LETTERS: Tuesday (vote for favorite letter)
Please vote for favorite letter today in our poll to the lower right, in red type. Must vote to see results. Thanks!
Playing hide-and-seek
Come out, come out, wherever you are, Doug. So he has finally let us know how to make him shut up and go away — just subpoena him. Or is it that Doug Bruce is just letting the suspense build before he ‘unleashes his mighty verbal sword.’ I guess if I had something to hide, I’d hide out, too. Or if I wanted to grandstand, I’d make sure the stands were full first.
Don’t get me wrong, like those staunch Dougovites, I am for small government, but I am also for living in a city that makes the top-10 list for places to live, instead of a city that makes the national news for looking inept. Don’t take out your frustration on our local and state governments by backing Doug Bruce’s agenda to overhaul the system — the system is not at fault. Instead, change government by changing those who are running it, come next election.
Oh, and like I’ve said in the past, Doug, run for mayor, and I’ll vote for you. Be a leader instead of a protester!
Dan Spohn
Colorado Springs
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Two can play that game
So the self-righteous politicos of the bankrupt state of California are boycotting Arizona and recommending everyone else do the same.
Well, I hereby declare that I will just boycott California. I will not travel there or buy any product produced in California. Attention, Arnold, Nancy, Barbara and Diane: Two can play that game. There are millions of Americans who deplore the “progressive” and misguided leadership your state has exhibited in so many areas of American life.
James W. Gilliam
Colorado Springs
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Calderon’s criticism confusing
Mexican President Filipe Calderon’s criticism of Arizona’s illegal -immigration law unfortunately supports the drug cartels. Interesting, in that the Mexican government claims to be at war with the drug cartels. The intent of Arizona’s immigration law is to secure the southern border that our federal government is capable of doing, and a secure border would definitely weaken the drug cartels. Thousands of Mexican citizens have been murdered this past year at the hands of the drug cartels. It appears that Calderon cares more about the roughly billion dollars undocumented Mexican workers are sending back to Mexico than he does the lives of Mexican citizens.
Having lived in three foreign countries, I always carried documentation proving I was a legal resident.
I think cooperating with the Arizona law is a small sacrifice to protect innocent citizens of Mexico currently being slaughtered south of the border.
Ken Dyer
Colorado Springs
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Immigration not an asset
I read with interest Wayne Laugesen’s May 23 editorial on how “Illegal immigrants don’t bleed us dry.”
According to Laugesen’s editorial, illegal immigration is a net asset. Los Angeles is a primary beneficiary of illegal immigration. Los Angeles should then be leading the nation in prosperity. The last I heard, Los Angeles was close to bankruptcy. How can that be? New York City is another beneficiary of both legal and illegal immigration. Why is it that New York City is in such trouble, economically? Our neighbor, Wyoming, does not have that many illegal immigrants. The last I heard, Wyoming has been able to balance its budget.
Immigration can be a wealth-enhancer. Hong Kong is an example. Hong Kong, however, did not have a welfare state.
Dennis Mercadal
Colorado Springs
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Can’t legislate greatness
I read with increasing disbelief your editorial entitled, “Be great teachers: Now it’s the law,” in The Gazette of Friday, May 21. Initially, I thought you were being sarcastic with “a law that will quickly elevate the quality of teachers and the futures of children from all socioeconomic plights throughout Colorado” and similar following hyperbole. You weren’t.
Legislate greatness in teachers? Really? Could you also persuade our lawmakers to legislate that parents ensure their children attend school daily prepared to learn; help their children with reading and homework nightly; and become actively involved in their child’s school life?
I teach at GLOBE Charter School and work with a dedicated principal and colleagues committed to student academic achievement and preparedness for becoming a productive citizen of their community and the world.
Our focus and sense of professional accomplishment are in seeing academic and emotional growth throughout the year, not solely the result of a child’s performance on a standardized test, with the outcome determining our professional standing and advancement.
As in any endeavor, teachers can work to become good, even excellent. However, like da Vinci, Lincoln and Shakespeare, great teachers are created by God, not by law.
Jeff Evans
Colorado Springs
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Enforce the city’s codes
I drove through our blighted community today, not North Powers Boulevard, but near downtown. I encountered the usual traffic-light screw up (we have spent more money than any city on traffic-light systems. Don’t believe me? Check The Gazette archives. But, that is another story.) What I saw that really upset me was the overgrown weeds in the medians! Some legacy, Mr. Mayor! You thought it would be the taxpayer cash cow called the “Olympic Training Center.” I believe your legacy will be how trashy you left our city to punish us for voting against your tax hike during a major recession.
I do have a solution though: If anybody sees a median with overgrown weeds, call city code enforcement. These are the same people that come to your door with written orders for you to mow your weeds around your property.
The city of Colorado Springs should not be exempt from the same codes it enforces upon its citizens.
The city can give bonuses to city employees and rate hikes to Utilities at a drop of a hat but won’t mow their own lawns?
Mr. Mayor, mow the weeds!
Tim Goodwin
Colorado Springs
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