religion for our country and this is where we get the separation of church and state." I'm not sure where you misunderstood what I said, but this does not distort their goal. Please, read things more carefully.

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

phornbein — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:31:51 -0000

Bellle, answer the question. How do you know my gods are the wrong ones? How do you know yours is the right one?

Re: Sarah Palin on target

Claude_Garfield — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:31:45 -0000

I find Sarah Palin a remarkable person. She has done something I thought impossible. She makes George W. Bush look intelligent and statesmanlike.
Of course, GWB thought she was less than promising.

Re: Include new board members in DPS decision

savelakeschool — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:56:31 -0000

Thank you League of Women Voters for reminding our elected officials and Denver Public Schools what democracy and free elections are about.

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

bellle — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:04:32 -0000

Phornbeint.....do you really want to know which God is the real god, and which are false???
Or are you just playing a game; and really don't want God in your life?
So that you can kill unborn babies, practice homosexuality, etc.?
Please be honest.
Then we will know where to take our discussion.

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

bellle — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:43:24 -0000

Phornbein .....please don't distort the founding father's goal.
They didn't want a State mandated religion.
But atheists twist this to mean that there can be no religion in our government.
Obviously, that is a intentional lie by them.
Because both the House and Senate open in prayer.

Re: Is the global warming buried under all the snow?

phornbein — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:25:00 -0000

And I guess that's the reason why I ignore ABC, CBS, etc. Actually, the Fox affiliates can be lumped in with the rest of the broadcast news.

But you make a very valid point: I would prefer to get my news from an organization that is up front about their politics. When I pick up The Economist or Mother Jones, I know exactly which way they lean. When I "read" Time or Newsweek, well, they pretend to be "objective." (Actually, I've found most of their news to be so watered down that it doesn't really count for anything--it kills time waiting to get my cavities filled.)

Re: Distrust in government’s new mammogram guidelines: 2 letters

phornbein — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:22:30 -0000

Not sure where you're coming up with the government being poised to take over health care. They might offer an option to compete with private insurance, but that doesn't equate to taking it over.

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

phornbein — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:48:56 -0000

Please be aware that nowhere in these government documents, monuments, etc., is there any mention of Christianity. There is ample evidence of god or of providence, but no mention of Christ or Jesus. It is an assumption only by virtue that Christianity was the dominant religion of the conquerors of the indigenous people in this country. The Jews were not allowed in at this point--they'd been expelled from France, England, etc. as early as 1492.

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

phornbein — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:45:41 -0000

Don't forget that freedom of religion implies that if one chooses to not have a religion, they are free to do so without discrimination or repercussions. Hence, freedom from religion.

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

phornbein — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:43:53 -0000

How do you know that? Is it because YOUR bible says so?

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

phornbein — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:42:57 -0000

They also took pains to insure that there never is a religion for our country and this is where we get the separation of church and state. They left England (and elsewhere) because of there was no religious freedom--there was only the religion of the state.

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

phornbein — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:41:20 -0000

You haven't answered his question: How do you know that your god is the right one? How do you that mine are the wrong ones? Is it because your bible has told you so?

Re: Moving ahead on health care: 6 letters

Luvland — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:08:43 -0000

First of all Buddy you don't know me from Adam. I owned my own incorporated business for 25 yrs and retired when I was 57. Then I went back and got my teaching certificate to teach high school, which I did for 7 years. I was the policy debate coach. You win in debate by your ability to do research. I do extensive research on both sides of an issue. Why, because my students had to debate both sides. How much research you do on both sides? Are you informed to make the statements you do. You, I suspect go on gut instincts and wanting the truth to be according to your instincts. I'm 66 yrs old, how old are you Buddy? I've been around a while to. My fear is people of your ilk are going to bring the greatness of this country down and we will be a third world country owned by big corporations. Have you ever heard of globalization? It scares me to death that the will world corporations who don't have any interest in the people of any particular country, only to transport money to what ever country they are from. Shipping jobs overseas to maximize profits is abhorrent to me. Buddy like you I love my country but the policies from the right with deregulation is killing the middle class in this country. If I were you, you better hope I;m right.

Re: Freedom of religion and following the law: 2 letters

phornbein — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:49:10 -0000

After I read, and re-read (and read again) your argument, I understand your point and it is an excellent one. My hat is, indeed, off to you!! Thanks for the lesson--I'm going to do a bit more reading!

Re: Moving ahead on health care: 6 letters

Buddy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:48:39 -0000

The Olbermans and the Becks are not the ones who concern me, its people like you who profess this superior knowledge of what is best for the rest of us that frightens me. Unfortunately, your type can only see what you blindly follow, you do not question, you do not try to find solutions nor do you try to find consensus. You think that socialism and communism are utopian societies in their pure sense if it were not for humans. Well, neither system has worked because as the old saying goes "power corrupts and absolute power absolutely corrupts" and what do we have in Wash. now? Absolute power. Perhaps you are right I should learn more, but I can tell you this, I've been aroung for a long time and I can tell the difference between a skunk and a pussy cat and the stench coming from the White House and Congress isn't coming from a pussy cat. In all seriousness I hope you are right in your thinking because if you are right we will all be better off, however, if I'm right there are going to be rough times ahead. If I was a betting person I would not put my money on you.