eLetters - Latest Comments

Re: That’s what guns are for

jimmyB — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:25:42 -0000

Hmmmm......"the 'wild west' justice..." An interesting take, Joan, but where in Clarke's letter was that advocated? In the letter writer's statement "she now has the right to obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm to defend herself and her children." ?? Seems like that was just letting Ms. Salazar know, she has options.

While I wouldn't advocate ANYONE who isn't schooled in shoot/don't shoot situations, go out and get a CCW permit, in Colorado (and the majority of other 50 States), this is an option for personal protection. I have one myself, in fact. But, I also spent many years in the military AND in Federal law enforcement. So I have a little knowledge of when, and when NOT to pull a weapon.

While I did draw my weapon, on several occasions, during my time in law enforcement, I was lucky enough not to be forced to fire my weapon on those occasions: but I was in several "shoot-outs, while in the military.

So, I must agree, Joan, that "shoot-outs" aren't fun, but do tell, when was the last time YOU were involved in one?

Re: That’s what guns are for

the old fart — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:12:02 -0000

You're absolutley correct Joan, but do you really think that Jo Ann, given the choice, would have maybe wished she had at least tried to defend herself rather than just become another victim.

The outcome for her couldn't be any worst than it is now.

Re: Misquoting Abe Lincoln

thorjohnson — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:10:15 -0000

Here we go again. Just because the quotes by someone else were attributed to Lincoln doesn't mean the sentiment isn't solid. The Rev. seems to be a very acute observer of the positive contribution that conservative ideals have on society. Why throw out the baby with the bath water just because the ideals are attributed to the wrong man. Oh, I know, when one hates conservatives ideals so much that they will find any excuse to put them down.

Re: Criticizing religion shouldn’t be considered so taboo

thorjohnson — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:59:00 -0000

I didn't save myself on my last sentence because my thoughts on this issue weren't mine. I just reported the Bibles view and then added a few comments.

Re: Obama’s State of the Union address (2 letters)

jimmyB — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:45:16 -0000

"Inuendo is repugnant."\

Boy, you've got THAT right, Joan. Although you and Jim, the "poster" seem to be matching each other, with your own brand of inuendo, just fine. And, while this is only MY OPINION, inuendo, be it from the left, OR right is indeed, repugnant.

But, you two keep it up. It's been rather entertaining.

Re: Criticizing religion shouldn’t be considered so taboo

jimmyB — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:27:28 -0000

Guest is ALWAYS angry. That's one reason he/she can't keep a post on line for more than a short while.

Re: Obama’s State of the Union address (2 letters)

Rudedog1953 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:42:42 -0000

You and Jim are correct:

"Arloc Sherman, a senior researcher at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said that the period from 2001 to 2007 was the first recovery on record where the level of poverty was deeper, and median income of working-age people was lower, at the end than at the beginning."

2001-2007......wasn't that during the Bush tax cuts that were supposed to spur growth and jobs?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09...

Re: The future of renewable energy in Colorado (2 letters)

goodspkr — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:07:13 -0000

Angie may want to talk with the visionaries in Spain. Their unemployment just hit 22%.

Re: Obama’s State of the Union address (2 letters)

Joan Jacobson — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:21:13 -0000

A 150 word letter to the editor does not lend itself to a Mitt Romney style financial disclosure, nor should it. If I were to answer your question, which I can't because you don't define "dole,"and I won't because Jim E.'s finances aren't any of your business, would you then disclose your finances? Doubtful, since you don't even disclose your full name. There must be 10,000 Jims among the Denver Post's online readership. Inuendo is repugnant. If you have verifiable facts, state them, and sign your name.

Re: That’s what guns are for

Joan Jacobson — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:12:55 -0000

I respect the Second Amendment, but really, shoot-outs are your answer? The "wild west" justice as depicted in Hollywood movies may seem really romantic to you, but there was a reason our forefathers and foremothers brought law and order to their communities. Shoot-outs aren't that fun in real life.

Re: Obama’s State of the Union address (2 letters)

Jim — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:07:26 -0000

Is JK on the dole or not? That's not slander. It's a simple question

Re: Criticizing religion shouldn’t be considered so taboo

RobtF777 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:02:25 -0000

"This raises the question as to why religion demands to be respected on an a priori basis."

The Book of Mormon. Let's consider the play of The Book of Mormon as what it has been claimed to be: A anti-Mormon play that belittles Mormonism with comedy, jests, and jokes...to humiliate both Mormons and Mormonisn.

What if....the Republican Party....only did skits that made fun of Obama and the Democrats? No debates. No issues, No discussions. Nothing about their policies, hopes, and dreams for this country. Nothing POSITIVE. Just skits that poked fun at Obama, his wife, his kids.

Of course, I could use this: What is SNL did a skit that poke fun at Tebow? Maybe....have a guy wearing "sackcloth" pretending to be Jesus? Have the skit be only about making fun of Tebow? Of course,we know the answer to that: Oh yeah, that was done.

The Liberal Left defended as "art" putting a crucifix of Jesus in a jar of urine.....but the Liberal Left would cry bloody murder if anyone put poop on a picture of Obama and called it "art."

The Liberal Left is always quick to do three things: (1) Poke fun at anyone and anything that don't agree with (2) Defend #1 as a Constitution, Moral, and Patriotic Right (3) Cry "foul, mean, hateful" whenever someone on the Right lowers themselves to the Left's Standards and does the same thing to the things the Left cherishes as "sacred" and "off limits."

"This raises the question as to why religion demands to be respected on an a priori basis."

Not oddly enough, more times than not, it is those on the Right who say "because that is the right thing ti do."

Re: Obama’s State of the Union address (2 letters)

John McMillin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:52:21 -0000

Surprisingly I agree with both the original letters. Yes, Jim, the president has a solid record of constructive accomplishments, especially in the foreign policy and military realms. Yes, Gary, that was a campaign speech, in the modern America tradition of perpetual campaigns.

But I most appreciate the point Gary makes about China's non-unionized workforce. He meant to be satirical, I suppose. China would appreciate the AFL-CIO's presence as much as we'd welcome Communist cadres here. And maybe with as much hostility as the average conservative ifeels to any union organizer, anywhere. The right wing teaches us that low wages are the key to competitiveness. Not necessarily true: Germany has a strong & growing auto industry despite high wages. By law, union members sit on corporate boards of VW, BMW and Mercedes. Germany's model of success is more like Henry Ford's, who broke precedent by paying his workers enough to actually buy the cars they made.

I look forward to the days when Chinese and US manufacturing workers are equally and fairly compensated. Then free trade might work as well as it is intended. Both parties fall short on this issue, but after watching the GOPs block every little effort against outsourcing and support every claim of corporate expediency, I'll be voting Democratic ah=gain this year.

Re: President Obama’s State of the Union address (5 letters)

peterpi — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:51:34 -0000

"It isn’t just that workers are cheaper abroad."
goodspkr, have you read about the working conditions in Apple's overseas plants? Working standing up 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. Working around toxic chemicals because the contractors are too cheap to use less-toxic chemicals or provide safer working conditions. Workers with carpal tunnel damage so bad, they lose use of their hands. Workers committing suicide, and threatening mass suicide..And Apple walking away saying "It's not us, it's those wily, rascally, terrible subcontractors." Well, who contracted those subcontractors, hmmm?
When companies say it's not about the money, it's about the money. But, enjoy your delusions about how flexibility and deligence beat out cheapness.

Re: Criticizing religion shouldn’t be considered so taboo

peterpi — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:33:58 -0000

MLK was a far better Christian that you will ever dream of being, Robtf.
He didn't just stand around telling his black congregants, "Well, believe in Jesus, and you'll be better off in the after-life." No, MLK DID something about their problems.
You really need to go back and read the Gospels, really read them. Jesus wasn't some passive nice guy.

Re: Criticizing religion shouldn’t be considered so taboo

Bleeth — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:33:47 -0000

I don't know what the big deal with this show is. Nobody is holding a gun to anyone's head to see it. Read the reviews and decide for yourself if you want to go.

Re: Obama’s State of the Union address (2 letters)

andyandy — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:33:10 -0000

Joan 1, GS, 0.

Re: Obama’s State of the Union address (2 letters)

andyandy — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:32:10 -0000

And what has Krugman been wrong about?

Re: More classroom time for professors

RobtF777 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:31:44 -0000

Apparently no one expects Elementary, High School, or Community College teachers to be "publishing researchers" who spend most of their time doing research to be published. They actually expect their teachers to do something silly full time....like....teach (go figure).

Why....why, why, why, why,why.....at the University Level.....all of the sudden....we have "teachers" who don't teach.....but we have "teachers" who utilize University Time, Money, Resources, Equipment.....so they can do "research" to write books, articles, conduct experiments, invent new things, discover new discoveries.....and maybe make money doing those things.?

I know part of the answer. No one expects a High School Class lead by a High School Science Teacher to discover the cure for the common cold.....or come up with the next super-battery that will recharge in 1 hour and give cars a range of 500 miles........while such things just "may be expected" by University Science Professor with or without the help of University Science Students and/or a Big Federal Grant to do so.

At the "Lower" Levels of education, the focus seems to be just "re-doing what has already been done"....for the first time for those students....but for the millionth time by students before them......whereas, as the University Level, the focus may be more "let's not simply re-do what's already been done; lets do something.....NEW.....like building something for the next space mission."

And....."building something for the next space mission".....is going to take a lot of time way from "teaching science" as science was taught in High School.

If some University Professors are involved in "new" stuff that takes them away from the University, out of state, out of country, and/or spending a lot of non-classroom time doing "stuff" that INCREASES knowledge beyond what is already known via textbooks.....I don't know of an solution to reduce that. That would actually seem to be a worthwhile University function.

At the same time, I can certainly understand the problem of having "teachers" who don't teach classes.....because they are involved in doing things other than just teaching classes.

What do we want our Universities to do???? Just teach stuff the same way it was taught in Elementary School, High School, and Community College? Nothing "new"? Just repeating what has been taught time and time again out of a textbook?

OR....do we want our Universities to go beyond what is already known.....to think beyond what has already been discovered....to learn to think in a way that may benefit them once they graduate from University and start working for NASA, Ford, as a doctor, as a rocket scientist, or at a drug company trying to find that cure?

Perhaps there can be a compromise: More "teachers who just teach" in areas where the student just wants to get the credit hours in those subjects to graduate with a....music or liberal arts.....degree.....while still having "researching professors" who, hopefully, take their students beyond what has been known for years....into the future.....for those who need to "think outside the known box" in a science field they hope to graduate in.

Re: Obama’s State of the Union address (2 letters)

andyandy — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:31:15 -0000

And where did you get your advanced degree in economics? The Rush Limbaugh Institute?

Re: More classroom time for professors

RobtF777 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:30:04 -0000

Re: Obama’s State of the Union address (2 letters)

Kenn Amdahl — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:23:20 -0000

I happen to agree with Jim and thought his letter calm and well written. He didn't call anyone names, or personalize Obama's opponents. Those who try to attack writers like him by name calling or innuendo reduce the force of their argument by sounding like nine year olds.

I also agree with Gary's letter. Of course Obama uses political rhetoric. Part of his job is to convey large concepts in simple terms.He does that well, but so do Newt and Mitt and Ron Paul. So I agree with Gary, I just don't think it's an especially bad thing. I thought the idea of organizing in China was clever and funny and I applaud Gary for his craft. I won't even argue with him, because his point is well taken. But I will point out that the central premise of the entire Communist movement is that the people of China are already one big union. They just don't get to vote for their union leaders.

The diversity of businesses, unions, churches, federal and local governments and all the other power centers of the U.S. (some of which are democratic) is what gives us our special edge in the world.

Re: Criticizing religion shouldn’t be considered so taboo

RobtF777 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:41:43 -0000

"Criticizing religion shouldn’t be considered so taboo"

Open, honest, truthful criticizing should not be taboo.

But being as hateful.....being as spiteful....being as offensive.....as that Kansas preacher who waves "God HATES (blank) signs at funerals.......in order to put on a play that makes fun of Mormons.....just because you "can"....to mock and ridicule Mormons and their beliefs.....to get the big laughs...the cheers....and the applause.....that comes with belittling others for their faith.....and raking in the big bucks doing so....only shows how....degenerate....our society has become.

Does our country allow ill-mannered bigots to BE ill-mannered bigots.....who take great pains to put on a play whose INTENT....IS....apparently.....to.....BE.....offensive AND funny?????

Yes. Just as our country allows a Kansas preacher to wave "God HATES (blank)" signs at funerals. our country allows all sorts of ill-mannered bigots to BE ill-mannered bigots.

Enjoy the play. But if it IS as hateful and spiteful and mean and ridiculing as some report it is....in my mind those who see it and REALLY ENJOY it....are no different than that Kansas preacher. The only difference is who is on the receiving end of all that hate..

Re: Obama’s State of the Union address (2 letters)

goodspkr — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:29:53 -0000

Nonsense.

Re: Criticizing religion shouldn’t be considered so taboo

RobtF777 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:20:31 -0000

Tim: There is a difference between what you and other like you do....and what Christ did when he called certain Pharisees snakes, vipers, and sons of Satan.

There was no more unChrist-like mocking or ridiculing in my post than there was in Jesus's.

Unlike the Book of Mormon.....neither Christ or I said what we said to get a laugh, a cheer, or a resounding applause.......and raking in the Big Bucks to do so at the expense of others.