LETTERS: Saturday

Union works to break Ford

One of the unintended (or possibly intended) consequences resulting from the government takeover of Chrysler and General Motors is the implication on the labor force.

According to the Associated Press article, “Ford workers reject changes,” in the Nov. 1 Gazette, Ford sought a labor deal similar to that of Chrysler and GM: “But workers weren’t convinced they should make more concessions, since Ford avoided bankruptcy and is considered healthier than its rivals.”

Hmm. If we were to follow the money from the autoworker union leaders, whose presidential campaign benefited the most?

So, by claiming they were too big to fail, the government takes over two car companies, thus “saving” the jobs of what amounts to a big political action committee. Big Labor falls into the warm lap of the federal government, with President Barack Obama hoping they remember the back-scratching in 2010 and 2012.

A third car company resists government pressure, stays private and is on the verge of being successful. However, what do we read? Not that the union is willing to pitch in and further Ford’s success with concessions (which could benefit them in the long run). No. We read of the salary of Ford’s CEO, in an effort to yet again vilify executives of big companies, thus bringing the issue to the lowest common denominator.

Rather than battering a company on the verge of success (including jobs) into federal submission, maybe the AP should investigate what hinders a free-market solution in the U.S. auto industry and start by asking some questions: Could it be that Big Labor leaders do not want a free-market solution for what ails the auto industry? Was Big Labor willing to make the same concessions when they were privately owned? What do Big Labor leaders gain by Ford going to the feds?

Investigative journalism. What a concept.

Andy Petersen

Colorado Springs

Good kids are still around

I am writing to thank the three teenagers who brought our dog, Daisy, back to us on Halloween night.

Amid the trick-or-treaters, house guests, and general chaos that goes along with Halloween, Daisy got out and decided to follow those three teenagers and go trick-or-treating with them. They tried calling the number on her tag (there was no address) but with all the noise we did not hear the phone. So, they did the next best thing, they searched for her home and remembered our house, which had other pets in costume when they stopped by.

I can’t begin to say how thankful my husband and I are for their kindness. Things happened so fast and they were off so quickly I did not get their names. We did thank them profusely, but I don’t think that could ever be enough. I said a prayer for them that night and thanked God for people like them.

Michelle Morgan

Colorado Springs

Best Congress money can buy

With all their insight, the wise founders of our country couldn’t foresee 35,000 lobbyists for 538 members of Congress.

The majority of Americans and physicians want a robust public option in health care reform.

The question is, will they be represented or do we have the best Congress money can buy?

Anne Hegler

Colorado Springs

Let’s end corporate welfare

The opponents of a public option (that the majority of Americans want) are really saying we just need true capitalism where the market will correct itself without government interference. (That would have worked out well had the banks collapsed. Nothing like a worldwide depression to correct an economic crash. After all, we did survive from the last one, for heaven’s sake! Oh wait. We didn’t do so well. Government had to step in.)

In any event, people should be on their own when it comes to medical insurance. Tough break if they are unlucky. Why should the rest of us bear that cost?

Here’s where I’m befuddled. If corporations wants to expand, they bully cities to give them tax-free benefits, insist on city-financed infrastructure, make sure their CPAs find a magnitude of loopholes to exempt them from paying sufficient taxes, push to enforce eminent domain against the will of landowners, and then levy a permanent sales tax increase to pay for say, a new sports arena a rich person wants. Of course it will pad the wallets of the rich who wanted us to bear the cost of their investment.

But no matter, we buckle under the threat of their going elsewhere with their tantrums, perhaps overseas if they are manufacturers, (which they will do anyway because a lot of profit is never enough.)

We scoff at public welfare but embrace and indeed, worship at the shrine of corporate welfare, even when it prospers off the defenseless.

I am just so confused.

Micheale Duncan

Monument

Lamborn shouldn’t use benefit

I don’t expect our congressional representative, Doug Lamborn, to support any kind of health care reform, particularly not one including a public option. But I do expect him to refuse to personally use the government-run health plan supplied to him at taxpayer expense.

Or is Lamborn just another Republican hypocrite?

Michael Falick

Colorado Springs

Pot prescriptions needed

The solution to the ambiguity about marijuana dispensaries seems quite easy. If it is truly a medical problem for those who need marijuana for pain, and that’s what we voted for, it should be prescribed by a legitimate licensed physician. Then the prescription goes to a legitimate and licensed pharmacy just like any other legal prescription.

We do not need all these shady dispensaries, houses, or smoking dens interspersed throughout our city, near schools or residential areas, dispensing marijuana or any other drugs.

This would not put any extra load upon the code enforcement department, either, since licensed pharmacies already exist. Legal pharmacies can charge whatever city tax for marijuana as any other prescription, and charge the normal price with a moderate profit. That would get rid of those who would profit illegally at the expense of those who really need the product.

A legitimate pharmacy can tell if a prescription is real, or an effort of illegal “caregivers” or shady characters to get drugs for themselves through a loophole of the law.

Yes, it was a lack of foresight that did not set this up properly in the beginning, but it must be corrected now. Legal pharmacies would be the only ones licensed to grow and dispense marijuana. That would stop the illegal growers as well.

Let’s straighten this out now, without all the charges and countercharges. If it is truly a need for some medical problem, it should be handled the same way as any other prescription for a medical problem.

Margaret Brettschneider

Colorado Springs